Azeem Rafiq had his gambling debts paid off by the Professional Cricketers’ Association — and the players’ union also arranged for him to have counselling.
Former Yorkshire off-spinner Rafiq has been critical of the PCA for failing to support him in his legal battle with the county over racist abuse, and in his emotional testimony before a parliamentary committee last month he claimed the union had not backed his case for financial reasons.
Sportsmail has learned, however, that Rafiq previously benefited from financial and emotional assistance from the PCA’s charity arm, the Professional Cricketers’ Trust (PCT), which was set up to provide medical and pastoral support for current and former first-class cricketers.
It is understood that in 2015 the PCT helped Rafiq clear gambling debts of several thousand pounds, as well as facilitating medical treatment, as they do for many players each year.
Rafiq has been open about many of his youthful indiscretions and, in his parliamentary evidence, said that as a young player at Yorkshire he had often drunk heavily with team-mates to fit in.
The Professional Cricketers' Association paid off Azeem Rafiq's gambling debts and provided the ex-Yorkshire star with counselling, Sportsmail understands
The 30-year-old also issued a heartfelt apology and met Jewish community leaders to say sorry last month after the emergence of anti-Semitic messages he posted on social media in 2011.
Rafiq has been a repeated critic of the PCA’s lack of support over the racism allegations he made against players and coaching staff at Yorkshire, seven of which were upheld by an independent report.
In his appearance before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee last month, he was scathing in his criticism of the union, claiming they refused to support his legal claim against Yorkshire for financial reasons and that their only concern for his mental health during a period when he was suicidal last winter was due to ‘box-ticking’.
‘I had a phone call with one of their lawyers for three minutes, and he turned round to me and said, “You don’t have a case”,’ Rafiq said at the hearing.
The 30-year-old has been critical of the PCA's support during his legal battle with Yorkshire
Rafiq lifted the lid on racism at the county cricket club during a select committee hearing
‘It was incredibly
