It Hurts Deeply, Hurts Me That A Player Has Gone Through So Much – Michael Vaughan On Azeem Rafiq

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan has said that he is deeply hurt to see that Azeem Rafiq has gone through so much and was treated badly at the Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Former cricketer Azeem Rafiq had told a British parliamentary committee that he had suffered “inhuman” treatment at Yorkshire County Cricket Club and has revealed the names of players who have passed racist comments on him.

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Notably, Rafiq also alleged that Michael Vaughan told him and other Asian players in 2009 that there were “too many of you lot, we need to do something about it.”

However, Vaughan has completely denied these allegations and said:

“That the allegation came completely out of the blue and more than a decade after it was alleged to have happened made it all the more difficult to process. I completely and categorically deny that I ever said those words,” 

I Have To Take Some Responsibility For That Because I Played For Yorkshire County Cricket Club for 18 years – Michael Vaughan

Vaughan said that he will have to take some responsibility for the Azeem Rafiq incident as he played for YCCC for 18 years.

“It hurts deeply, hurts me that a player has gone through so much be treated so badly at the club that I love,” Vaughan told the BBC on Saturday.

“I have to take some responsibility for that because I played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club for 18 years and if in any way shape or form I’m responsible for any of his hurt, I apologise for that,” he said.

Michael Vaughan further added that time couldn’t be a healer for Rafiq, but he was hoping that things would improve with time, and the racism incident never took place in English cricket. He said:

“Time I don’t think can ever be a healer in the situation that he (Rafiq) has gone through.”

“But, hopefully, time can be a way of us making sure that Yorkshire County Cricket Club never goes through this situation again and never puts themselves in a position of denial that they treated a player so badly.”

Meanwhile, BBC on Wednesday confirmed that Vaughan will not take part in the coverage of the upcoming marquee Ashes 2021-22 series, which will begin from December 8 at the Gabba, Brisbane. Also, he was dropped from a radio show by a broadcaster after his name was dragged in the Azeem Rafiq issue.

Also Read: IND vs NZ 2021: Maharashtra Government Allows Only 25% Capacity For 2nd Test Between India & New Zealand At Wankhede

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