England fights racism: Recently in the wake of Mark Boucher’s apologies for his unacceptable racist behaviour against fellow teammates of colour, English cricket also took a firm stand against racism as they were seen wearing “cricket is for everyone” t-shirts before the game and during their national anthem.
The reason for this move from Joe Root and England cricket emanated in Yorkshire, as Joe Root’s former teammate at Yorkshire said that it was ‘hurting’ for him to be a victim of institutional racism at the club for a while.
Azim Rafiq, a cricketer of Pakistani origin also led the English U19 side and opened up about racism at the Yorkshire Cricket Club ever since 2008.
What did Joe Root have to say about racism in England cricket?
Talking to the media, Root clarified that no form of discrimination should be tolerated at any level and it felt bad to see his erstwhile teammate at the club ‘hurting’.
Root quoted, “I can’t really speculate or comment too much on a report I have not seen. But, as a former teammate and friend, it’s hard to see Azeem hurting as he is.”
He also said, “More than anything, it just shows that there is a lot of work we have to do in the game… it’s a societal issue in my opinion… as a sport, we have got to keep trying to find ways of making sure this isn’t a conversation that keeps happening.”
Root clarified yesterday itself that England cricketers will be donning anti-discriminatory jerseys ahead of the third Test at Leeds.
He concluded by saying, “We have to keep showing the sport is for everyone and that we are desperate to make everyone feel welcome to it. It’s such a brilliant sport and should be open to everyone”.
Yorkshire issued a letter of apology towards Rafiq who became their youngest captain in T20 cricket in 2012.
