Rafiq to lawmakers: Racism in English cricket is institutional

Azeem Rafiq. Pic/AFP

Former Yorkshire player Azeem Rafiq fought back tears as he told British lawmakers on Tuesday that racism within English cricket was institutional, recalling the humiliating treatment he received at the club.

A report found the Pakistan-born player was a victim of racial harassment and bullying while Rafiq himself said he had been driven to thoughts of suicide over the way he was treated. Although the English county apologised, they said they would take no disciplinary action against any staff.

"I felt, isolated, humiliated at times," Rafiq told lawmakers. "Me and other people from an Asian background...there were comments such as ‘you'll sit over there near the toilets', ‘elephant-washers'. And there just seemed to be an acceptance in the institution from the leaders and no one ever stamped it out."

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