“The club has the culture of refusing change or challenges”, Roger Hutton as he announces resignation

London: Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s president, Roger Hutton, announced his resignation on Friday ahead of an emergency meeting to discuss the club’s response to the racism experienced by former player Azim Rafiq.

“For most of my time at the club, I have experienced a culture that refuses to accept change or challenge,” Hutton said in a statement released to ESPNcricinfo. “There has been persistent reluctance on the part of the Board’s executive members” [Arthur and Moxon are the executive members of the board] And to apologize to the club’s senior management and acknowledge the racism and look forward.”

Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC) said in September this year that Rafiq had been subjected to racial harassment and bullying during his first spell as a player at the YCCC, but the club said it would not take any disciplinary action. On Thursday, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) suspended Yorkshire from hosting international or major matches unless it is clearly demonstrated that it is an international venue, an ECB member and a first-class county as expected. can meet the standards.

The ECB found the Yorkshire County report “totally unacceptable” and the board said the matter was “against the spirit of cricket and its values”.

“For most of my time at the club, I have experienced a culture that refuses to accept change or challenge,” Hutton said in a statement released to ESPNcricinfo. “There has been persistent reluctance on the part of the Board’s executive members” [Arthur and Moxon are the executive members of the board] And to apologize to the club’s senior management and acknowledge the racism and look forward.”

“During my tenure as Chairman, I take responsibility for failing to persuade him to take appropriate and timely action. This dismay is shared by all non-executive members of the Board, some of whom have now have resigned. I now call on those executive members of the Board to resign, to pave a new path for the club I love dearly.”

“I am sorry that we could not persuade the executive members of the Board to recognize the gravity of the situation and to show care and remorse. I am disappointed that legal sanctions, including the ongoing employment tribunal, have prevented the investigation report from being published and Look. So that everyone can see its recommendations. I hope it will be published as soon as possible.”

“Azeem left the club in August 2018, 18 months before I joined. I have never met Azeem. However, I know that when someone makes a claim as serious as his, it needs to be investigated and changes made. Required. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize unconditionally to Azeem. The club should have recognized the serious allegations of racism at that time.”

Hutton also targeted the ECB. “I want to clarify that when I was made aware of Azeem Rafiq’s allegations, I immediately reached out to the ECB for their help and intervention to support a stronger investigation,” Hutton said.

“I was saddened when they refused to help because I felt it was a matter of great importance for the whole game. It is a matter of record that I have consistently expressed my dismay at the reluctance of the ECB,” he said. (ANI)