Vaughan offers to pay to fly in Rashid for hearing

Michael Vaughan has offered to pay to fly England’s Adil Rashid home from the one-day internationals in Bangladesh to ensure he can give evidence in person at the Yorkshire racism hearing.

The England and Wales Cricket

Board ruled it was too expensive to fly Rashid back for the hearing next month, saying he could appear via video link after backing up Azeem Rafiq’s alleged “too many of you lot” comment by Vaughan.

But lawyers for the Ashes-winning former England captain want to cross-examine Rashid in person, as their client vehemently denies

claims against him. A letter has been sent to Rashid’s representatives, who have been contacted by Telegraph Sport for comment.

Pressure on Rashid to appear in person is mounting after the hearing was reduced dramatically in its scope as Richard Pyrah joined Andrew Gale, Matthew Hoggard, Tim Bresnan and John Blain in refusing to attend. Gary Ballance and Yorkshire now accept charges against them.

Vaughan is left as the only person willing to fight to defend his reputation, and Rashid – a business partner of Rafiq – is now a key witness.

Rafiq was the chief witness in charges laid by the ECB against seven individuals and Yorkshire. Vaughan was charged on one count and remains committed to appearing in person to defend himself.

In a statement on Tuesday, the ECB confirmed Pyrah, who played for Yorkshire between 2001 and 2015, had pulled out of proceedings. It added that former teammate Ballance would also not attend, having admitted liability in response to a charge of using 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, club representatives will also not participate in the hearing.

Initially, seven individuals and Yorkshire were due to appear before the Cricket Discipline Commission, which is supposedly independent from the ECB, charged with bringing the game into disrepute. The dates for the hearing are confirmed as March 1 to 9.