sport news Female Yorkshire staff 'uneasy' at Azeem Rafiq Test invite amid sexual ... trends now

Yorkshire ignored warnings from staff that female colleagues felt uncomfortable about Azeem Rafiq being invited to the Headingley Test as guest of honour last summer due to allegations of sexual harassment made against him during his time playing at the club.

After a series of allegations which will raise questions about chairman Lord Patel’s stewardship of Yorkshire, Sportsmail has learned that:

Several staff complained to Patel and the club’s chief operating officer Andy Dawson on numerous occasions in the week before Rafiq was due to attend the third day of England’s third Test against New Zealand on June 25, reporting concerns aired by female colleagues, but no action was taken. Two female employees changed their work patterns on the Saturday of the Test to avoid contact with Rafiq, and a third member of staff asked for the day off, although ended up working. Many Yorkshire staff quietly left the pavilion by a side exit following Rafiq’s arrival to avoid being accused of snubbing him, because they were unhappy his racism allegations had led to 16 of their colleagues being sacked last December. These latest allegations follow the disclosure on Monday that Rafiq is accused in legal documents lodged at the High Court of the sexual harassment of women on two separate occasions while playing for Yorkshire.