English county side Yorkshire finds itself in hot water with its former players and employees backing cricketer Azeem Rafiq's allegations of "institutional racism" at the club.

Earlier this year, Rafiq claimed that he wasn't treated well at his former club and was always considered an outsider. As a result, he had lost faith in humanity and even contemplated suicide.

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Subsequently, former West Indies cricketer Tino Best and ex-Pakistan pacer Rana Naved-ul-Hasan provided evidence in support of Rafiq as part of an ongoing probe conducted by ECB.

As per a report published in ESPNcricinfo, two former Yorkshire employees— Taj Butt and Tony Bowry— have also given evidence against the club, including reference to India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara being called ‘Steve’.

"(There were) continuous references to taxi drivers and restaurant workers when referring to (the) Asian community," Butt, who was employed within the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation as a community development officer, was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

"They called every person of colour 'Steve'. Even (India batsman) Cheteshwar Pujara, who joined as an overseas professional, was called Steve because they could not pronounce his name."

Pujara has had two stints as an overseas player for Yorkshire, in 2015 and 2018. He has also appeared for county sides Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

Bowry, who was appointed as a cricket development manager to develop the game for black communities, also commented on this raging issue, saying: "Many youngsters struggled to make progress, and the few that did found the environment of the dressing rooms very difficult and unwelcoming, as a direct result of racism they faced."

"It affected performance... they were labelled trouble-makers."

Meanwhile, Azeem Rafiq has welcomed the measures initiated by both Yorkshire and the ECB. He has also called for "an urgent meeting" with the ECB in order to discuss "how we can instill cultural and racial acceptance through all age groups".

"Part of the problem I faced was that my concerns and complaints fell on deaf ears," Rafiq said.

"I raised complaints about racism, including with the head of diversity, and no one took action. The key to change is to listen and then to keep listening."