[VIDEO] Azeem Rafiq files a legal claim against Yorkshire County Cricket Club

[MenInG]

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has lifted the suspension on Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC) hosting international and major cricket matches at Headingley. The decision follows a rigorous review of progress made against several criteria set out in November 2021 to tackle racism at the club.

The Board acknowledged the hard work and good progress made by the Club but made their decision conditional on further requirements they wished to be implemented by 31 March 2022. These are:

Resolving the issues relating to rules changes and decisions at the club which have been subject to procedural flaws.
Amendments to club rules relating to the appointment and operation of the Board, including removal of Graves Trust powers.
At a formal meeting with YCCC, the Board reviewed a full written submission from the Club, as well as an independent assessment from the Good Governance Institute & Howard Kennedy LLP.

Overall, the ECB Board assessed that Yorkshire Country Cricket Club is able to:

Show a demonstrable commitment to building a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion;
Evidence that it is adopting a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination;
Commit to identifying and tackling historic cases of discrimination;
Ensure that Yorkshire County Cricket Club is a welcoming environment for everyone.
Headingley will now host England's third LV= Insurance Test against New Zealand in June this year as well as the Royal London One-Day International with South Africa in July.

YCCC has also made a number of longer-term commitments including: fully delivering on governance reforms; appointing a new Board to drive and be accountable for the change required; making Headingley a welcoming and inclusive experience on match days, including a zero-tolerance approach to incidents of discrimination; significant changes to the County Age Group Pathway for boys and girls to remove barriers to progression; and delivering on all other commitments in the ECB’s 12-point plan to tackle discrimination.

Progress will be monitored quarterly by the ECB, alongside the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

Barry O’Brien, Interim Chair and Cricket Non-Executive Director at the ECB, said:

“The Board welcomed the hard work and actions taken by Yorkshire County Cricket Club towards putting the Club on a new path. Alongside the progress already made, we considered many factors in reaching our decision. Amongst them, the impact on fans who have bought tickets in good faith and the young people who will benefit from Yorkshire’s improved outreach and pathway provisions. Finally, the Board was mindful that the return of international cricket will support continued change and progress at the Club.’’

‘’I very much hope that the traumatic events that have taken place at Yorkshire over the past several months and years will act as a catalyst for increasing the pace of change throughout the game.’’

Professor The Lord Patel of Bradford OBE, Chair of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, said:

“I welcome this decision and thank the Board of the ECB for supporting the return of international matches at Headingley once again. We have worked night and day to bring about tangible change at Yorkshire, and the removal of the sanctions has validated and reignited our drive for positive progress.

“I would like to thank the ECB for its support, and its robust challenge throughout the process. It has been a difficult period for Yorkshire County Cricket Club, and there remains a lot of work to be done, but the level of scrutiny has pushed us towards implementing action which will not only transform this club but can lead the way forward for the sport as a whole.”

Marcial Boo, Chief Executive at the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said:

“There is no place for racism in sport or in any part of our society. In our meetings with Lord Patel at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, and with the England and Wales Cricket Board, we encouraged them to take bold steps in eradicating racism. We welcome today’s announcement as a clear sign that progress is being made.

“We will now closely monitor progress against their action plan, which will involve us attending quarterly checkpoint meetings with the YCCC and ECB. If progress is not made quickly enough, we will consider further legal action.

“We hope that other cricket clubs will take this opportunity to examine what they are doing to tackle discrimination and harassment, so that no one involved in cricket, whether as an amateur or a professional, suffers the racism that others sadly faced in the past."

 

[MenInG]

Today the ECB is publishing the ten criteria and timescales (communicated to YCCC on 18 November 2021) which informed the Board’s evaluation.

