Speaking to The Cricketer Podcast, Rafiq said he "wasn't shocked" by the findings but hopes that as well as providing "closure and vindication" for many, the report will allow cricket to set an example of inclusivity and diversity for wider society
Azeem Rafiq has issued a stark warning following the publication of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) report, saying "we'll all look back with a lot of regret" if the sport fails to heed the report's recommendations.
Rafiq's allegations of institutional racism at Yorkshire put the sport under an ugly spotlight and triggered investigations into discrimination in cricket in England and Wales.
The ICEC report, which was commissioned by the ECB and includes evidence from more than 4,000 people across the sport, found cricket to be racist, sexist, and elitest.
Racism, it said, is "entrenched in cricket" while women are "marginalised and routinely experience sexism and misogyny". Furthermore, "substantial cost barriers" exclude those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
The ICEC report has found cricket to be sexist, racist and elitest [supplied]
Speaking to George Dobell on The Cricketer Podcast, Rafiq admitted he "wasn't shocked" by the findings but hopes that as well as providing "closure and vindication" for many, the report, which includes 44 recommendations for change, will allow cricket to set an example of inclusivity and diversity for wider society.
"Anyone that has been watching the last couple of years shouldn't really be shocked. I'm just glad this commission has finally delivered the report and I hope it's a moment [for] people to decide where cricket wants to go," Rafiq said.
"I think it's sad that our game has been discriminating against so many people for so long. For me, it wasn't too much of a surprise. Grassroots level coming up, I think sport in general has got a lot of things it needs to improve at.
"I hope [the report] has left people in no doubt that our game has been institutionally discriminating people. I hope that when people read it, and sensible people digest it, we can all come together and go, 'the game's not been good, we need to be better'."
Expanding on what he hopes the report will achieve, he continued: "If this report [and] the opportunity there is not pounced on and done well, we'll all look back with a lot of regret.
"Cricket has an opportunity to make the game that we all love a place for everyone but also show our society that things can be better.
"I feel like everything that everyone around me has gone through, I'm incredibly committed to making sure that comes to some good.
"It's closure and vindication for everyone. People like Jahid [Ahmed], Qasim [Sheikh], Majid [Haq], who have gone through horrific targeted abuse – even today it continues for them. I hope this provides them [with] some closure. I hope these people are celebrated for what they are: incredibly brave individuals who've put their careers on the line."
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