Quantifiable data is available. 35% of local league domestic cricket league players are BAME . Only 5% of first class cricket is.
How quantifiable do you want it to be?
The issues are far deeper ref why players being from BAME or other backgrounds do not make the pro game. It's not fully about the race. I know first hand Lancashire are very good with all backgrounds and are extremely supportive and non prejudice. There is a massive difference in standard between local league player and a CAG player - The problem is a lot of clubs do not have a good enough coaching structure in place to develop their players to the point where they have a chance of making it. I know a couple of local Premier League clubs who have parents running Junior training nights. These parents have never played the game.
So cut a long story short - its not all about colour - just ability for that final step up
I'd say from U13's upwards - the skills required change - unfortunately the reason players from Privately educated or wealthier backgrounds make it - is due to the level of coaching required and this being able to fund the development of the player -Privately educated players (Boarding School or Grammer School) probably get around 4/5 hours of 121 coaching a week from Cricket Masters (sometimes ex pros dep on school)
it's not a cheap game
121 coaching costs anything between £30 - £100/hour
Kit - A top quality bat can cost anywhere between £200 - £500
Another issue is the majority of County Age Group Cricket is played during the week - obvious reasons being grounds are being used for clubs, coaches & players are playing club cricket at weekends - its a big responsibility on parents to be taking days off, booking over night stays and travelling around the country taking their kids.
So there is a natural drop off due to families unable to keep up with the requirements financially to push their children
What Rafiq has gone through is awful, but it has been going on for years everywhere in all walks of life. It's generally the minority of them in the environment, but they are the bullies - and they would intimidate the non bullies - That's why maybe others choose to ignore it and pretend it never happened as they are/were afraid of repercussions themselves.
I hope the game gets looked at as a whole to 1 stamp out any form of discrimination and also look at how they can support the development of potential who maybe cannot afford to pay for the additional coaching required to support their development.