Feminine Yorkshire workers ‘uneasy’ at Azeem Rafiq Check invite amid sexual harassment allegations

Yorkshire ignored warnings from workers that feminine colleagues felt uncomfortable about Azeem Rafiq being invited to the Headingley Check as visitor of honour final summer time as a consequence of allegations of sexual harassment made towards him throughout his time taking part in on the membership.

After a collection of allegations which can increase questions on chairman Lord Patel’s stewardship of Yorkshire, Sportsmail has realized that:

• A number of workers complained to Patel and the membership’s chief working officer Andy Dawson on quite a few events within the week earlier than Rafiq was as a consequence of attend the third day of England’s third Check towards New Zealand on June 25, reporting considerations aired by feminine colleagues, however no motion was taken.
• Two feminine staff modified their work patterns on the Saturday of the Check to keep away from contact with Rafiq, and a 3rd member of workers requested for the time without work, though ended up working.
• Many Yorkshire workers quietly left the pavilion by a aspect exit following Rafiq’s arrival to keep away from being accused of snubbing him, as a result of they have been sad his racism allegations had led to 16 of their colleagues being sacked final December. These newest allegations observe the disclosure on Monday that Rafiq is accused in authorized paperwork lodged on the Excessive Courtroom of the sexual harassment of girls on two separate events whereas taking part in for Yorkshire.

The previous off-spinner is accused of exposing himself to Yorkshire’s therapeutic massage therapist within the dressing room on a visit to South Africa in October 2012, and a lodge cleaner in Northampton three months earlier, in paperwork that type a part of former Yorkshire physio Wayne Morton’s compensation declare towards the membership.

A spokesperson for Rafiq described the allegations as a ‘twisted marketing campaign of lies’, however former Yorkshire and ECB chairman Colin Graves informed Sportsmail that the South Africa incident was investigated by the membership’s cricket division and resulted in Rafiq receiving a verbal warning. 

‘It did occur and it was investigated,’ mentioned Graves. ‘It wasn’t taken any additional because it was a case of he said-she mentioned, but it surely was investigated totally.’

Yorkshire accuse Morton — who’s searching for compensation from the membership over his firm’s contract being terminated — of masking up the alleged indecent publicity in a doc signed by Patel, who was informed concerning the alleged incident final November. Morton denies orchestrating a cover-up.

Yorkshire workers are understood to have first raised considerations about Rafiq’s return to Patel within the week earlier than he was due at Headingley, with the difficulty additionally flagged to Dawson, who runs the membership on a day-to-day foundation.

Newest allegations have raised questions on chairman Lord Patel’s stewardship of Yorkshire

Patel and Dawson mentioned they’d take into consideration the matter over the weekend and it was raised once more on the Monday, however there was by no means any indication that Rafiq’s invitation can be reconsidered or makes an attempt made to reassure workers.

‘All of the workers have been speaking about it,’ a supply informed Sportsmail. ‘It was flagged to the administration a minimum of six occasions. They completely knew, but it surely got here throughout like they didn’t care. It was all concerning the PR they’d get from Azeem coming again.

‘They seemed they didn’t care concerning the workers.’

There was a way of unease amongst Yorkshire workers at Rafiq being made the visitor of honour, given his alleged behaviour whereas he was a participant, and the affect of his allegations on the membership.

Yorkshire misplaced most of their sponsors and the appropriate to stage worldwide matches following Rafiq’s look earlier than a parliamentary committee final November. The membership’s teaching and medical groups have been sacked the following month.

Yorkshire declined to remark.