Former English cricketer Azeem Rafiq, who this week said he had lost his career to racism, admitted on Thursday he had sent anti-Semitic messages as a 19-year-old.

In the messages, Rafiq joked about an unnamed Derbyshire player being reluctant to spend money on a meal out because “he is a jew”.

He added the player would “probs go after my 2nds again ha”, adding: “Only Jews do tht sort of shit.”

In a statement on Thursday, the 30-year-old Pakistan-born Rafiq said: “I am incredibly angry at myself and apologise to the Jewish community. I have absolutely no excuses. I am ashamed of this exchange.

“I was 19 at the time and hope and believe I am a different person today.”

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