Rafiq, who was born in Pakistan, said he was “constantly” subjected to racist slurs while at Yorkshire. England fast bowler Jack Brooks referred to Pujara as “Steve” because he couldn’t pronounce his surname. The 30-year-old claimed that racism had cost him his career, citing discrimination against several former England internationals as examples.
Brooks stated in a statement released Thursday that the name “Steve” was used in Azeem Rafiq’s statement to MPs this week because some people have difficult names to pronounce.
Giving nicknames to players regardless of race or creed is a common practise in locker rooms
The 37-year-old admits that using it in this context was “respectful and wrong,” and “I now accept that it was.” My heartfelt apologies for any offence I may have caused Cheteshwar and his family.
Although I did not consider it racist behaviour at the time, I can see how it was in retrospect.
“I recognise that the language I used in two tweets I sent in 2012 was unacceptable, and I deeply regret using it,” Brooks said. Please accept my sincere apologies to anyone who has been offended by my tweets.
Rafiq, on the other hand, has warned that Yorkshire will not advance until head coach Andrew Gale and director of cricket Martyn Moxon leave the Headingley club.
Gale has been placed on administrative leave while an investigation into a historical tweet continues, and former England batsman Moxon has been discharged from the team due to stress-related illness.
Both men were mentioned frequently in Rafiq’s testimony, with Gale accused of constant racial abuse and Moxon of systematic bullying, including an outburst on Rafiq’s first day back after his son’s stillbirth.
