Michael Vaughan racism verdict – LIVE: Ex-England captain cleared at Yorkshire hearing

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has been cleared of using racist or discriminatory language towards a group of players, including Azeem Rafiq, after a hearing in London.

Vaughan was charged by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) with making a racist comment towards Rafiq, Adil Rashid, Ajmal Shahzad and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan before a Yorkshire game in 2009.

It was alleged that the 48-year-old, who led England in 51 Tests, said to the quartet, who are of Asian ethnicity: “There’s too many of you lot, we need to have a word about that.”

Vaughan, who had denied making the comment, announced on social media that he has now been cleared of the charge by the Cricket Discipline Committee (CDC) panel.

The chair of the England & Wales Cricket Board, Richard Thompson, said: “This has been an incredibly challenging period for our sport, but one we must all learn from in order to make cricket better and more inclusive. When Azeem Rafiq spoke out about his time in cricket, he exposed a side of our game which no one should have to experience. We are grateful for his courage and perseverance.

“Given the nature of these cases, they have taken a clear toll on everyone involved. There now needs to be a time of reconciliation where, as a game, we can collectively learn and heal the wounds and ensure that nothing like this can ever happen again.

“This has been the most complex and thorough regulatory investigation and disciplinary process that the ECB has ever conducted. It covered emotive allegations spanning a period of nearly 20 years with rigour and diligence and was overseen throughout by industry-leading KCs and three very experienced independent members of a sub-group of the Regulatory Committee. I would like to thank the CDC Panel and all those involved in working on these important proceedings.

“The decisions published today are the findings of an independent CDC Panel, reaching its own decisions based on the evidence before it, and it is now for the Panel to determine what sanctions are appropriate where charges have been admitted or upheld. Having only received the decisions today, we will need time to consider them carefully.

“At its best, our sport is one that brings people together and connects communities. It is now time, as we also prepare to receive the report of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, to work together to continue, expand and accelerate the work that is under way to change for the better, so that we can make cricket the UK’s most inclusive sport.”

Azeem Rafiq has issued a statement in regards to the CDC’s verdicts and says that ‘cricket needs to understand the extent of its problems and address them.’

He posted his statement on Twitter, it reads:

“Charges against seven of the eight defendants, including the widespread use of the ‘P’ word, have been upheld by the CDC today. This comes in addition to the other reports, panels and inquiries that found I and others suffered racial harassment and bullying while at Yorkshire.

“The issue has never been about individuals but the game as a whole. Cricket needs to understand the extent of its problems and address them. Hopefully, the structures of the game can now be rebuilt and institutionalised racism ended for good. It’s time to reflect, learn and implement change.”

Yorkshire CCC and Gary Ballance who were also accused of racism had already pleaded guilty to all charges against them.

Tim O’Gorman and his panel wrote: “Should any party wish to appeal they will have 14 days to do so from the date on which these decisions are handed down, namely by close of business on Friday 14th April 2023.... Any application for an appeal should be made to the chair of the CDC.”

The panel added: “Should any party wish to make an application relating to costs, it will be dealt with on the date that the disciplinary panel sits to consider sanctions.”

Richard Pyrah is a former Yorkshire bowling coach. The charges against him were as follows.

Charge 1 - Used the term “you lot”:

a) towards and/or about the former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq during the warm-up before a T20 Cup match between Yorkshire and Lancashire at Headingley on 17 June 2011 when referring to Mr Rafiq and his fellow Yorkshire cricketers Adil Rashid and Ajmal Shahzad by saying “why are you lot always together, why don’t you come and chill with us?” and/or “where are you lot going?”

b) towards and/or about Mr Rafiq on other occasions in the period between 2008 and 2014 (inclusive) and/or in 2018;

Verdict: not proved

Charge 2 - Used the terms “fit Paki” and/or “FP” about Asian women:

a) referring to Amna Rafiq as “FP” at Headingley on an official Yorkshire media day in April 2014 whilst in Mr Rafiq’s presence;

b) on other occasions in the Yorkshire environment in 2014 and/or in 2018.

Verdict: both proved

There were two main charges, with subsections, given to former Yorkshire captain and head coach Andrew Gale. All the charges against him were proved.

Charge 1 - Used the term “Rafa the Kaffir”:

(a) towards the former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq on 27 June 2008 in the Yorkshire dressing room during Mr Rafiq’s Yorkshire First XI debut in the T20 Cup against Nottinghamshire in Nottingham;

(b) towards Mr Rafiq on other occasions between 27 June 2008 and the end of the 2010 season.

