By Powerscourt on 28/04/2021

Powerscourt supports cricket star in fight against racism

Powerscourt is supporting former England under-19 cricket captain Azeem Rafiq after he revealed institutional racism in the domestic game. These claims have since been substantiated by a number of Azeem’s  contemporaries.

We have been working closely with sporting and political media to rid the sport of the racism that has bubbled under the surface of the county game for decades.

The serious allegations against his former employer, Yorkshire County Cricket Club, have been covered both nationally and internationally, from the BBC to Fox Sports Australia.

This month (April), Azeem was the subject of a powerful two-page Daily Mail interview with top cricket journalist Paul Newman. Azeem opened up about his fears for the game:  “I don’t think cricket wants to listen. I don’t feel as though the game is in any way prepared to do something really meaningful about all this. I’ve been left really hurt.”

Newman concluded that Azeem “deserves to be heard”.

Powerscourt director Mark Leftly says: “Azeem’s ambition is for youngsters to be able to play and enjoy cricket without fear of suffering abuse. We are determined to help him achieve that transformation in the sport.”