It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

[poc]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

wonder why he returned to the county

[JamesWales]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

wonder why he returned to the county

I think reading between the lines, what happened is that there was racial terms used as 'banter' and probably accepted as such (rightly or wrongly) and then relationships broke down and looking back on it, it's being used (rightly or wrongly) in the case of grievance, particularly it seems in relation to issues regarding his stillborn child. Azeeem Rafiq was seemingly treated badly in that situation and he is questioning whether his race played a part in that.

I've no doubt racist abuse exists, openly and hidden, and I also have no doubt it can be used as banter in both directions. The lesson here is to never use it as banter and, obviously, to treat people well and with the upmost compassion when difficult personal circumstances occur.

[Hilts]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

wonder why he returned to the county

If you listen to his full interview he explains his change in mindset.

[chrisp_1927]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

I was quite sceptical of this at the start, as judging by his twitter Rafiq himself seems like quite a knob. A lot of deleted tweets that are verging on personal threats. He was also a bloody awful player, but one who was very highly regarded by Yorkshire and given chance after chance.

Seeing some of what has come out has changed my outlook a lot mind. If even half of these things are true then there is a problem within cricket.

I would be very interested if the drug test allegation is repeated outside of parliamentary privilege. I just don't understand how it would be possible to hush it up for a bloke who was around the England side. If that does turn out to be true, then Yorkshire cricket club will be facing a whole world of pain and quite rightly so. If it turns out to be malicious then Rafiqs other testimony will need to be looked at aswell.


Interestingly, just read his cricinfo stats and profile. He was the ineligible player that meant Yorkshire lost their t20 quarter finals place in 2008. If I remember rightly it was Glamorgan who benefited from that decision.

[JamesWales]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

I was quite sceptical of this at the start, as judging by his twitter Rafiq himself seems like quite a knob. A lot of deleted tweets that are verging on personal threats. He was also a bloody awful player, but one who was very highly regarded by Yorkshire and given chance after chance.

Seeing some of what has come out has changed my outlook a lot mind. If even half of these things are true then there is a problem within cricket.

I would be very interested if the drug test allegation is repeated outside of parliamentary privilege. I just don't understand how it would be possible to hush it up for a bloke who was around the England side. If that does turn out to be true, then Yorkshire cricket club will be facing a whole world of pain and quite rightly so. If it turns out to be malicious then Rafiqs other testimony will need to be looked at aswell.


Interestingly, just read his cricinfo stats and profile. He was the ineligible player that meant Yorkshire lost their t20 quarter finals place in 2008. If I remember rightly it was Glamorgan who benefited from that decision.

Sorry, I've only loosely followed this whole story, but what is the drug test issue?

[Hilts]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

Sorry, I've only loosely followed this whole story, but what is the drug test issue?

Cricketers are subject to random hair sample tests and he alleges Yorkshire allowed Ballance to miss tests to cover recreational drug and aolchohol use and covered a failed test with missing citing health issues.

[bobh]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

I don't know (or care much) about a Wales Cricket Board. Plenty seem happy about the invisible and silent 'Wales' small print in the England & Wales Cricket Board letterhead. Along with the 3 lions, GSTQ, the cross of St George, 'Engerlund' chants, 'the ECB' and all the rest.

But I do agree with your point about the media suddenly remembering the "Wales' bit when there is bad news to report.

It was always a bit of a joke that Andy Murray was British when winning, but Scottish when losing - but it was true.

That sort of biased reporting has been going on for decades.

[Citizen's Nephew]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

There's a really good piece by Andy Bull today which has some horrific examples of what he endured.

These really are hard to read - here's an extract:

'What was it Steve Brine MP said on Tuesday, the moment after Azeem Rafiq had just finished speaking about how he didn’t want his own son to go anywhere near cricket? “In conclusion then, by how many will we win the Ashes?” Thanks for getting back to what’s important, Steve, Rafiq’s testimony really needed the light relief.

