Barnsley Woolley Miners Cricket Club – Statement
Barnsley Woolley Miners Cricket Club (BWMCC) believe discrimination should not be tolerated in any way, shape or form and we sympathise with our former player Azeem Rafiq on what he has experienced and been through. We believe that this will ultimately help to provide areas of change and implementation to make the game of cricket better.
BWMCC have an excellent representation of all backgrounds and currently percentage wise, the town of Barnsley has 3% BAME population and BWMCC has 10% members of BAME background and have employed a very talented Indian player for the past 5 full seasons and we are proud to have one of the largest ethnic representations of any local club, with players travelling from both inside and outside the area of Barnsley to play across both junior and senior cricket, with our long serving club captain also being of BAME background who also sits on the leagues Equity and Diversity Group. We work together with all our members to provide a welcoming and all-inclusive environment so that all members can both prosper and enjoy playing cricket for BWMCC.
We had not only Azeem, but subsequently both his younger brother and sisters came through our Junior system. As former players we thank them for their services and time at the club.
When the Rafiq family arrived as asylum seekers into Barnsley we as a club enlisted local MP’s support to ensure that the family could remain in Barnsley and very quickly made the whole Rafiq family part and parcel of the club.
Azeem had two spells with the club initially from 1999 to 2007, before joining Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC) and again after his first release from YCCC in 2014.
When he returned to us after being released by YCCC we went over and above in terms of pastoral care, coaching and volunteer hours to help.
Azeem also did great work in helping to persuade players to join our club during those periods.
In response to the claims made by Azeem whilst playing for the club under our former name Barnsley Cricket Club in 2006, The club takes this very seriously and when we were made aware of this, we were asked for a comment by the Barnsley Chronicle on Nov 16th 2020, we approached Azeem via the Barnsley Chronicle, journalist Doug O’Kane (via email) within 90 minutes of being notified to provide details of the incident so that we could investigate. No details were forthcoming then or since.
We did initiate a search of our welfare records and contacted our former safeguarding officer and there is no record of any incident being reported at that or any other time. We repeat, if Azeem wants to provide those details, we will of course initiate an investigation.
For the record, the Cricket Club would not have allowed such behaviour to take place unchallenged if it had been aware.
We would also welcome any independent investigative body to provide the transparency that a serious allegation of this nature deserves.

Our chairman previously faced disciplinary action from both the league and BWMCC Executive Committee, resulting in him being suspended from his duties and a personal sanction as well as a Club penalty, after comments he made regards an overseas player.
BWMCC strongly believe that it is important that we educate and raise awareness to all and ensure that we enable anyone that falls below the clubs’ standards to both face the relevant punishment and provide the relevant rehabilitation or education. Following that action, the BWMCC Chairman will this winter, undergo education around the whole area of inclusion and diversity.

We will continue to develop understanding regards all diversity and inclusion and as we have always done will engage with any initiatives, individuals or organisations that will enhance our club, its environment and to benefit our members.
BWMCC Executive Committee – Nov 18th, 2021