Azeem Rafiq and Yorkshire: timeline of a county cricket crisis

Aug 2017: Azeem Rafiq claims to have complained to Yorkshire’s then assistant coach, Richard Pyrah, and via his agent to Martyn Moxon (the director of cricket), about bullying by Tim Bresnan. He says he was advised to ignore it.

Aug 2018: Rafiq first complains about racism at Yorkshire, and the club holds a formal meeting to discuss his concerns. No further action is taken. He is released at the end of the season.

Sept 2020: Rafiq speaks publicly for the first time about his experience of racism during his professional cricket career. Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton says the county will formally investigate the claims, appointing local law firm Squire Patton Boggs to lead the inquiry. An independent panel is created to review their findings, with a result expected within three months.

Dec 2020: Rafiq launches legal action against Yorkshire, claiming that he suffered “discrimination and harassment on the grounds of race”, and that his attempt to confront racism at the club caused further victimisation.

Aug 2021: The panel’s independent report on Rafiq’s complaints is completed, and provided to the club. Yorkshire issue an apology to Rafiq for “inappropriate behaviour”, but do not admit to institutional racism.

Sep 2021: A summary of the report is published, upholding seven of 43 allegations against Yorkshire. The club admits Rafiq was a victim of “racial harassment and bullying”. The full report is not published, or provided to Rafiq. Julian Knight, chair of the parliamentary department for culture media and sport committee, calls for “the report and its full findings [to be] made public and open to scrutiny”.

Oct 2021: Rafiq is provided with a heavily redacted version of the report. Yorkshire announce that “no conduct or