‘You lot’ comment never happened – Vaughan
saying the words attributed to me by Azeem Rafiq and want to re-state this publicly because the ‘you lot’ comment simply never happened.
“It is extremely upsetting that this completely false accusation has been made against me by a former team-mate, apparently supported by two other players. I remember the match clearly because it was the first time in Yorkshire’s history that four players of Asian heritage had been selected in the same team.
“It was an important milestone for the county and it was also a moment of pride for me personally. I made a point of shaking all four players’ hands that day because I recognised it was a significant moment. Given my view that the inclusion of Asian players in the Yorkshire team was a positive and welcome development, it is inconceivable I would have made the derogatory comment attributed to me. To be confronted with this allegation 11 years after it has supposed to have happened is the worst thing I have ever experienced.”
Vaughan, pictured, pointed to a passage in his contemporaneous autobiography, during which he wrote that increased representation from the Asian community “ought to be a good thing for our cricket”, as well as television footage from the game that he said showed him “specifically congratulating each of the players concerned”.
Ajmal Shahzad, who became Yorkshire’s first British Asian cricketer in 2004, said he had not heard the comment in question during an interview last year, adding “the senior guys were really good to me, they took me under their wing”.
He was directly namechecked by Vaughan, who also indicated he had received similar responses from the remainder of the playing XI.
“For some time, Ajmal Shahzad has been on record as saying that he never heard me say what has been suggested,” Vaughan said.
“I have been in contact with the six other players from that team and not one of them has any recollection of the remark being made.
“I fully accept that perspectives differ, and I have great sympathy for what Azeem Rafiq has gone through, but I hope everyone understands why I cannot allow this to go unchallenged or my reputation to be trashed unfairly.”
Rashid made no new allegations against any of those he has played with or for over the years, but welcomed recent steps taken to shine a light on the matter, including today’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee hearing.