Azeem Rafiq: Sadiq Khan joined ‘Asian-only teams’ and was ‘triggered’ by Yorkshire racism scandal testimony

Sadiq Khan has said he was “triggered” by the emotional testimony of former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq and shared that at times he has chosen to play for “Asian only clubs”.

The former Yorkshire captain Rafiq said years of racist abuse at the club left him close to taking his own life.

He told a parliamentary select committee on Tuesday that racial slurs “P***” and the use of the term “Kevin” to refer to people of colour were “derogatory” and “an open secret”.

Rafiq was reduced to tears as he recounted allegations of horrific racism, which included claims Asian players were called “elephant washers” and told “you lot sit over there”.

Commending Rafiq for his bravery, Mr Khan said: “It was uncomfortable to watch but I recognised a lot of what was said.

“A lot of it didn’t surprise me.

“I was reflecting on why I stopped playing cricket for certain teams and played for Asian-only cricket clubs.”

He added: “That is why it triggered a lot of us. We’ve got to kick racism out of all sports and out of society and I want to commend Azeem Rafiq for his bravery.

“The book should be thrown at who is responsible.”

He said Lord Patel, who has been appointed as Yorkshire Cricket Club chairman and who he acknowledged as a friend, had a “tough and important job to do”.

Khan made the comments during a Mayor’s question time session at City Hall, the final one at the Assembly’s central London headquarters ahead of the move to Docklands.

He told the Assembly: “The best way to prevent radicalisation is for us to mix and mingle more.

“Sport unites - it brings together people of different races, backgrounds and nationalities.

“If it is the case that the way the sport is regulated and conducted leads to people not feeling welcome and they are joining mono-religion and mono-ethnicity teams that can’t be good.

“That is a breeding ground for people who want to divide communities and a breeding ground for hate.”