Azeem Rafiq doesn't want his kids to play cricket and 'be in pain' from racism
Former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq says he would stop his children from getting into cricket as he doesn't want his "son or daughter to be in pain."
On Tuesday, Rafiq gave evidence before a UK parliamentary Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) panel and shared his experiences of being subjected to racism while playing for Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC).
An investigation into the allegations found that Rafiq had been subjected to racial harassment and bullying in his time at YCCC.
During the hearing, Rafiq described cricket's racism problem as "worse than society" and says he wouldn't trust the sport to look after his children.
"I don't want my son or daughter to be in pain," he told CNN Sport's Darren Lewis. "As a parent, there is nothing worse than watching your kids suffer in any way, and professional sport over the last few years has shown that these people come into the game as kids and the institutions mold them into these characters.
"I wouldn't hand my kids over to adults who don't know how to deal with kids."
Despite Rafiq's hours-long testimony and the admission from former YCCC chairman Roger Hutton that the club is institutionally racist, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Tom Harrison refused to label YCCC as such.
When being questioned by lawmakers, Harrison only said that English cricket "may" have let Rafiq down.
"I'd say please understand that we're really sorry for the experiences you may have been through trying to experience cricket in this country," Harrison said.
"We know we may have let you down. We'll fix it fast. We know the survival of our sport depends on it. We'll transform this game very quickly."
Rafiq told CNN it was "disappointing to hear how that was answered."
"Roger Hutton described Yorkshire [CCC] as 'institutionally racist' and I think it was an opportunity for the leaders in the game to actually show that they get it," Rafiq added.
"But I think [again] the ECB showed yesterday they just don't get it."
In response, an ECB spokesperson told CNN in a statement: "Azeem has shown incredible courage in speaking out, and we are appalled by what he has experienced. His evidence was harrowing, and this must be a turning point for our game.
"We utterly condemn racism or discrimination of any kind and there is no place for it in our game. We are thoroughly investigating these events, will take the necessary action, and must learn lessons as a game.
"Azeem's witness statement forms an important part of our investigations," it added. "On Friday, we will also come together as a whole game to address these issues and find a way forward to improve our sport."
Speaking to CNN after Rafiq's Tuesday testimony, former England cricketer Monty Panesar said the former Yorkshire cricketer was "really brave, determined and showed great courage" to speak out on the racism he faced in the sport.
"In years to come, we will see this as a significant moment of change in cricket and society," Panesar told CNN Sport's Alex Thomas. "And Azeem Rafiq should be applauded for his brave comments."
Azeem Rafiq 不希望他的孩子打板球并因种族主义而“痛苦”
前约克郡板球运动员阿齐姆·拉菲克 (Azeem Rafiq) 表示，他将阻止他的孩子参加板球运动，因为他不希望他的“儿子或女儿痛苦”。
周二，拉菲克在英国议会数字、文化、媒体和体育 (DCMS) 小组面前作证，并分享了他在为约克郡板球俱乐部 (YCCC) 效力时遭受种族主义的经历。
对指控的调查发现，拉菲克在 YCCC 期间曾遭受种族骚扰和欺凌。
在听证会上，拉菲克将板球的种族主义问题描述为“比社会更糟糕”，并表示他不相信这项运动会照顾他的孩子。
“我不希望我的儿子或女儿痛苦，”他告诉 CNN Sport 的达伦刘易斯。 “作为父母，没有什么比看着你的孩子以任何方式受苦更糟糕的了，过去几年的职业运动表明，这些人在孩子的时候就进入了游戏，而机构将他们塑造成这些角色。
“我不会把我的孩子交给不知道如何与孩子相处的成年人。”
尽管拉菲克长达数小时的证词以及前 YCCC 主席罗杰赫顿承认俱乐部在制度上是种族主义者，英格兰和威尔士板球委员会 (ECB) 首席执行官汤姆哈里森拒绝给 YCCC 贴上这样的标签。
当被立法者质疑时，哈里森只说英国板球“可能”让拉菲克失望。
哈里森说：“我想说，请理解，我们对您在这个国家尝试体验板球的经历感到非常抱歉。”
“我们知道我们可能让你失望了。我们会尽快修复它。我们知道我们这项运动的生存取决于它。我们会很快改变这个游戏。”
拉菲克告诉美国有线电视新闻网，“听到这个答案令人失望”。
“罗杰赫顿将约克郡 [CCC] 描述为‘制度上的种族主义者'，我认为这是游戏中的领导者实际表明他们明白这一点的机会，”拉菲克补充道。
“但我认为 [再次] 欧洲央行昨天表明他们只是不明白。”
作为回应，欧洲央行发言人在一份声明中告诉美国有线电视新闻网：“阿齐姆在发声时表现出了难以置信的勇气，我们对他的经历感到震惊。他的证据令人痛心，这一定是我们比赛的转折点。”
“我们完全谴责任何形式的种族主义或歧视，我们的游戏中没有它的容身之地。我们正在彻底调查这些事件，将采取必要的行动，并且必须像游戏一样吸取教训。
“Azeem 的证人陈述构成了我们调查的重要组成部分，”它补充说。 “周五，我们还将作为一个整体来解决这些问题，并找到改善我们运动的方法。”
在拉菲克周二的证词之后，前英格兰板球运动员蒙蒂·帕内萨尔在接受美国有线电视新闻网采访时表示，这位前约克郡板球运动员“非常勇敢、坚定并表现出极大的勇气”，就他在这项运动中面临的种族主义发表意见。
“在未来几年，我们将把这视为板球和社会变革的重要时刻，”帕内萨尔告诉 CNN Sport 的亚历克斯·托马斯。 “阿齐姆·拉菲克的勇敢评论应该受到称赞。”
