'Simply Intolerable': England Test Skipper Joe Root On Racism In Yorkshire Cricket
Yorkshire county cricket club has been widely criticized for its handling of the issue of racism and has lost the right to host England's international matches at Headingly, in addition to sponsors.
New Delhi: Reacting to the racism controversy in Yorkshire county cricket club, England Test captain Joe Root on Thursday said that the entire episode has harmed the sport and people's lives. Root pledged his support to bring change in the club. The county club recently had said that no action will be taken against any employee in view of former player Azim Rafiq's claim of institutional racism. The main sponsors broke ties with the club this week due to the way the matter was handled.
"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. I just want the sport to be a place where everyone is enjoying it for the beautiful game it is and feels equal and safe. It hurts knowing this has happened at YCCC so close to home. 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," said Root in a statement posted on his Twitter account.
— Joe Root (@root66) November 11, 2021
"These events have fractured our game and torn lives apart. We must now recover and come back together as fans, players, media, and those who work within cricket. We have an opportunity to make the sport I love better for everyone. 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. We have to find a way to move forward and make sure this never happens again. In my opinion, this is a societal issue and needs addressing further afield than just cricket," he added.
The county cricket club has been widely criticized for its handling of the issue of racism and has lost the right to host England's international matches at Headingly, in addition to sponsors.
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