Yorkshire Cricket Racism Row: ECB suspends Yorkshire from hosting international matches, Nike cut sponsorship ties

Yorkshire Cricket Racism Row – ECB Sanctions on Yorkshire: The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has come hard on Yorkshire on Racism row. ECB on Thursday suspended Yorkshire from hosting international matches over handling of the issues raised by Azeem Rafiq. Meanwhile, the sports manufacturing giant Nike has ended kit sponsorship deal with Yorkshire County following the club’s internal investigation into the racism issue.

Yorkshire Cricket Racism Row: ECB suspends Yorkshire from hosting international matches, Nike cut sponsorship ties

ECB Sanctions on Yorkshire – Why exactly ECB has penalised Yorkshire? The Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC) in September this year had said Rafiq, during his first spell as a player at YCCC, was the victim of racial harassment and bullying. ECB found Yorkshire County’s report “wholly unacceptable” and the board said the matter is “against the spirit of cricket and its values”.

ECB said YCCC is suspended from hosting international or major matches until it has clearly demonstrated that it can meet the standards expected of an international venue, ECB member and First Class County.

“It is clear to the Board that YCCC’s handling of the issues raised by Azeem Rafiq is wholly unacceptable and is causing serious damage to the reputation of the game. The ECB find this matter abhorrent and against the spirit of cricket and its values,” read ECB statement.

NIKE Cuts ties with Yorkshire over Racism Row:

Meanwhile, the sports manufacturing giant Nike has ended kit sponsorship deal with Yorkshire County following the club’s internal investigation into the racism issue. Nike move comes after former England batter Gary Ballance admitted that he was the one who used a racial slur against former Yorkshire teammate Rafiq.

“To be clear – I deeply regret some of the language I used in my younger years. The independent enquiry, having heard all of the evidence, accepted that the context of some of the language used was in a “friendly verbal attack” between friends which was not intended to offend or hurt and that no malice was intended,” Ballance said in a lengthy statement as per Yorkshire’s website.

“Nike will no longer be the kit supplier for Yorkshire CCC. We stand firmly against racism and discrimination of any kind,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Nike as saying in a statement.

According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, earlier Emerald Group Publishing and Yorkshire Tea had also withdrawn their sponsorship deals.

In September 2020, the Yorkshire Club received a number of allegations of racism made by former player Azeem Rafiq spanning back to 2008. The Club then launched a full investigation.

On Wednesday, former England batter Gary Ballance admitted that he was the one who used a racial slur against former Yorkshire teammate Azeem Rafiq.

While Ballance has not been selected to play for England since 2017, he will be suspended indefinitely from selection. This position will be reviewed following the ECB regulatory investigation into his conduct, said the ECB statement.

The Board reiterated its unwavering commitment to ensuring that cricket is a game for everyone. Discrimination of any kind on the field of play, in the dressing room, in the stands, or in the boardroom is intolerable in sport or indeed, society.

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