yorkshire player repeatedly used a racially offensive term towards rafiq about his pakistani heritage, but the panel regarded it as friendly banter, sparking an outcry. tonight, after mounting speculation, former england star gary ballance revealed he was the player concerned. in a statement the yorkshire batsman said i regret these exchanges took place, but at no time did i believe or understand that it had caused rafa distress. if i had believed that, then i would have stopped immediately. he was my best mate in cricket and i cared deeply for him. i'm aware of how hurtful the racial slur is, and i regret that i used this word in immature exchanges in my younger years, and i am sure rafa feels the same about some of the things he said to me as well. earlier, on a dramatic day, a host of yorkshire's sponsors ended their partnerships with the club, as the fall out continued. emerald publishing, which has the naming rights to headingley, yorkshire tea, local brewer tetleys and leisure club operator david lloyd all turning their back on the beleaguered county. it's over a year since rafiq