Conditions to be met by 31 March:

Resolving the issues relating to rules changes and decisions at the club which have been subject to procedural flaws.
Amendments to club rules relating to the appointment and operation of the Board, including removal of Graves Trust’s powers.
YCCC’s ongoing commitments:

Resolve any issues relating to rules changes and decisions at the club which have been subject to procedural flaws.
Amendments to club rules relating to appointment and operation of the Board ratified through an EGM.
Appoint a new Board to drive and be accountable for the change.
Deliver short-term governance reforms.
Fully delivering on all governance reforms recommended by the Good Governance Institute & Howard Kennedy LLP.
Delivery of (and demonstrable progress against) a full local EDI plan.
Deliver on making Headingley a welcoming and inclusive experience on match days.
Significant changes to the county age group Pathway for boys and girls to remove barriers to progression.
Delivering on all commitments in the ECB’s 12-point plan
About The Equality and Human Rights Commission

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is the regulatory body responsible for enforcing the Equality Act 2010. Its duties include reducing inequality, eliminating discrimination and promoting and protecting human rights.
The Commission’s uses a range of powers; from providing advice and guidance, publishing information and undertaking research.
When these methods are ineffective, it uses a range of enforcement powers which are set out in the Equality Act 2006.
Depending on the circumstance, enforcement powers can include securing a legally binding agreement, launching a formal investigation, or bringing about court action.

 

[Sherlock]

The ECB have been very good in their proactive and apt response thus far.

Credit to them.

 

[Technics 1210]

Yorkshire's right to host England matches reinstated provided they meet key criteria

Yorkshire's right to host England matches has been reinstated subject to the club meeting the remaining key requirements by the end of March.

Common sense prevails!

 

[James]

Good news for my club, and am pleased that this suspension has been lifted on the back of some good steps being taken. Still lots to do of course.

 

[MenInG]

Yorkshire County Cricket Club is delighted to confirm the appointments of Kabir Ali and Alastair Maiden as assistant coaches, and Tom Smith as Second XI Coach.

Former fast bowler Ali has joined as assistant coach after recently completing a stint as a bowling consultant with Warwickshire and spells coaching in various franchise competitions around the world. This includes as Head Coach of Columbo Kings in the Lanka Premier League in 2020 and as Bowling Coach of the Chattogram Challengers in the BPL 2021.

Yorkshire’s new assistant coach has also worked as Director of Cricket for the South Asian Cricket Academy, a non-profit organisation aiming to tackle the inequalities within the talent development systems in England and Wales.

Ali said: “I am so pleased to be joining the team at Yorkshire and to work alongside Ottis Gibson and Darren Gough. Their vision for the Club is so exciting, and there is such potential here for a really bright future.

“I believe the best way to approach coaching is to keep things simple and let the players enjoy it. I want the team to feel good and drive their games forward, and I’m looking forward to helping them on that journey from day one”.

Maiden joins Yorkshire from Leicestershire where he has been the Head of Academy since 2020. Previous to this role, Maiden was England Women’s Assistant Coach for their 2017 ICC World Cup success and was lead batting coach for the England Women’s Development Programme from 2011 to 2016.

The ECB Level Four Coach will support Gibson by specialising on batting when he arrives at Headingley next month.

Maiden said: “I am very excited to join a club of Yorkshire’s size with so much history and to work with Ottis. It is an absolute honour and something that I didn’t think that I would do in my coaching career.

“Over the past three years, I have been in charge of leading the ECB Level Four Coach Batting Module which has been really good for me to develop my own thoughts on batting.

“To have the opportunity to help the England captain practice is one not many people get, plus the exciting young players. There is so much potential in the current squad and in the future for developing batters”.

Smith also arrives from Leicestershire and will take charge of Yorkshire’s second XI. The former all-rounder has coached as an assistant with the Foxes since 2018 following a successful playing career. After being forced to retire early from playing, Smith has already gained valuable coaching experience with Leicestershire, Lancashire Thunder and the England Women’s team.

Smith said: “I can’t wait to get up there and get cracking. Yorkshire is a massive club. The opportunity to work with Ottis Gibson, Kabir Ali, a number of international players and some of the best domestic players is certainly exciting.

“Cricket as a whole in Yorkshire is strong and there is a good crop of players coming through.

