Former Yorkshire spinner Azeem Rafiq Image: DCMS via Parliament TV
Elham Asaad Buaras
The former Yorkshire spinner Azeem Rafiq has accused ex-Yorkshire and Hampshire star Alex Morris, 46, of pouring wine down his throat at the age of 15 in parliamentary documents.
The allegations from Rafiq that he was pinned down in the back of a car by a teammate at Barnsley Cricket Club and forced to drink stunned the cricket world when they first emerged 13 months ago, but the identity of the alleged perpetrator was never made public.
In written evidence submitted to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) Committee following his second appearance before them on December 13, however, Rafiq names Morris as the alleged aggressor, an allegation Morris has denied. He was a senior player at Barnsley when Rafiq was coming through the ranks at his local club as a teenager, having spent eight years in the first-class game at Yorkshire and Hampshire.
According to media reports, South Yorkshire Police spoke to Morris about the incident earlier this year after receiving a complaint, but no action was taken. ‘On 13 November 2020, my lawyers sent a press release to the media that referred to an incident when I played for my local cricket club at the age of 15,’ Rafiq writes.
‘I was pinned down by an older player, Alex Morris [‘Almo’], in the back of a car, where he forced red wine down my throat. As a practising Muslim, I did not drink, though I did later during part of my time as a professional to fit in with the culture.’
In his submission, Rafiq also claims that he was subsequently contacted by another former Barnsley player, Andrew Ivill, who remembered the incident and admitted to driving the car.
‘Later, on November 13, 2020, I received a series of messages from the car’s driver, Andrew Ivill,’ Rafiq writes. ‘He contacted me unprompted and confirmed the incident had taken place. He volunteers Alex’s name and that he was driving, proving the incident took place.’
Rafiq also told the Committee he has “been driven out of the country” by “threats and abuse” since “opening his heart out” about racism at Yorkshire.
The 31-year-old spoke of a man “defecating” in his garden as well as abuse received in the street.
“At times I’ve walked down the street fearing for my life,” Rafiq said.
Rafiq said he now receives “24/7 security” from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and spoke about how the Yorkshire Post’s coverage of the story “should be held responsible for” the abuse he and his family have experienced since.
The Yorkshire racism trial will be held in public next year after the ECB’s Cricket Discipline Commission rejected an appeal against an open hearing from several of the defendants.
Former England stars Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard were among the seven ex-players charged with using racist language against Azeem Rafiq to object to the hearing taking place in public, but Sportsmail has learned that a newly convened CDC have ruled against them.
