Major sponsors this week abandoned deals with English county Yorkshire following an independent report into allegations of racism made by former player Azeem Rafiq.

Yorkshire had said last month that the club would not take any disciplinary action against employees, players or executives following the report, which found Rafiq had been a victim of racial harassment and bullying in his first spell at the county from 2008-14.

Azeem Rafiq, a former England under-19 captain, said in interviews last year that as a Muslim he was made to feel like an ‘outsider’ during his time at Yorkshire from 2008-18 and that he was close to taking his own life.

Publishing company Emerald Group and Yorkshire Tea said on Wednesday they had cut ties with Yorkshire.

Rafiq, a player of Pakistani descent and a former captain of the England Under-19s, said last year he was made to feel like an outsider at Yorkshire and contemplated taking his own life.

Yorkshire apologised to Rafiq in September following the publication of a summary of the report’s findings.

Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton as well as other members of the club’s senior management have been summoned to appear before a parliamentary Digital, Culture, Media and Sport panel to provide evidence.

Rafiq will also give evidence at the hearing on November 16, while British media reported the club’s board will meet on Friday for emergency talks.

Yorkshire batsman Gary Ballance said he regrets using racist language towards his former team mate Rafiq.

“It has been reported that I used a racial slur and, as I told the independent enquiry, I accept that I did so and I regret doing so,” Ballance said in a statement.

“To be clear – I deeply regret some of the language I used in my younger years.”

Ballance, who played 23 tests for England, described Rafiq as his ‘best mate in cricket’ and said that on the pitch they ‘supported each other greatly.’