“In the second team environment, it is important to give players a good grounding to go on and play First Class cricket, T20 and 50 over cricket. With the talented youngsters coming through, I am really looking forward to that challenge”.

Darren Gough, Yorkshire’s Interim Managing Director of Cricket said: “Ottis and I are absolutely delighted to announce these exciting coaching appointment.

“Kabir is a fantastic addition to the coaching team and was the outstanding candidate to lead on bowling. Both Ottis and I were particularly taken by Kabir’s energy and passion for the game and, following a brilliant playing career, he already has a huge amount of experience for a young coach.

“Alastair is a vastly experienced coach having worked with Durham, England’s Women and Leicestershire. Alastair has great experience leading on batting and will strike a wonderful balance with Kabir.

“Tom is another coach who had a brilliant playing career, but one that was unfortunately cut short. Since retiring from the game, Tom has become an outstanding coach in his own right and will impart great technical knowledge and experience on our young players.

“It’s great to see how many talented coaches are keen to join what we are doing here at Yorkshire and I’m thrilled with the calibre of talent we are assembling as we shape our backroom staff ahead of the new season”.

 

[MenInG]

The Yorkshire County Cricket Club is delighted to announce a new three-year partnership with Al-Murad Group who will support the provision of free kit for County Age Group teams.

Al-Murad will have their brand emblazoned on the sleeves of Yorkshire’s County Age Group teams, a partnership which will help to remove financial barriers and make the Pathway system inclusive for all. Al-Murad will also have their brand displayed in the East Stand indoor nets and on the Headingley Pavilion.

Al-Murad is now one of the nation’s largest independent ceramic tiles and natural stone importer and retailer with over 40 stores and an increasingly strong and continually growing online presence on offer to customers.

The Leeds-based company, which employs over 300 people, also does considerable charitable work through its foundation, the ‘Al-Murad Trust Limited, which contributes to good causes as part of its wider social impact in the UK and abroad. Al-Murad have also offered considerable financial support to several cricket teams in Yorkshire.

Murad Ali Patel, Founder of Al-Murad said: “The Azeem Rafiq scandal had a widespread impact on communities in Yorkshire and many within our business were deeply hurt by it. However, since Lord Patel took over as Chair of the Club in November we have been heartened to see widespread change that is needed to make cricket an inclusive game for all.

“It is crucially important that every boy and girl from any background, faith and community has an equitable chance to shine and succeed at YCCC and in the wider game.

“Some important changes have been made resulting in the ECB confirming the re-introduction of international cricket at Headingley, which is welcome news.

“We are one of the leading Asian businesses in the UK with our HQ in Yorkshire and are proud to come on board as an official community partner of YCCC. We hope that through our involvement the pace of recovery will further accelerate in the Club's culture and in the hearts and minds of everyone associated with it.

“As part of an initial three-year community partnership we particularly welcome the changes in accessing the Pathway programmes, which historically were seen as a major blockage for talent to be identified from Yorkshire's South Asian Community."

Lord Kamlesh Patel, Chair of Yorkshire County Cricket Club said: “I am delighted with our new partnership with the Al-Murad Group whose sponsorship is helping to make the Pathway system more accessible for young players in Yorkshire.

“Yorkshire is full of talented players and we are hopeful that such support will help us to identify and nurture talent from our most diverse communities.”

Maroof Khan, Director of Business Development at Yorkshire County Cricket Club said: “It’s fantastic to have another huge Yorkshire-based business partner with us and we are very much looking forward to working with them over the next three years and beyond.

“Their support of cricket in the county is long-standing having supported six local cricket clubs over the years. We are very much looking forward to having them by our side as we make game-changing differences over the coming years.”

 

[MenInG]

Yorkshire County Cricket Club batsman Gary Ballance has apologised to Azeem Rafiq for racist language he used against his former colleague.
Mr Ballance made the apology in-person during a meeting with Mr Rafiq in London this week. Julian Metherell, Non-executive Chair at the Professional Cricketers’ Association, hosted the meeting.
Gary Ballance said:

“I have wanted to meet Azeem in person for quite some time, but I had to make sure I was in a good place when I did so. Azeem has been through similar mental health challenges and understands why this has taken me a little time.

