Vaughan faces a fight to save his reputation
++Ex-Yorkshire star Naved says England icon DID make racial slur at Asian players ++Ashes hero is stood down from radio show ++County chief attacks ECB on way out
captain’s denial and claimed there are ‘lots of racists at Yorkshire’.
Naved said: ‘Yes, yes, it’s true but he (Vaughan) has denied it. I’m very shocked about that, it’s true what Rafiq has alleged. He (Vaughan) was there, I was there and he used those words and he’s denied it. He definitely said it, I’m sure. I was really shocked — why is he denying these things?
‘He was a senior player who played for England and he’s a very responsible man, but he’s denying it. Rafiq is right. That’s why I’m backing him, he’s right. I’m not thinking: “Oh, I’m Asian, Rafiq’s also Asian so I’ll back him”. No — I’m telling you the truth.’
The former Pakistan star was asked why he did not complain immediately and added: ‘I did nothing at the time because I was a professional player then. As Muslims, we just try and play cricket and be fair. I’m reacting now because it’s a true story and he’s denied it.
‘He was a senior player at the time, captain or vice-captain as well, and we respect the senior people. That’s why I ignored it. Those words are not good for us, especially Asian people.’
Sportsmail revealed this week that Yorkshire batsman Gary Ballance was the player who had repeatedly called Rafiq a ‘P**i’, which all came to light when parts of Yorkshire’s report into Rafiq’s allegations of racism at the county came out.
Naved also opened up about his experience at Yorkshire, where he claimed to have suffered racism and was ‘tortured in every sense’.
‘I was in Scarborough and you can’t imagine the tiny room they gave me that was like the size of one bed,’ he said. ‘They gave me the room because I wasn’t performing well. They tortured me in every sense.
‘I showed that room to Ajmal Shahzad. I said: “Look, this is my room, I’m a pro player”.
‘If you’re performing well they treat you like a hero. If you don’t, they torture you in every sense — in facilities, your transport. There are a lot of people there who are racist and don’t like Asian people.’
Yesterday, Vaughan said: ‘We’re in different times. I’ve done my piece (in the Telegraph) and I stand by what I say. I’ve never said anything racist in my life. I have nothing to hide. The “you lot” comment never happened.
‘Anyone trying to recollect words said ten years ago will be fallible but I am adamant those words were not used. If Rafiq believes something was said to upset him, then that is what he believes.
‘It is difficult to comment except to say it hurts me to think I potentially affected someone. I take it as the most serious allegation ever put in front of me. I’ll fight to prove I’m not that person.’
Vaughan was later stood down by the BBC from Monday’s Tuffers and
A spokesperson
said: ‘The BBC takes any allegations of racism extremely seriously. We have made the editorial decision that Michael won’t appear. The show focuses on topical discussion around cricketing matters and, given his personal involvement, we need to ensure we maintain the impartiality.’
Roger Hutton, meanwhile, launched a scathing attack on Yorkshire and the ECB after yesterday becoming the first high-profile figure to pay the price for the scandal by resigning.
The Yorkshire chair called for other senior figures at Headingley to go with him, saying he experienced a ‘culture that refuses to accept change’ and a ‘constant unwillingness from executives on the board and senior management to apologise, accept there was racism and to move on’.
Hutton, who became chair last year, 18 months after Rafiq left the club, said: ‘During my time as chairman I take responsibility for failing to persuade them to take appropriate and timely action. This frustration has been shared by all non-executive members of the board, some of whom have also resigned. ‘I call for those executive members of the board to resign to make way for a new path for the club I love so much.’ Hutton then took aim at the governing body who on Thursday stripped Yorkshire of international cricket, saying: ‘When I was made aware of Azeem Rafiq’s allegations I reached out to the ECB to ask for their help to support a robust inquiry. I was saddened when they declined to help as I felt it was a matter of importance for the game as a whole. ‘It is on record that I expressed my frustration at the ECB’s reluctance to act.’ That put Hutton at loggerheads with ECB chief executive Tom Harrison, who said: ‘I refute that. We were asked to join the Yorkshire panel to be part of the investigation, which we cannot do. We are the regulator. We either run the investigation or we let a stakeholder run it in its entirety themselves. But a quasi kind of involvement is against the role we play.’
Harrison added: ‘Roger has taken the decision to resign and that’s correct.’
Harrison admitted he had still not read the report into Rafiq’s allegations that has come under criticism since it became clear its panel regarded Ballance’s use of the word ‘P**i’ as ‘banter’.
‘I have not read it and that’s important because it must go through a regulatory process,’ said Harrison. ‘My views are not important at this point. I will read it once the investigation is carried out.’
Hutton later said in a BBC interview that there is nobody at the club he would ‘personally consider racist’, but reiterated his belief that the culture of the club is ‘locked in the past’.
An emergency board meeting at Yorkshire yesterday appointed Lord Kamlesh Patel as new chair. He said: ‘This club needs to learn from past errors, regain trust and rebuild relationships with our communities. There is so much work to do.’
The Equality and Human Rights Commission have made contact with Yorkshire requesting access to the full independent report.