An independent report found that a number of his accusations were true and the case became a major media story in the United Kingdom.

It led to several resignations at the club and was the subject of investigations by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee in the British parliament.

[28] At the end of the season he signed a two-year contract extension with Yorkshire after the club was relegated from Division One of the County Championship.

[36][37] Journalist George Dobell was impressed with Rafiq's "grit and determination" while batting in the first innings[38] and with his bowling skill throughout the match.

[42] He spent time with England development squads,[1] but a knee injury caused him problems, and he played rarely for Yorkshire other than in Twenty20 matches.

[46] Rafiq came close to signing for Derbyshire at the start of the 2015 season, but the issues with his bowling action continued to cause problems.

[55] During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in 2020, Rafiq and his sister began to provide food for National Health Service and other key workers in Barnsley and to raise money for the local hospice.

[1][50][54] He opened a fish and chip shop in Barnsley in 2021[32][56] and has continued to gain qualifications to coach cricket since leaving the professional game.

[1][50] In 2020, in an interview with Taha Hashim of Wisden, Rafiq revealed how he experienced racism, harassment and bullying during his time playing for Yorkshire.

[1] The interview was initially about his work during the COVID-19 pandemic and his new business, but when Hashim asked about his early career Rafiq opened up about the racism he had encountered at the club.

[55] Yorkshire contacted Rafiq in early September 2020 to discuss the allegations, and announced that they would be setting up a "formal investigation" into his claims as well as a "wider review" of its "policies and culture".

[65] Tom Harrison, the chief executive officer of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), first spoke to Rafiq during the same month.

[66] Rafiq made written and verbal statements to the inquiry in November, saying that he hoped to bring about "meaningful change" at the club.

[65][68] The tribunal took place in June 2021 and failed to resolve,[69] with Rafiq refusing to accept what has been reported as "a six-figure sum" which was dependent on him signing a non-disclosure agreement which would have restricted his ability to speak about the case.

[73] Earlier in the year Rafiq had criticised the investigation process, claiming that it was "flawed" and that several key witnesses had not been asked to contribute their evidence.

[73][74] Rafiq criticised the statement made by Yorkshire, stating in an interview with the BBC Asian Network that he believed that it downplayed racism by labelling it as "inappropriate behaviour".

[75] At the beginning of September MPs on the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee called for the immediate release of the report.

[82] On 28 October, Yorkshire announced that they would not be taking disciplinary action against any member of staff or executive over the report's findings.

[83][84] A statement issued on his behalf questioned the decision not to discipline anyone, claiming that it was "inconceivable" that there was no one still at the club who had been involved in the events investigated.