“I apologise unreservedly to Azeem for the words I used when we played together. I did use unacceptable - at times, racist - language. If I had realised how much this hurt Azeem, I would have stopped immediately. That’s why I wanted to meet him this week and be clear in person that I intended no malice. That’s not an excuse, I realise that the language I used was wrong.

“I have accepted, from the outset, the words I used were wrong and I hope this statement brings Azeem some comfort. There is no place in our sport for this behaviour and I am determined to play my part in ridding the game from racism and make it more inclusive. To do this we all need to be honest and learn from our past mistakes.”

Azeem Rafiq said:

“From day one of opening up about my experiences, all I ever wanted was acceptance and apologies for what happened. Gary has been brave to admit the truth and I understand why the mental strain has made it difficult for him to make this apology any sooner. Gary must be applauded for his honesty and unreserved apology and must now be allowed to get on with his life.

“Gary got things wrong, so did many people. The main issue is cricket’s institutional racism. Gary’s courage means he is now part of the solution. I hope he can be allowed to get on with his cricket.

“I would like to thank Gary. He has done cricket and the fight against racism a great service with these words. I would also like to thank those who have been in contact with me privately to apologise for what they witnessed. It’s a good time for those who were bystanders to reflect on whether they could have done the same or even spoken publicly about what they saw.”

 

[MenInG]

STATEMENT: GARY BALLANCE AND AZEEM RAFIQ

The Yorkshire County Cricket Club is delighted that Gary Ballance and Azeem Rafiq have cleared the air.

Gary’s contrition is admirable and marks a big step forward for the sport and the Club.

Azeem is right to say that Gary must now be allowed to continue with his career.

We will undoubtedly support Gary in all he does, and we hope to see many more runs flow from his bat for Yorkshire.

 

[MenInG]

Azeem Rafiq has written to the Cricket Discipline Commission urging it to hear allegations of racism at Yorkshire in public.

The 31-year-old expressed a preference for a public hearing when the England and Wales Cricket Board announced in June that Yorkshire and a number of individuals had been charged over racism allegations made by Rafiq, and how those allegations were handled.

The Daily Mail reported on Wednesday that Rafiq had sent a letter last week calling for the hearings - which are due to take place in the autumn - to be held publicly.

The PA news agency understands Rafiq's letter expressed a loss of trust in the process and also offered the view that holding the hearings in public would offer transparency and bring closure to those involved.

There is nothing within the CDC rules which states that hearings must be held in private.

Only former Yorkshire captain and coach Andrew Gale has come out to confirm he is one of the individuals charged and has already said he will not engage with the process.

Yorkshire announced last week they had agreed a settlement with Gale over his dismissal last December, accepting it had been "procedurally unfair".

Rafiq is set to appear again before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee later this year, having given harrowing testimony about the abuse he suffered at Yorkshire to the same group of MPs last November.

The committee is understood to be keen to hear from Rafiq again about a campaign to vilify him since that first appearance, and from Lord Patel about attempts to undermine the new regime at Yorkshire.

Ideally, the committee also want an ECB representative to appear, and are prepared to wait until the CDC hearing outcomes have been published.

Rafiq said in June when the ECB charges were announced: "This has been another gruelling but unfortunately necessary process.

"It has been a long two years since I went public about my experiences, but I hope this all means that no young player ever goes through such pain and alienation again.

"My preference would be for this hearing to take place publicly, but I am hopeful that we are at least nearing a point where there will be some sense of closure for my family and me."

SKY

 

[James]

So Yorkshire have been relegated.

One win in first class cricket all season. Shocking.

Rounds off an extremely poor 12 months for them.

A club in chaos.

 

[MenInG]

The Yorkshire County Cricket Club has agreed to a request from Gary Ballance to end his contract with the Club.

