Azeem Rafiq 'racially attacked': Police launch investigation against man who pooed in his garden

Ex-Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq has been on the receiving end of a hate crime and the South Yorkshire Police started an investigation to identify the man who defecated in the garden of the cricketer's residence in Barnsley. The ex-cricketer has claimed he has been a target of abuse since his dramatic testimony opened an investigation against racism in English cricket last year.

Azeem Rafiq caused a whirlwind in the cricketing fraternity after shedding light on the traumatic racial abuse he received from his former teammates at the Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Following his powerful revelation, the ex-cricketer has been subject to abuse by the locals in the country, and an investigation has been launched after a man was suspected of defecating in his garden.

"Our Barnsley team is looking to identify the man pictured, in connection with a reported hate crime. At 6.18 pm on 5 October, it’s reported that a man defecated in the front garden of an address. It is believed that the incident, which is classed as a public order offence, is racially motivated. We are looking to speak to this man as we believe he could help us progress our enquiries," South Yorkshire Police said to the media.

The investigation started after Rafiq addressed the MPs at a Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport Committee earlier this month. He had revealed the saddening state of affairs in the community as his family was constantly receiving abuse and threats after his testimony last year. 

"The downside and the difficult bits have been that my family has been the target of abuse, threats, and attacks. Recently at my family house, there was a bloke in broad daylight who, basically, walked in and out of the garden on the phone before defecating. Bringing a loo roll. And, it looked all very planned," the ex-cricketer had said earlier this month.