Yorkshire County Cricket Club batsman Gary Ballance has apologised to Azeem Rafiq for racist language he used against his former colleague.
Ballance made the apology during a meeting with Rafiq in London this week, and in a statement said he “apologised unreservedly to Azeem for the words I used when we played together”.
“I did use unacceptable – at times, racist – language. If I had realised how much this hurt Azeem, I would have stopped immediately,” he said.
The former England cricketer, who has made 23 international Test appearances, said he wanted to meet with Rafiq for “quite some time, but I had to make sure I was in a good place when I did so”.
“Azeem has been through similar mental health challenges and understands why this has taken me a little time,” he added.
“I wanted to meet him this week and be clear in person that I intended no malice. That’s not an excuse, I realise that the language I used was wrong.
“I have accepted, from the outset, the words I used were wrong and I hope this statement brings Azeem some comfort.
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Rafiq, 30, spoke out last year about racism in the sport and detailed his suffering at Yorkshire CCC in front of a committee of MPs.
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Ballance ‘now part of the solution’
Responding to Ballance’s apology following their meeting, Rafiq said: “Gary got things wrong, so did many people. The main issue is cricket’s institutional racism.
“Gary’s courage means he is now part of the solution. I hope he can be allowed to get on with his cricket.”
He added that Ballance has been “brave to admit the trust”, adding that he has “done cricket and the fight against racism a great service with these words”.
Julian Metherell, non-executive chair at the Professional Cricketers’ Association, hosted the meeting between the pair.
Rafiq played for YCCC in two spells between 2008 and 2018, accusing the club of “institutional racism” in 2020.
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The allegations led to several sponsors severing ties with the club, members of the board stepping aside and the England and Wales Cricket Board suspending the club, who play at Headingley, from hosting international fixtures.
Several members of the club were accused of racism by the bowler, including Ballance, who at the time of the revelations admitted to using a racial slur but did not apologise.
Lord Kamlesh Patel was installed as the YCCC’s new director and chair in November 2021 and in February this year, the ban on hosting matches was lifted after the club showed a “willingness to change” under Lord Patel.