The left-handed batsman and England international requested the release following a challenging period on the sidelines, including the challenges he has faced to his mental health. The Club has supported the player extensively during this period.

Ballance’s contract had two years to run, until 2024. As part of the agreement, Ballance will not play for another County Championship team in the 2023 season.

Darren Gough, Managing Director of Yorkshire Cricket, said: “We are sad to see Gary go, but he leaves with our best wishes. He has been a mainstay of our side for many years, and a superb batsman. As a Club, we recognise that the last 18 months have been difficult for Gary, for numerous reasons, and the most important thing for him is to get better and play again. He felt he could not do this at Headingley, and we agreed to his request reluctantly but knowing that it was the right decision for him personally”.

Gary Ballance said: “It has been a privilege to play for this great Club. On a personal level, I have gone through a challenging period – and after much discussion I decided, together with my family, that it would be right to make a change. I asked the Club if it was willing to release me from my contract, and I am grateful for its understanding as we have reached agreement.

“The support Yorkshire has given me off the pitch over the past year has been fantastic and I am appreciative of the Club’s help, but I hope that my decision will mean that my career can have a fresh start”.

 

[Forum363]

So satisfying to see the racist club bought to justice.

Countless Asian kids will benefit because Azeri has the balls to stand up and bring this to people’s attention.

 

[Mamoon]

So satisfying to see the racist club bought to justice.

Countless Asian kids will benefit because Azeri has the balls to stand up and bring this to people’s attention.

Countless Asian kids will also see that Rafiq is a hypocrite of the highest order & deserves all the criticism & hatred that has come his way.

A pathetic player & even a worse human being.

 

[Forum363]

Countless Asian kids will also see that Rafiq is a hypocrite of the highest order & deserves all the criticism & hatred that has come his way.

A pathetic player & even a worse human being.

I’m done debating with you on this topic because you have absolutely no experience of the situation here and have repeatedly refused to engage in a discussion about the actual racism prevalent in the club. Instead you keep going on about Rafiq’s character and misdemeanours.

To you, this is another thread to take a contrary position and attract attention, but to a lot of kids, they don’t care about Azeem. They want the racism to be outed and to eventually stop.

So according to you, if Harvey Weinstein, while being on trial for decades of sexual abuse, provided verifiable claims of racism in Hollywood which was confirmed through an independent investigation, the nature of Harvey’s character means that those allegations are not important?

That’s what you’re doing here. You’re diminishing the awful environment that Yorkshire cricket has created. All so you can score points about what a terrible person Azeem is.

 

[Mamoon]

I’m done debating with you on this topic because you have absolutely no experience of the situation here and have repeatedly refused to engage in a discussion about the actual racism prevalent in the club. Instead you keep going on about Rafiq’s character and misdemeanours.

To you, this is another thread to take a contrary position and attract attention, but to a lot of kids, they don’t care about Azeem. They want the racism to be outed and to eventually stop.

So according to you, if Harvey Weinstein, while being on trial for decades of sexual abuse, provided verifiable claims of racism in Hollywood which was confirmed through an independent investigation, the nature of Harvey’s character means that those allegations are not important?

That’s what you’re doing here. You’re diminishing the awful environment that Yorkshire cricket has created. All so you can score points about what a terrible person Azeem is.

If Harvey Weinstein plays the victim card & leads a crusade against racism in Hollywood, his own actions will be used against him. You cannot segregate what you stand for & what you have done in your own personal capacity.

No one is denying that there is no racism in English cricket. Of course there is. In fact, it would be surprising if there wasn’t. There will always be racism in a multicultural concoction.

However, the issue is that Rafiq is not the right person to lead this war. He has a long, document history of bad behavior, aggression, sexual misconduct & anti-Semitic beliefs.

He has tried to whitewash his own past & made himself a self-proclaimed savior of minority cricketers in England, but if you are going to try to be Martin Luther King Jr. you have to make sure that you don’t have skeletons in your own closet.

