Gary Ballance admits being player who used racial slur in Azeem Rafiq case

Ballance added that he was only making a public statement following the reporting of his name

Gary Ballance has admitted using a racial slur against former Yorkshire teammate Azeem Rafiq, adding that he regretted using the word.

The 31-year-old, who last represented England in 2017, was named in a report by the Daily Mail on Wednesday as the senior player who had called Rafiq a ‘Paki’.

“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,” said Ballance. “To be clear - I deeply regret some of the language I used in my younger years.”

He claims that the comments were made in “a situation where best friends said offensive things to each other which, outside of that context, would be considered wholly inappropriate”.

In a lengthy statement, he said: “I am aware of how hurtful the racial slur is and I regret that I used this word in immature exchanges in my younger years and I am sure Rafa feels the same about some of the things he said to me as well.”

Ballance described Rafiq as his “closest friend and supporter in cricket”, adding that the pair had begun their careers at Yorkshire at similar times, played club cricket for Barnsley together and had been on several tours. Rafiq previously stayed in his family’s home in Zimbabwe.

Rafiq, 30, played for Yorkshire across two separate spells between 2008 and 2018. Last summer, he accused the county of “institutional racism”, with the club then launching a protracted investigation.

^{Azeem Rafiq made his allegations against Yorkshire last summer}

Yorkshire have declined to publish the subsequent report in full, citing concerns over potential legal consequences. In September, the county released an overview of the case and admitted that Rafiq was a victim of “racial harassment and bullying” during his time on the playing staff at Headingley.

Yorkshire have also issued an apology to Rafiq, but no current employees at the county are to be disciplined as a result of the report’s findings. 

The ECB is currently reviewing the report into Rafiq’s allegations, having only been sent an unredacted copy in late October.

On Tuesday, health secretary Sajid Javid had a word of warning for the governing body as it deliberates action against the county. Javid’s post on social media read: “‘Paki’ is not banter. Heads should roll at Yorkshire CCC. If [the ECB] doesn’t take action it’s not fit for purpose.”

The chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee, Julian Knight MP, has called on club chairman Roger Hutton to come before his panel, with director of cricket Martyn Moxon also expected to attend. Rafiq will give evidence on November 16.

Ballance added that he was only making a public statement following the reporting of his name.

^{Yorkshire have been widely criticised for their handling of the situation}

He said: “Because we were such good friends and spent a lot of time together drinking and on nights out we both said things privately to each other which were not acceptable. 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.

“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.

“That does not mean that what passed between us was right or appropriate. It was not. Rafa said things to me that were not acceptable and I did the same with Rafa. I never said anything with any intended malice or to upset Rafa.”

Rafiq responded to the statement on Wednesday night by tweeting: “Funny how things change from complete denial to I accepted everything over a 14-month period??”

RELATED STORIES

DCMS chair Julian Knight calls for Yorkshire board to resign over Azeem Rafiq case

Government figures step into Azeem Rafiq case, as Sajid Javid says "heads should roll" at Yorkshire