This week at the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee hearing in Westminster, former Yorkshire County Cricket Club player Azeem Rafiq bravely spoke up about the racism he and other players experienced during their careers.
Rafiq was born in Pakistan and moved to the UK with his family when he was 10 years old. He soon found a love of cricket playing for a local club, and over the years advanced to play cricket professionally with Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC).
In his statement Rafiq said: “Throughout my time at YCCC, I experienced racism, discrimination and bullying, which I believe was because of my Pakistani ethnic origins. This made me feel unwelcome and that I wasn’t a valued cricketer or member of the club, it undermined my confidence and ultimately my performance, and drove me to depression and suicidal thoughts.”
Rafiq initially spoke up last year, saying “deep rooted” racism left him close to taking his own life. YCCC launched a formal investigation and concluded he was the victim of “racial harassment and bullying”, but nobody at the club faced disciplinary action. A leaked report later suggested that racist treatment (including the use of “the P word”) towards Rafiq was made in the context of “friendly banter”.
“Banter” – a word so often used to attempt to justify unacceptable behaviour. It’s not ok. And we must Speak Up about it.
Azeem Rafiq speaking up reminds us of the importance of calling things out if they aren’t right. Here at Carnival UK, we’re proud to work with colleagues from many different countries, cultures and diverse backgrounds, and racism or unfair treatment of any kind is not tolerated.
See something, do something: We all have a duty to Respect and Protect each other and Speak Up if we see something that doesn’t feel right. Check out our guide on How to Speak Up for everything you need to know.