ECB and South Yorkshire Police not to investigate the new Azeem Rafiq bullying claims

Azeem Rafiq | Source: Twitter

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), which recently launched an investigation into the allegations made by former player Azeem Rafiq against Mark Beardshall have found no solid evidence to refer the case to Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC). 

Notably, Mark Beardshall, a former Derbyshire fast bowler was accused by former off-spinner Rafiq of taking him out into the showers and abusing him at Driffield Town Cricket Club in Yorkshire back in 2006. 

Pakistan-born Rafiq, who hasn't played for Yorkshire since 2018, first put forward allegations of racism and bullying in September 2020, which were associated with his two stints at the county club.

In response to Rafiq's claims, the club swiftly launched an investigation thereafter and upheld just seven of the 43 allegations. Here it is pertinent to mention that Rafiq's allegations against Beardshall were investigated by ECB, who later reported the matter to South Yorkshire Police.

The former Derbyshire fast bowler, on being investigated by ECB and South Yorkshire Police, denied the historic bullying and racism allegations put on him by Azeem Rafiq. 

The ECB safeguarding team, following the investigation, concluded that they haven't accumulated sufficient evidence against Rafiq's new bullying allegations to refer the entire matter to the discipline committee, and hence both South Yorkshire Police and the cricket board decided not to pursue the case anymore.  

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