Gary Ballance issues an apology to Azeem Rafiq (PC: Twitter)
In a brave step, England’s Gary Ballance has publicly sought an unreserved apology from Azeem Rafiq. Yorkshire cricket club has been under major scrutiny for practicing racism. Ballance is one of the seven cricketers who have been charged by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for passing racist remarks on Rafiq.
The English players had used the work p**i to address the spin bowler. When allegations were levelled, they tried to dismiss them by making it healthy banter between the two friends. Notably, Adil Rasheed and Rafiq had lodged a complaint regarding the racist behavior in Yorkshire in 2017.
However, it was only this month that a concrete step has been taken to ensure a healthy environment for players irrespective of their colour, cast, and creed. Ballance hasn’t featured in a single first-class game this year. His first apology for Rafiq came earlier this week during the meeting hosted by Julian Metherell, the non-executive chair of the Professional Cricketers’ Association.
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