It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

[A Quiet Monkfish]

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??

It's all been a bit of a one-way verbal assassination on anyone who Rafiq thinks has made racist/derogatory comments to him in the past 15 yrs., yet everyone accused has denied doing so. Michael Vaughan lost his job. Did any of the alleged incidents happen ? I'm sure some did, but this bloke has been given free-rein for days, in front of media, MP's etc. Perhaps now the hysteria will abate a little.

[JamesWales]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

It's all been a bit of a one-way verbal assassination on anyone who Rafiq thinks has made racist/derogatory comments to him in the past 15 yrs., yet everyone accused has denied doing so. Michael Vaughan lost his job. Did any of the alleged incidents happen ? I'm sure some did, but this bloke has been given free-rein for days, in front of media, MP's etc. Perhaps now the hysteria will abate a little.

What a messy business. And how dumb does that guardian article posted earlier read now?

[Hilts]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

It's all been a bit of a one-way verbal assassination on anyone who Rafiq thinks has made racist/derogatory comments to him in the past 15 yrs., yet everyone accused has denied doing so. Michael Vaughan lost his job. Did any of the alleged incidents happen ? I'm sure some did, but this bloke has been given free-rein for days, in front of media, MP's etc. Perhaps now the hysteria will abate a little.

Everyone has denied doing so???? Rubbish.

[A Quiet Monkfish]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

Everyone has denied doing so???? Rubbish.

Really ? Who has confirmed his allegations ?

[life on mars]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

I think it tells us what we all really know that edgy lad like banter exists everywhere.

I hazard a guess it exists between India and Pakistan , question is does it make them racists or is it simply behaviour from an age where we didn't really realise its impact on others and folk like a show off comment to grab a reaction or laugh .

[The Bloop]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

Really ? Who has confirmed his allegations ?

Matthew Hoggard has hasn't he?

[the other bob wilson]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

Matthew Hoggard has hasn't he?

And David Lloyd

[A Quiet Monkfish]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

And David Lloyd

neither have said they made racist/derogatory comments to Rafiq.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

neither have said they made racist/derogatory comments to Rafiq.

They both have apologised for any offence their comments caused just like Rafiq has done - Adil Rashid and Rana Naved have also backed up Rafig’s allegations regarding Michael Vaughan.

[The Bloop]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

neither have said they made racist/derogatory comments to Rafiq.

Hoggard apologised to Rafiq for what he said and how it made him feel. If it wasn't racist or derogatory what was it, and what did Hoggard apologise for?

[A Quiet Monkfish]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

Hoggard apologised to Rafiq for what he said and how it made him feel. If it wasn't racist or derogatory what was it, and what did Hoggard apologise for?

Lloyd apologised for comment[s] he made about the asian cricket community in general, not Rafiq. Re. Hoggard, that was a private phone call between him and Rafiq. To the best of my knowledge Hoggard hasn't made any comment publicly.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

Lloyd apologised for comment[s] he made about the asian cricket community in general, not Rafiq. Re. Hoggard, that was a private phone call between him and Rafiq. To the best of my knowledge Hoggard hasn't made any comment publicly.

Lloyd made some comment about Rafiq’s drinking as I understand it. Why have so many at Yorkshire felt they had to resign if there was nothing to Rafiq’s allegations? Today’s news reflects poorly on Rafiq, but it doesn’t mean he made what he said on Tuesday up.

[Citizen's Nephew]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

Bloody hell cricket really does have a big, big problem.

This has muddied the water somewhat. I stand by the fact that the word banter is used as an excuse and it's likely to be a big problem throughout the men's game. Cricket has not come out of this well. The Guardian article cited earlier makes the very valid point that all of this dirty washing needs to be made public and everyone owns their mistakes (like SA is doing).

It seems to me that the game needs a kick into the 21st century and I've felt this for a while now. The laddish, cricketer behaviour seems stuck in the past and makes football look good. I haven't liked the England side or setup for a long time and hate the old colonial feel to it. I even hate the fact Wales is tagged on but unrepresented (Scotland made that situation look even more stupid during the T20s recently).

This was a very public and widespread testimony by Rafiq and he's made himself and his supporters (of which I am one) look a tad foolish. He should rightly feel very sheepish.

[Hilts]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

And David Lloyd

And Gary Ballance.

[A Quiet Monkfish]

Re: It's Just Not Cricket - Howzat

Lloyd made some comment about Rafiq’s drinking as I understand it. Why have so many at Yorkshire felt they had to resign if there was nothing to Rafiq’s allegations? Today’s news reflects poorly on Rafiq, but it doesn’t mean he made what he said on Tuesday up.

I said I didn't doubt he had been subjected to racism/derogatory comments, I was making the point that a number of people have been accused of stuff without any chance to defend themselves. Joe Root denied knowing of anything happening but Rafiq was smart enough to paint him out to be a liar. Rafiq called Lloyd 'a closet racist' - that's his opinion, it doesn't mean Lloyd is a closet racist, but it will stick, no doubt. Another asian Yorkshire player [can't recall his name], has stated he wasn't aware of any racism at the club, but Rafiq hasn't called him out..