Azeem Rafiq yet to receive apology over Yorkshire racism incident

English cricketer Azeem Rafiq is yet to receive a direct apology from Colin Graves in regards to the Yorkshire racism incident. Graves made his return as Yorkshire chair, having held the role from 2012 to 2015, which was part of the period where the club was fined £400,000 due to their failure to eradicate the systemic use of racist or discriminatory language.

The same fine was followed by Rafiq opening up about his time in Yorkshire. To sort out the matter, Graves agreed to appear as a witness at the parliamentary hearings.

Graves accepted the opportunity to make a direct apology to Rafiq, but when he was asked if he had done so, the Yorkshire chair revealed that he had yet to make the apology. 

Also read: Colin Graves returns to Yorkshire after apologising for his previous behaviour

"I haven't apologised to him personally; no, If I had the opportunity to talk to him then fine, I would do because he should not have experienced what he experienced,” Graves was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. 

Seeing his statement, Graves was asked why he had not reached out to Rafiq, to which he replied that he did not have the time to do so due to so much going on around him. 

Also read: 'The cost of not speaking up was too much' - Azeem Rafiq on Yorkshire racism saga

"Certainly from my point of view, I didn't feel that was appropriate at the time, I've apologised today to Mr Rafiq and anybody else who experienced any discrimination or racism. I just had plenty things going on around not to pick up the phone to Mr Rafiq,” Graves said.

It is also worth noting that Graves issued an apology to all victims of racism at Yorkshire County Cricket in January 2024, after his return as the club’s chair was confirmed. 

"I'll apologise again today, because anybody from a minority ethnic background who experienced either discrimination or racism at Yorkshire, that should never have happened. It never will be acceptable and it certainly won't be going forward. I apologise for anybody who went through any discrimination or racism, it is not accepted,” he said.