When you keep pointing fingers at others & keep throwing accusations when you are no better than the those whom you are targeting, there will be a backlash & Rafiq deserves every bit of the criticism & hatred that has come his way & the way his own past has been exposed & unraveled has been extremely satisfying to witness.

In summary, Rafiq is not standing up for the wrong reasons but he is the wrong person to stand up for these reasons. Minorities in English cricket need to find a new white knight & someone who is not a despicable human being like Rafiq.

 

[Forum363]

If Harvey Weinstein plays the victim card & leads a crusade against racism in Hollywood, his own actions will be used against him. You cannot segregate what you stand for & what you have done in your own personal capacity.

No one is denying that there is no racism in English cricket. Of course there is. In fact, it would be surprising if there wasn’t. There will always be racism in a multicultural concoction.

However, the issue is that Rafiq is not the right person to lead this war. He has a long, document history of bad behavior, aggression, sexual misconduct & anti-Semitic beliefs.

He has tried to whitewash his own past & made himself a self-proclaimed savior of minority cricketers in England, but if you are going to try to be Martin Luther King Jr. you have to make sure that you don’t have skeletons in your own closet.

When you keep pointing fingers at others & keep throwing accusations when you are no better than the those whom you are targeting, there will be a backlash & Rafiq deserves every bit of the criticism & hatred that has come his way & the way his own past has been exposed & unraveled has been extremely satisfying to witness.

In summary, Rafiq is not standing up for the wrong reasons but he is the wrong person to stand up for these reasons. Minorities in English cricket need to find a new white knight & someone who is not a despicable human being like Rafiq.

He is the only person who stepped forward. The likes of Rashid and Moeen for all their positive qualities did not. Not that I begrudge them for it, and maybe they just didn't encounter any racism, or perhaps they had the skills to make it to the top so didn't want to ruffle any feathers.

The only thing that matters is, because of Azeem and him speaking out, thousands of kids across Yorkshire will have a better time.

In fact, I would go so far as to say he has redeemed some of his negative actions through the massive change he has directly led to.

Without Azeem - life would be worse. Simple.

 

[MenInG]

London (AFP) – Azeem Rafiq claims cricket is still "in denial" over the racism scandal tat forced the former Yorkshire spinner to leave England after he lifted the lid on abuse in the domestic game

Rafiq appeared before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee on Tuesday for the first time since November 2021 when he gave harrowing evidence about the racism he faced during his time at Yorkshire.

The 31-year-old used his latest appearance in front of the committee to highlight the abuse he and his family have endured since he blew the whistle.

"If I was to look at 13 months on from me opening my heart out, all that's changed really is that me and my family have been driven out of the country. And that's a sad element of it," he said.

Karachi-born Rafiq, who moved with his immediate family to Pakistan last month, recounted incidents of abuse to the committee, including a man defecating outside his parents' house.

"I would love to come here and tell you how much cricket has changed, but unfortunately what it feels like is that cricket is very much in denial," he said.

"There are still a group of people out there who feel like cricket is the victim in this.

"The way I've been attacked and abused, why would you speak out? I've got a little hope in the new (ECB) leadership, but it's very little at the minute."

'Nothing was done'

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) charged a number of individuals in relation to Rafiq's allegations of abuse in June, along with Yorkshire for the county's handling of those allegations.

However, the Cricket Discipline Commission has yet to hear the case after a dispute over whether it should take place in public or private.

Earlier in the DCMS hearing, Yorkshire chair Kamlesh Patel accused the former ECB leadership of failing to support him when he faced criticism over the reforms he led at the county.

Patel took over at Yorkshire in November 2021 after the county had been stripped of hosting rights for international matches over their handling of Rafiq's allegations.

Patel was tasked by the ECB with implementing governance reforms at Headingley in order to get the county back on track, but faced criticism from the club's former leadership.

"If I was attacked in the press or if cricket leaders or previous cricket leaders made unsubstantiated statements, nothing was done," Patel said.

"I have email after email, letter after letter, saying 'you asked me to do this, I've done this, please support me' and I have no response to any of those letters and emails. So it was very distressing.

