England Test captain Joe Root speaks out on Yorkshire cricket racism row
Joe Root has addressed Yorkshire County Cricket Club's handling of racism in a new statement
Last updated 11th Nov 2021
England Test captain Joe Root has addressed the racism row at Yorkshire County Cricket Club in a newly release statement.
The Yorkshire player has called on cricket to "unify, educate and reset" and Yorkshire came under fire for its handling of racism complaints made by former teammate Azeem Rafiq.
Root is currently in Australia leading the Test side's Ashes preparations and has issued the statement on following weeks of escalating pressure at the club.
Joe Root's statement on allegations of racism
Root wrote: "In my capacity as England captain and as a senior player at Yorkshire, I feel compelled to address the current situation that has consumed the sport and YCCC. It's my club that I care passionately about it. I've spent a lot of time reflecting. There is no debate about racism, no one side or other. It is simply intolerable.
"These events have fractured our game and torn lives apart. I want to see change and actions that will see YCCC rise from this with a culture that harnesses a diverse environment with trust across all communities that support cricket in the county.
"I will reach out to YCCC new Chair, Lord Patel, to offer support however I'm able."
Root went on to state that racism and discrimination were problems that reached far and wide, beyond both Yorkshire and the world of cricket, and invited everybody to play their part in conquering it.
"In my opinion, this is a societal issue and needs addressing further afield than just cricket," he wrote.
"That being said, we, as a sport, all have to do more. How can we all help shape things moving forward positively? What can everyone from myself, the ECB, counties, players, officials and others in the sport do to improve the state of the game? I certainly don't have all the answers, but I think we need to educate more and earlier; we must call it out straight away and have our eyes and ears open more.
"Inclusivity, diversity and anti-discrimination is something over the past few years the England teams I have been involved in have spent a lot of time talking about and are very passionate about improving and making a big difference."
A report into Azeem Rafiq's racism case against Yorkshire has now been handed to MPs on the Digial, Culture Media and Sport select committee.
An evidence session into the wide-ranging allegations of institutionalised racism against Yorkshire will be held on Tuesday.
Yorkshire have also shared the full report with Rafiq's representatives, the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Rafiq is set to appear in front of Knight's committee alongside Patel's predecessor Roger Hutton, who resigned over the episode, and key figures from the Yorkshire board.
Chief executive Mark Arthur, who has so far resisted calls to follow Hutton's lead, is expected to appear but under-fire director of cricket Martyn Moxon is currently signed off from work with a "stress-related illness".
Yorkshire announced on Tuesday that head coach Andrew Gale had been suspended over a historic tweet, allegations unrelated to Rafiq's claims.