Former Yorkshire player Azeem Rafiq has said that he has only asked for “acceptance and apology” from players who have been involved in acts of racism and inhuman treatment towards him.
While giving testimony to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee, one member, MPJulie Elliott asked Azeem if he has received an apology from players privately and he took the name of former England pacer Matthew Hoggard, who offered his apology and his lack of realisation at the time of occurrence of the incidence.
Azeem said that he appreciated Hoggard coming forward to him and accepting that he committed wrong. He also recalled another conversation with one “friend” who said that he would not have done any activity of that sort if he was made aware of what he went through.
“Matthew Hoggard phoned me after my Sky interview,” said Rafiq. “He said he didn’t realise and was really sorry. I really appreciated it.”
"I bumped into a friend a few months after and he said 'We didn't realise we had that affect on you, if you said we would have stopped'.
"That is all I wanted, an acceptance and apology.
Azeem also responded to Michael Vaughan’s claims that he never made anti-Asian remarks while playing for Yorkshire and said that he would not be recalling the events as it “doesn’t mean anything to him”. However, he maintained that it was not just about Vaughan, but the overall process and atmosphere in the Yorkshire dressing room.
“I don’t want to make it all about Michael,” Azeem said. “Michael might not remember it because it doesn’t mean anything to him.”