Vaughan last man fighting Rafiq claims
Pyrah latest to pull out of Yorkshire racism hearings Former England captain determined to clear name
Michael Vaughan is the last man standing to defend himself against Azeem Rafiq, after the rest of the Yorkshire accused withdrew from the disciplinary process or accepted charges.
Next month’s hearing has been reduced dramatically in its scope after Richard Pyrah joined Andrew Gale, Matthew Hoggard, Tim Bresnan and John Blain in refusing to attend. Gary Ballance and Yorkshire accept charges against them.
With Ashes-winning former England captain Vaughan the only person willing to fight to defend his reputation, pressure will grow on Adil Rashid to appear in person.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has said it will not fly the leg-spinner – a business partner of Rafiq’s – back from England’s tour of Bangladesh. But as he is said to be a key witness in the contested “you lot” comment that Vaughan denies, lawyers are likely to fight attempts by the ECB to allow him to give evidence only by video link.
Rafiq was the chief witness in charges laid by the ECB against seven individuals and Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Vaughan was charged on one count and remains committed to appearing in person.
In a statement yesterday, the ECB confirmed Pyrah, who played for Yorkshire between 2001 and 2015, had pulled out of proceedings. The governing body added that Ballance would also not attend, having admitted liability in response to the charge against him for his use of racially discriminatory language.
The governing body also said Yorkshire, as expected, had admitted four amended charges, including a failure to address systemic use of racist and/or discriminatory language over a prolonged period and a failure to take adequate action in respect of allegations of racist and/ or discriminatory behaviour. As a result, representatives of the club would also not be participating in the hearing, the ECB confirmed.
Initially, seven individuals and Yorkshire were due to appear before the Cricket Discipline Commission, which is independent from the ECB, charged with bringing the game into disrepute. The hearing will run from March 1 to March 9.
Pyrah’s decision to pull out comes after Ashes winner Bresnan branded the Yorkshire investigation a “circus” and said the ECB had “pandered” to Rafiq’s “every need”.
Rafiq first alleged racism at Yorkshire in 2020, which led to the charges from the ECB last year. Vaughan strenuously denies Rafiq’s allegations that he said “too many of you lot, we need to do something about it”, within earshot of the Rafiq, Rashid, Ajmal Shahzad and Rana Naved-ul-hasan.