The Black Lives Matter movement has given confidence to the victims of racism in various parts of the world and they have now begun to stand up against it. Pakistan-born former England U19 cricketer and Yorkshire captain Azeem Rafiq is the latest cricketer to speak up against the racial harassment.

He has claimed that he wasn't treated well at his former club and was always considered an outsider. He had lost faith in humanity and had even contemplated suicide.

Rafiq told ESPNCricInfo, "I know how close I was to committing suicide during my time at Yorkshire. I was living my family's dream as a professional cricketer, but inside I was dying. I was dreading going to work. I was in pain every day."

"There were times I did things to try and fit in that, as a Muslim, I now look back on and regret. I'm not proud of it at all. But as soon as I stopped trying to fit in, I was an outsider. There were no coaches on the staff from a similar background who understood what it was like," he added.

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He also criticized the Yorkshire club saying that they don't want to act against the complaints from the victims. He believes that the culprits are still at the club trying to put everything under the carpet.

The 29-year-old said, "Yorkshire doesn't want to listen and they don't want to change. And part of the reason for that is the people who were involved in the incidents I'm talking about are still at the club. They just want to sweep it under the carpet."

However, he has a steely resolve and has decided to speak up against them even though it damages his chances of engaging with cricket ever again.

"But not this time. Not again. I know what I’m doing here. I know that by speaking out I’m damaging my chances of working in the game again. But I also know it’s the right thing to do and if I have to stand alone to do it, I will,” Rafiq concluded.

(Source: ESPNCricInfo)