"I'm looking forward to the new leadership of Richard Thompson. The few meetings I've had with him have been positive and it feels like it's going forward, but these last 12 months, the answer (to the question of whether he has felt supported by the ECB) has to be 'no'."

AFP

 

[FearlessRoar]

Colin Graves' potential return as Yorkshire chair would "undermine progress made" to tackle racism in cricket, Sporting Equals has said.

Reports have suggested that Graves, 75, is in exclusive dialogue with Yorkshire over a return, despite previously presiding over part of a period in which the club admitted an England and Wales Cricket Board charge of failing to address the systemic use of racist or discriminatory language. Yorkshire were fined £400,000 and deducted 48 County Championship points by the independent Cricket Discipline Commission in July.

A takeover deal which could lead to the reinstatement of Graves is expected to be announced on Tuesday before being put to the club's members for approval. Members will get 21 days' notice before a vote.

On Monday morning Sporting Equals, a charity which promotes ethnic diversity across the sport and physical activity sector, published an open letter sent to the ECB, sports minister Stuart Andrew, and county cricket clubs and their sponsors, in which they expressed dismay at a prospective return for Graves and called for further reforms in the game.

"Cricket has been making an effort to combat racism over the past few years," read the letter.

"Since Azeem Rafiq publicly exposed the deep systemic problems the ECB, amongst others, have taken action to address these issues.

"The ICEC Report is a potential watershed moment for cricket and sport in general. For these initiatives we applaud them and the wider game. We wait to see if they will make a positive impact.

"However, the potential reinstatement of Colin Graves as Chairman of Yorkshire County Cricket Club would undermine the progress made.

"His reinstatement would send a message that emboldens those who perpetuate the myth that racism is simply banter, that it is enough to pay lip service to policies and procedures.

"It would make a mockery of the suffering of ethnically diverse players across the country. It would be a rejection of the ICEC Report's thorough investigation and well-considered conclusions."

A statement from Yorkshire CCC read: "Yorkshire County Cricket Club and agents acting on our behalf have met with over 350 interested parties to work through the validity of each and every genuine offer to refinance the club.

"No stone has been left unturned and a thorough and rigorous process has been conducted by the board to ensure the club stays operational for the benefit of its members, creditors and employees. We refute any assertion to the contrary."

Sky Sports News has contacted the ECB for comment.

Graves' first stint as chairman overlapped with Azeem Rafiq's spell at the club.

Writing in the Observer, Rafiq also criticised Graves' prospective reappointment, saying it "exposes a failing game" and that "nothing has changed".

"Sponsors found their moral compass before, and they need to find it again, because any organisation supporting this is complicit in it," wrote Rafiq.

"There is still time for them to act, to leave now and stop Yorkshire stepping back in time and undoing what progress they have made in the past three years."

Speaking in an interview with Sky Sports News last June, Graves said he never witnessed racism at Yorkshire and that racism allegations were never brought to him during his time as chairman.

"When I was chairman of the club, when some of these allegations were made, I can tell you now, nothing was brought up within the club," Graves said.

"And I ran the club on an open-door basis as chairman, players could come and see me if they had issues and they did so on a regular basis. I met the players twice a year, took them out for dinner, met them around the ground, knew a lot of the families.

"We had management meetings in the club every Monday we had board meetings every six weeks. Nothing was ever brought up on the table about any racism allegations whatsoever."

Asked specifically if he had ever witnessed racism during his time at Yorkshire, Graves replied: "None whatsoever, from anybody at any level. Nothing."

Sporting Equals' open letter in full

"RE: The potential reinstatement of Colin Graves at Yorkshire County Cricket Club

"An open letter to Stuart Andrew, The ECB, professional County Cricket Clubs and their sponsors,

"Cricket has been making an effort to combat racism over the past few years. Since Azeem Rafiq publicly exposed the deep systemic problems the ECB, amongst others, have taken action to address these issues.

