Azeem Rafiq Wants Yorkshire To Host International Matches, Calls For Lifting Of Ban By England And Wales Cricket Board

Azeem Rafiq has called for the lifting of the ban on Yorkshire from hosting international matches. Azeem Rafiq, a former player of Yorkshire county of England, said that the England Club has taken positive steps in battling racism issues and hence, it should be allowed to host international matches once again.

In November last year, Azeem Rafiq had levelled racism charges against the English club. Rafiq, who is of Pakistani origin, played for the club from 2008 to 2014. He revealed about few incidents of racism that he faced during his tenure with the club. The news shook the England and Wales Cricket Board, who banned Yorkshire’s home ground Headingley Cricket Stadium from hosting any international matches.

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Azeem Rafiq Calls For Lifting Of International Ban On Yorkshire

In his column for Daily Mail, the 30-yar-old cricketer Azeem Rafiq wrote that he believes Yorkshire should be given back the international status.

“It has been a whirlwind since I appeared in front of MPs almost two months ago, and what Yorkshire and Lord Patel have done to bring change is definitely a step in the right direction.

“That’s why I believe the time is right to say they should be given back the international cricket so vital to their very survival. The people of Yorkshire should be able to watch England in Test and white-ball games at Headingley this summer”, the British cricketer wrote.

The all-rounder also added that Yorkshire needs to be supported in view of the positive changes that that club has taken to battle racism.

“If we’re asking an institution to look at itself then we should recognise when it begins to show it is genuinely sorry and attempts to start putting things right. Yorkshire need to be supported and helped to move in that right direction. They do seem willing to do the right thing now,” Azeem Rafiq further said.

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Azeem Rafiq’s racism allegations also led to the resignation of Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton, director of cricket Martyn Moxon and chief executive Mark Arthur. A total of 16 members of the staff were suspended. Kamlesh Patel was appointed as the new chairman of the Yorkshire club. Patel promised to bring seismic changes in the club to fight racism while taking over the post.

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