Eeee Begum!

I wonder how many in Yorkshire are now regretting that, in 1992, their cricket club abandoned its historic rule that it would only select players born in Yorkshire. But for this, Yorkshire Cricket club would not now be facing self-destruction.

The club has been accused of racism by Azeem Rafiq, who was born and brought up in Pakistan, notwithstanding that the club had appointed him as the youngest captain in the county’s history. Daniel Finkelstein has remarked recently that the current fashion for apologising about everything is typically counter-productive, but the club appears not to have learned that lesson.  Instead, it has prostrated itself in abject apology and, not surprisingly, is getting stamped on by every vindictive boot.

Recent revelations about Mr Rafiq suggest that, despite his apparent ability to put on a show for the flopsies, he is a nasty, anti-Semitic, manipulative little toerag. It is perhaps because of this, and not because of racism, that he has failed to win the hearts and minds of his teammates.

Still. Could be worse. They could have appointed Shamima Begum as their new captain.