Verdict: both proved

Charge 2 - Used the term “P---”:

(a) during the lunch break of a Yorkshire Second XI match against Somerset Second XI at Taunton Vale CC in September 2009, when Mr Rafiq overheard Mr Gale calling Mr Rafiq an “arrogant P---”;

(b) on other occasions towards and/or about Mr Rafiq between June 2008 and the end of his first spell at Yorkshire in 2014 and/or during Mr Rafiq’s second spell at Yorkshire in 2018;

(c) in 2013 referring to Mosun Hussain, a Yorkshire Academy player, as a “shit P---” during fitness training at Headingley.

Verdict: all proved

John Blain, the former Scotland seamer, was charged with offences relating to his time working at Yorkshire as a coach. Charges - Used racist and/or discriminatory language in referring to Asian individuals as “P---” or “P---s”:

1. during pre-season training at Headingley in around April 2010; and/or

2. on other occasions at Yorkshire in 2010 and/or 2011.

Vedict: both proved

Tim Bresnan has been found guilty of certain charges, not guilty of others and the panel found that one charge was neither proved nor disproved.

Charge 1 - Used the term “the brothers”:

a) towards Azeem Rafiq, Adil Rashid, Ajmal Shahzad and Rana Naved ul-Hasan during the warm-up prior to a T20 Cup match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on 22 June 2009;

Verdict: Not statisfied on balance of probabilities

b) towards Asian players at Yorkshire by saying things like “what are the brothers doing for dinner?” between 2008 and 2014 (inclusive) and/or 2017 and/or 2018; and/or 2. the term “you lot”:

Verdict: not proved

Charge 2 - Used the term “you lot:

a) towards Mr Rafiq and Mr Rashid in the dressing room at Headingley prior to a County Championship match between Yorkshire and Derbyshire on 15 August 2012;

Verdict: not proved

b) towards Moin Ashraf at the T20 Finals Day against Hampshire on 25 August 2012 in the context “why do you lot pray before you bowl”;

Verdict: not proved

c) towards Asian players at Yorkshire on other occasions at Headingley between 2008 and 2014 (inclusive) and/or 2017 and/or 2018;

Verdict: proved

Charge 3 - Used the terms “fit P---” and/or “FP”:

a) referring to Amna Rafiq at Headingley on an official Yorkshire media day in April 2014 whilst in Mr Rafiq’s presence; and/or

b) about an Asian woman whilst sat at the Yorkshire team’s hotel bar with Mr Rafiq in Birmingham the evening before a T20 match against Warwickshire on 7 July 2018; and/or

c) about Asian women on other occasions in the Yorkshire environment in 2014 and/or 2017 and/or 2018.

Verdict: proved

Anjan Luthra claimed attempts to improve Cricket Scotland were being undermined by lobbyists after he resigned as chairman in the wake of major criticism of his and the organisation’s attempts to tackle racism.

Luthra has quit less than six months after being appointed and several days after four members of Cricket Scotland’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion advisory group resigned over a perceived lack of progress in making change.

The outgoing chairman had been heavily criticised the previous week for claiming “significant progress” was being made in the ongoing response to a report in July last year which uncovered 448 examples of institutional racism. Cricket Scotland was the subject of further criticism in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday.

Former England and Yorkshire swing bowler Matthew Hoggard has seen three of the four charges against him proved by the CDC report.

Charge 1 - Using the term “Rafa the Kaffir”: (a) creating and using the nickname on the day of Azeem Rafiq’s first team debut for Yorkshire on 27 June 2008 during a T20 Cup match against Nottinghamshire; and/or (b) using it on other occasions towards Mr Rafiq from 27 June 2008 until leaving Yorkshire in 2009

Verdict: proved

Charge 2 - Using he term “P---” towards and/or about Mr Rafiq and other Asian players, in contexts such “you P--- are all the same” and “is it because I’m a P---”, during the 2008 cricket season in the Yorkshire dressing room.

Verdict: proved

Charge 3 - Using the term “you lot” when referring to Mr Rafiq and other Asian players in the Yorkshire squad in the Yorkshire dressing room, in contexts such as “you lot sit over there”, in the 2008 and/or 2009 season.

Verdict: not proved

Charge 4 - Using the term “TBM” and/or “token black man” towards Ismail Dawood in 2004 and/or 2005 in the Yorkshire environment.

Verdict: proved

Hoggard did not appear at the hearing but admitted to charges 2 and 4 before the CDC made their own verdicts.