Anti-racism campaigner Azeem Rafiq said he “just laughed” after Yorkshire’s cricket stadium was rebranded from Headingley to Clean Slate Headingley following a new sponsorship deal.

Rafiq, a former player, said he suffered racist abuse during his two stints for Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC), beginning in 2008 and ending in 2018.

In November, he gave emotional evidence to MPs about his experiences, prompting fundamental change at Yorkshire and an unprecedented review across cricket.

Rafiq told Sky News on Tuesday that the new name at Headingley made him smile: “I just laughed, the timing, everything – I just thought it just fitted perfectly.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

What’s behind the rebranding?

The name change comes after the club, which has played at the famous Leeds venue since 1890, signed a two-year sponsorship deal with Indian brand Clean Slate Studioz.

Clean Slate says its mission is to challenge gender stereotypes in Indian film and hope to help make Headingley “a flagbearer for inclusivity and diversity in cricket”.

Yorkshire’s ban on hosting cricket internationals at Headingley lifted after racism scandal prompts changes

Azeem Rafiq: Professional Cricketers’ Association chief executive Rob Lynch accepts failings

Azeem Rafiq attacks Middlesex chair Mike O’Farrell over ‘painful’ comments to MPs investigating racism in cricket

As well as renaming the stadium, the main pavilion will be known as the Clean Slate Pavilion and the name will appear on the club kit.

Rafiq said: “It is a clean slate…the name is one thing, but it is everything else from now on that happens that is important. There’s a lot of good primary schools around Headingley and a big, diverse community.

“I just want them to be able to walk past Headingley and look at Headingley and think, ‘this is my club’.”

Read more: Who are the key people in the Yorkshire CCC racism scandal?

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

‘Our proud club has a great future’

Yorkshire’s chairman Lord Patel and managing director of cricket Darren Gough are both in Mumbai to launch the partnership with Clean Slate founder Karnesh Ssharma.

Lord Patel said: “This new partnership – with a vibrant Indian brand that knows how to entertain diverse communities – is an exciting step for Yorkshire.

“Our proud club has a great future, welcoming everyone into our ground and this game.”

Mr Ssharma added: “We’re incredibly proud to partner with Yorkshire and to be the first Indian company to have their name prominently featured within a UK sports ground. Our ambition is to help make the Headingley venue a beacon for equality and inclusivity in Yorkshire and the sport in general.”

Previous stadium sponsor Emerald Publishing was one of a series of commercial partners that cut ties with Yorkshire at the height of the scandal last autumn, plunging the club into a financial crisis that threatened its future.

Yorkshire was stripped of the right to host international cricket, but this was recently lifted by the England and Wales Cricket Board after the club demonstrated significant progress addressing the problems that Rafiq had highlighted.

England’s test match against New Zealand in June and a one-day international against South Africa will be played at the renamed ground.

Related posts:

COVID vaccines have prevented 10,400 deaths in older adults, Public Health England says PM praises Prince Philip’s ‘steadfast support’ for Queen as tributes paid to duke ‘He was our everything’: Family pays tribute to boy, 9, killed after being ‘struck by lightning’ Scotland beaten in first appearance at a major tournament in 23 years UK daily COVID cases exceed 40,000 – highest since mid-January Children as young as 13 are being recruited by far-right extremists, says MI5 director-general Police forces to review allegations involving serving officers following Sarah Everard murder Businessman who organised fatal flight for footballer Emiliano Sala jailed for 18 months Officer investigating serial killer’s final victim was not told others had died in similar circumstances, inquest told Police release new images of sex offender who escaped from prison Discovery of man’s body in freezer prompts police appeal Terror suspect killed MP in ‘vicious and frenzied attack’ after targeting Michael Gove, court hears