London: Former England captain Andrew Strauss has urged cricketers to avoid dressing room banter that alludes to racial harassment or bullying to avoid controversies like the Azim Rafiq episode.

Pakistan-born cricketer Rafiq, who played for county team Yorkshire for a decade, told Britain’s Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in November 2021 that he was troubled by racial comments and behavior by fellow cricketers. He had also started thinking about ending his life.

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England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Director of Cricket Strauss said in a Marylebone Cricket Club Cowdrey speech at Lord’s on Wednesday that players of different nationalities are now appearing in the dressing room more than ever before, so there is a need to refrain from saying and doing things to fellow cricketers. First of all be a little cautious.

Strauss, one of England’s most successful captains, told ‘Sky Sports’, “We deal with players of different genders, races and different beliefs in the game and maybe those conversations happen in the dressing room.” Or need to avoid a joke that doesn’t sound racist. ,

Strauss also stressed the importance of ‘sportsmanship’, saying that the Azim Rafiq episode a year and a half ago had damaged the image of English cricket and showed that much more needed to be done to preserve the image of the game. (agency)