Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s new chair Lord Patel has said that former player, Azeem Rafiq, should be praised for his bravery and he should never have been put through the club’s racism scandal.
Lord Patel said Yorkshire has settled the employment tribunal after he (Rafiq) was a victim of racial harassment and bullying there. The club said it would not discipline anyone. Lord Patel said: "Azeem is a whistleblower and should be praised as such.
"He should never have been put through this. We're sorry for what you and your family have experienced and the way in which we've handled this.
"I thank Azeem for his bravery in speaking out. Let me be clear from the outset, racism or discrimination in any form is not banter."
The scandal has led to the resignation of senior figures at Yorkshire, with them (the club) being suspended from hosting international matches and a host of sponsors ending their deals. Patel, a former England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) member who was appointed after the resignation of Roger Hutton, said that the investigation was flawed.
He also said that he promised that there will be seismic change at the club, and he further said:
"What I've seen so far does feel uncomfortable. It makes me feel the process wasn't as well completed as it should have been."
Speaking at a press conference following his appointment, Patel said he had taken immediate steps in response to the scandal. These are:
§ Settling the employment tribunal with Rafiq, which does not include a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), as the club previously requested.
§ Setting up an independent whistleblowing hotline for other victims of discrimination to come forward.
§ Commissioning a review of processes and procedures on diversity and inclusion at Yorkshire.
§ Sharing the full report into Rafiq's allegations with parties who have a "legal interest", including Rafiq's lawyers, the ECB and MPs.
In a statement, Rafiq thanked Patel for ending the legal proceedings. Last year Rafiq filed a claim against Yorkshire, separate to the Yorkshire report, claiming direct discrimination and harassment on the grounds of race, as well as victimisation and detriment as a result of trying to address racism at the club.
"It should not have taken the rest of the club a year to realise I would not be silenced through an NDA," he said.
"I spoke out because I wanted to create change at the club. I brought a legal claim because the club refused to acknowledge the problem and create change. For the first time I can remember, I have hope that this might happen - but I will be watching and continuing to campaign to ensure that it does."
Patel also condemned death threats some Yorkshire staff have received and spoke at length about Yorkshire being his home. He said he had not yet been able to read the Rafiq report in its entirety.
"Clearly there's a problem. I've been appointed to see if this club is institutionally racist and how we can address that," Patel said. "Part of my role will be to examine and be clear about what errors have been made in the handling of Azeem Rafiq's complaints, both in terms of the investigation and the actions declared following that and how we can learn from that it.
"I am determined to make this club the beating heart of English cricket again. After 158 years, we are ready to change, accept the past and are ready to become a club people can trust to do the right thing."