VAUGHAN’S BIGGEST BATTLE
Rashid’s support of Rafiq leaves Ashes winning England captain fighting to salvage reputation
Michael Vaughan was last night fighting to save his reputation and career in cricket punditry after adil Rashid became the third Yorkshire player to accuse him of racism.
The heat was turned up on the former england captain when Rashid put out a statement corroborating allegations made by azeem Rafiq, who is due to give evidence to MPs at a potentially explosive Digital, culture, Media and Sport select committee hearing today.
and on another damning day for cricket a second former essex player, Maurice chambers, revealed he had been racially abused during his time at chelmsford and in a stint at Northamptonshire.
Rashid joined Rafiq and Pakistan international Rana Naved in alleging Vaughan said ‘too many of you lot, we will have to do something about that’ before a Yorkshire match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in 2009.
‘i wanted to concentrate as much as possible on cricket but i can confirm azeem Rafiq’s recollection of Michael Vaughan’s comments to a group of us asian players,’ Rafiq told The Cricketer.
‘Racism is a cancer in all walks of life and unfortunately in professional sports, too, and is something which of course has to be stamped out.’
The england and Yorkshire leg-spinner’s statement was heralded by new Yorkshire chairman lord Kamlesh Patel, who has been given the task of clearing up the biggest crisis in the county’s history.
‘i welcome adil’s courage in speaking up at what is a difficult and distressing time for all those who love this club and cricket,’ said lord Patel. ‘i have been in touch with adil today so we can talk through the issues as soon as he is ready and able.’
But the intervention by Rashid was greeted by another robust defence from Vaughan (right), who said: ‘i categorically deny saying the words attributed to me by azeem Rafiq. i want to re-state this publicly because the “you lot” comment simply never happened.’
TV pictures of Vaughan shaking hands with Rafiq,
Rashid, Naved and ajmal Shahzad — who has said he did not hear the comments — on the Trent Bridge outfield just after the alleged incident emerged on Sky Sports News yesterday.
‘anyone who has viewed the footage and the interaction between the players would find it hard to reconcile those scenes with the version of events that has been presented,’ added Vaughan.
Meanwhile, chambers joined another former essex player in Zoheb Sharif in alleging wrongdoing at chelmsford when he accused a coach and senior player of racist bullying that would reduce him to tears.
‘On several occasions a senior player would ask me if i wanted a banana,’ said chambers. ‘When i became upset he would turn to the coach and say: “hey, i’m only offering him some fruit”. The coach would laugh.’
New essex chief executive John Stephenson said: ‘The allegations make distressing reading. (They) will be taken very seriously and investigated thoroughly.’
Meanwhile, the players’ union has employed a new five-strong legal team to help players on both sides of the fence as english cricket braces itself for an avalanche of discrimination claims.
The Professional cricketers’ association, an organisation of whom Rafiq was highly critical following the investigation into his allegations of racism at Yorkshire, have corresponded with the country’s cricketers past and present to tell them of the free expert advice. individuals have been told to make contact by email, and a follow-up phone or video call with one of the panel will be arranged.
‘There is no room for discrimination of any kind within cricket,’ read the Pca missive. ‘as the Pca looks to navigate its way through the issues raised, it is imperative we remain impartial in any situation involving our members as a victim of, or being accused of, discrimination of any kind and offer the appropriate support to any of those affected.’