Which part got you hardest? The moment a teammate pinned him down and forced him to drink red wine while everyone else stayed silent? The one when the beloved old fast bowler called him “Raffa the Kaffir” and “elephant washer”? The bit where a venerated England captain bluntly contradicted his testimony, supported by two of Rafiq’s teammates, that he told him “there’s too many of you lot”? Or was it when he argued that the reason his teammates can’t recall racist behaviour at Yorkshire was because it was so normal that it became forgettable? Or when he said he felt the players’ union called the police on him just so they would have proof they’d tried to do something useful if he killed himself?

That horror you’re feeling, the chill, the nausea, the hurt, all that unease and discomfort, don’t turn away from it. It’s necessary. Without it, nothing will change.'

[Hilts]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

The whole thing sickens me.

Horrible racist bullying culture.

At least Hoggard and Lloyd have apologised bu those comments. I mean seriously WTF!!

Ballance I really wish that tw@t had shared a dressing room with Curtly Ambrose.

Makes you wonder with Ollie Robinsons historic tweets how widespread this was. Was he in a culture where it was just considered normal.

I love cricket but this just makes me consider turning my back on it.

2005 one of the greatest series. Dont want to watch any more replays or highlights.

[Citizen's Nephew]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

The whole thing sickens me.

Horrible racist bullying culture.

At least Hoggard and Lloyd have apologised bu those comments. I mean seriously WTF!!

Ballance I really wish that tw@t had shared a dressing room with Curtly Ambrose.

Makes you wonder with Ollie Robinsons historic tweets how widespread this was. Was he in a culture where it was just considered normal.

I love cricket but this just makes me consider turning my back on it.

2005 one of the greatest series. Dont want to watch any more replays or highlights.

You've summed up how I feel about the game now too. It's going to take a monumental effort to sort this out and I believe it has to be transparent. It's actually heartbreaking.

[Croesy Blue]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

I think reading between the lines, what happened is that there was racial terms used as 'banter' and probably accepted as such (rightly or wrongly) and then relationships broke down and looking back on it, it's being used (rightly or wrongly) in the case of grievance, particularly it seems in relation to issues regarding his stillborn child. Azeeem Rafiq was seemingly treated badly in that situation and he is questioning whether his race played a part in that.

I've no doubt racist abuse exists, openly and hidden, and I also have no doubt it can be used as banter in both directions. The lesson here is to never use it as banter and, obviously, to treat people well and with the upmost compassion when difficult personal circumstances occur.

Or one party were using it as banter and the other half had to accept it as "banter" because if how the culture was. That's how bullying works.

[Citizen's Nephew]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

Or one party were using it as banter and the other half had to accept it as "banter" because if how the culture was. That's how bullying works.

Exactly. I now see the word banter as an excuse to hide behind. I hate the word these days.

[life on mars]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/59338118

More banter , Azeem Rafiq has apologised and said he is "deeply ashamed" for using anti-Semitic language in messages from 2011.



The 30-year-old said he had "absolutely no excuses" for the messages.

"I am incredibly angry at myself and apologise to the Jewish community,"*he said in a statement. ( should imagine others are angry and also regret thier poor comments )

"I have absolutely no excuses. I am ashamed of this exchange," he said.

"I was 19 at the time and hope and believe I am a different person today."

Banter ,racism ,stupidity??

[Gofer Blue]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/59338118

More banter , Azeem Rafiq has apologised and said he is "deeply ashamed" for using anti-Semitic language in messages from 2011.



The 30-year-old said he had "absolutely no excuses" for the messages.

"I am incredibly angry at myself and apologise to the Jewish community,"*he said in a statement. ( should imagine others are angry and also regret thier poor comments )

"I have absolutely no excuses. I am ashamed of this exchange," he said.

"I was 19 at the time and hope and believe I am a different person today."

Banter ,racism ,stupidity??

Oh dear.

[chrisp_1927]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

I think there's a reason Rafiq and Ballance got on so well, because they were both cocky, arrogant, bigoted t*ssers.