Rana Naved-ul-Hasan claims he was racially abused when at Yorkshire
Former Yorkshire player Rana Naved-ul-Hasan has accused his old club of “systematic taunting” and says he was subjected to racist abuse by supporters.
Rana’s comments come after Azeem Rafiq revealed earlier this month that he was left on the brink of suicide and claimed his former employer was “institutionally racist”.
Yorkshire have engaged an independent law firm to investigate Rafiq’s allegations.
Rana, who played for the club in 2008 and 2009, told ESPNcricinfo: “I fully support what Azeem said and this has been the case with me as well.
“I never spoke about it because, as foreigners, we were temporary and somehow I managed to accept the way it is.
“There was systematic taunting. To us as overseas players from Asia, when you are not able to perform, the home crowd which should be supporting us, instead started hooting and would taunt us with racist slurs like ‘p***’.
“If you are performing then you get all the space but, in case I am not taking wickets, the attitude suddenly started to change.
“They started to give us a tough time, giving me a smaller hotel room and there used to be a clear case of discrimination.”
Speaking earlier this month, Rafiq, who had two stints at Headingley between 2008 and 2018, said, as a Muslim, he was made to feel like an “outsider” at the county.
“I know how close I was to committing suicide during my time at Yorkshire,” he said.
“I was living my family’s dream as a professional cricketer, but inside I was dying. I was dreading going to work. I was in pain every day.
“I believe the club is institutionally racist and I don’t believe they are prepared to acknowledge the fact or willing to change. My only motivation now is to prevent anyone else feeling the same pain.”
Latest
-
Women's Cricket
It’s a lot of fun – Heather Knight still enjoying captaining England
Knight succeeded Charlotte Edwards, who had a decade-long stint in the position, in June 2016.
-
England
On this day in 2018: Kevin Pietersen retires from professional cricket
The latter years of the Pietermaritzburg-born maverick’s career were spent on the T20 circuit.
-
England
Jofra Archer snaps off stump on impressive return from injury in India
The 28-year-old took two for 22 in seven overs.
-
County Cricket
Darren Gough steps down as managing director of cricket at Yorkshire
Gough said it was the “right time” to move on having been in the post since December 2021.
-
England
On this day in 2004: Steve Harmison takes seven for 12 against West Indies
The pace bowler produced a devastating spell at Sabina Park 20 years ago.
-
England
Jos Buttler feels refreshed and ready to enjoy ‘best years’ of his career
England’s white-ball team endured a poor 2023 which culminated in the disastrous defence of their World Cup crown in India.
-
England
Jos Buttler confident ‘special cricketer’ Jofra Archer will be fit for World Cup
Archer has not represented his country since last March when he featured in a T20 match in Bangladesh.
-
Indian Premier League
England batter Harry Brook withdraws from IPL following death of his grandmother
Brook pulled out of England’s five-Test tour to India before the squad flew out from their training camp in the United Arab Emirates.