Ex-England cricketer Ballance admits using racial slur against Yorkshire's Azeem Rafiq
It's come amid a row about Yorkshire County Cricket Club's handling of racism allegations
Last updated 4th Nov 2021
Former England batter Gary Ballance has admitted using "a racial slur" against former Yorkshire team-mate Azeem Rafiq.
Ballance, who played 23 Tests and 16 one-day internationals between 2013-2017, released a long and emotional statement on Wednesday during which he accepted he was responsible for some of the offensive and derogatory terms that Rafiq revealed he was subjected to during his time at Headingley.
The 31-year-old attempted to offer some context of his "incredibly close relationship" with Rafiq during their time together at the club, claiming both men "said things privately to each other which were not acceptable" but made it clear he had remorse for his part of those exchanges.
He wrote: "It has been reported that I used a racial slur and, as I told the independent enquiry, I accept that I did so and I regret doing so. To be clear - I deeply regret some of the language I used in my younger years.
"I do not wish to discredit Rafa by repeating the words and statements that he made about me and others but I have to be clear that this was a situation where best friends said offensive things to each other which, outside of that context, would be considered wholly inappropriate.
"I regret that these exchanges took place but at no time did I believe or understand that it had caused Rafa distress. If I had believed that then I would have stopped immediately. He was my best mate in cricket and I cared deeply for him. To my knowledge, it has never been alleged that I reduced Rafa to tears."
Rafiq has responded to the admission, saying he wants to stress "this is not really about the words of certain individuals."
He's called for a "reform and cultural change" at Yorkshire County Cricket Club and has accused "numerous" leaders of failing to act.
Rafiq is set to appear in front of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's select committee in an evidence session on November 16, and could offer up his fullest and most damning account yet given the presence of parliamentary privilege.
The England and Wales Cricket Board says its investigating.