ECB rejected plea to co-fund inquiry into Yorkshire racism
Hgoverning body claims it had to maintain its independence players hire lawyers in expectation of being named
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The war of words over Yorkshire’s racism crisis escalated yesterday when the England and Wales Cricket Board revealed that it had rejected a request by the county to jointly fund their inquiry into former player Azeem Rafiq’s claims of institutional racism and bullying.
Departing Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton had complained that the ECB stayed quiet when help and resources were sought at the outset of their belated inquiry last year, but the governing body has hit back by saying it had to maintain independthomas
ence to deal with the sort of devastating fallout that has followed.
The ECB has suspended Yorkshire’s status as a Test venue but is under pressure over the speed of its reaction and is also facing calls for a wider, fully independent investigation into issues of diversity and racism within English cricket.
Yorkshire’s accounts last year, covering the period before Covid-19, showed debts of £18.34million, despite regularly hosting internationals. The 2019 Ashes Test brought ticket sales of £4.7million alone.
ECB director of communications Kate Miller said of Hutton’s complaint: “I don’t recognise that statement, being perfectly honest. The request from Yorkshire at the outset of all this was to partner with them on their inquiry into Azeem Rafiq’s allegation, for us to sit on the panel
and co-fund their inquiry. As a regulator, there can’t be a halfway house.
“There may be times at the end of an inquiry where we have to come over the top and have absolute independence on a situation like this. It’s exactly how it has played out. There’s a reason why that governance structure is in place. We offered other forms of help more pastorally, but we couldn’t support them on the investigation.”
Asked by the BBC about the sense the ECB only acted once sponsors started deserting Yorkshire, Miller said: “We have been waiting for the report from Yorkshire since August. We were trying to use the regulatory powers we have to get that information. I do have sympathy with people who believe we moved too slowly. I think given our time again we would act differently.”
Yorkshire is considering releasing the racism report by Wednesday, with two more former England internationals fearing they have been named. After Gary Ballance and Michael Vaughan were among those accused by Rafiq, two other players hired lawyers in expectation of being identified.
Ballance said he felt deep “regret” over calling Rafiq a “P--i” in “my younger years” but said it was in the context of a “friendly verbal attack” between friends. Vaughan, in his column in The Daily Telegraph, said he “completely and categorically” denied suggestions that he had used racially insensitive language.
Senior figures in the grass-roots game have told the ECB the issues raised by Rafiq should come as no surprise. “It is a tip of the iceberg,” said Jigs Chana, secretary of South
London Sunday Cricket League. “It’s commonplace, this knocking the minorities. I think there needs to be a real independent review.
“I’m really nervous this will get washed under the carpet again. The buck has to stop with the ECB.”
Sajid Patel, co-founder of the National Cricket League, told the BBC much still needed to be done regarding cultural awareness. “I can think of three Es – evaluate, eliminate, education,” he said. “When you start getting banter on questioning someone’s race, faith, culture that is beyond the line. Azeem Rafiq is a great example of showing he did not have the support needed.”
Miller said a “huge amount was going on across the game” with regard to diversity and inclusion, pointing to the work of the ECB’S “Inspiring Generations” initiative.