The former Yorkshire cricketer whose allegations of racism and bullying at the club sent shockwaves through the game is joining the UK contingent for next week’s March of the Living to Auschwitz Birkenau.

After Azeem Rafiq’s allegations hit the headlines, historical antisemitic remarks made on social media surfaced for which he apologised unreservedly and he has since talked to survivors and attended Shoah educational events.

March of the Living sees thousands of people walk the 3km from the gates of Auschwitz to the gas chambers at Birkenau, serving as a tribute to the millions murdered by the Nazis. It will be led by seven survivors, who the cricketer will meet.

He said his motivation for taking part was to improve his knowledge about the Holocaust; to better understand what happened and why its commemoration is so important.

“I am passionate about understanding all I can about the Holocaust,” he explained. “How it came about, what actually happened and very importantly, to hear the testimonies of the remaining survivors.

“It is everyone’s duty to learn about our past so that we have the knowledge and power to stop such atrocities happening again.”

March of the Living UK founder Scott Saunders was “delighted that Azeem will be joining us. It is so important that we pass the torch of memory to future generations and maintain the universal message that ‘never again’ must really mean exactly that.”