"The ICEC Report is a potential watershed moment for cricket and sport in general. For these initiatives we applaud them and the wider game. We wait to see if they will make a positive impact.

"However, the potential reinstatement of Colin Graves as Chairman of Yorkshire County Cricket Club would undermine the progress made. His reinstatement would send a message that emboldens those who perpetuate the myth that racism is simply banter, that it is enough to pay lip service to policies and procedures.

"It would make a mockery of the suffering of ethnically diverse players across the country.

"It would be a rejection of the ICEC Report's thorough investigation and well considered conclusions. This progress must not be stunted.

"We therefore call on the ECB, all professional County Cricket Clubs and all sponsors, backed by Stuart Andrew as Sports Minister, to ensure the following measures are taken ahead of the 2024 summer season:

1. An Independent Fit and Proper Persons Test established for ownership of county cricket clubs

2. A thorough, fair, independent and resilient disqualification process to rid the game of bad actors

3. Mandatory training for all County Cricket Club leadership in inclusive behaviours and cultures

4. Mandatory establishment and publication of equality, diversity and inclusion policies, reported on annually by each County Cricket Club

5. Participation by all professional County Cricket Clubs in the Sporting Equals Race Representation Index, measuring ethnic diversity in senior leadership and talent pathways

"Only by taking these steps can cricket truly become a game for everyone.

"Signed, Sporting Equals, Ama Agbeze MBE (member of the Sport Monitoring Advisory Panel), Ayaz Bhuta MBE (member of British Asians for Sporting Excellence), Kevin Hylton (Special Advisor for the Sport Monitoring Advisory Panel), Manisha Tailor MBE (member of British Asians for Sporting Excellence)."

A spokesperson for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said in response to the Sporting Equals letter: "Cricket must be open to everyone and the Government has consistently called for action to address the culture at Yorkshire County Cricket Club following the behaviour at the county.

"Following the publication of Cindy Butts' (Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket) report, the England and Wales Cricket Board set out plans to deliver and sustained reform.

"It is vital the ECB deliver on their commitments, and that Yorkshire County Cricket Club continues to make the culture change needed."

Source:Sky Sports

Colin Graves: Sporting Equals send open letter to ECB, clubs against potential Yorkshire return of former chair

Sporting Equals publish open letter strongly criticising the potential return of Colin Graves to the position of Yorkshire chair

www.skysports.com

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Colin Graves
Graves originally pulled out of the running to be Yorkshire chair in June 2023
A sponsor of Yorkshire says it is "reviewing the situation very closely" amid mounting criticism of the expected return of former chairman Colin Graves.

Graves, 75, is heading up a consortium that is close to completing a takeover of the cash-strapped county.

He was chair from 2012-2015, part of the period for which the club was fined for failing to address the systemic use of discriminatory or racist language.

Graves denies knowledge of any racist behaviour during his time at the club.

However, he was criticised by the ECB last year after suggesting some incidents were "banter".

The BBC understands a Yorkshire board meeting is being held on Tuesday evening to discuss whether to recommend Graves' offer for the club to members.

Yorkshire has defended its process in finding new financial backers, but the government has said it is "vital [the county] continues to make the culture change needed".

Former Yorkshire player turned whistleblower Azeem Rafiq - who revealed he experienced racism at the county - has called on Yorkshire's sponsors to oppose Graves' return.

And one of them, local tiling company Al Murad, has indicated that it is closely assessing the situation.

"We are in communication - and we expect to be communicated to - as the process of securing long-term funding is brought to a conclusion," it said.

"On the strength of that information and communication, we will review how intrinsic is equity, equality, representation and inclusiveness at Yorkshire Cricket if Mr Graves does take the helm. The deep changes required will have a strong bearing on how we view any future engagement."

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport told the BBC that cricket "must be open to everyone and the government has consistently called for action to address the culture at Yorkshire CCC following the behaviour at the county".

They added: "Following the publication of [the] report into equality in cricket, the ECB set out plans to deliver clear and sustained reform. It is vital the ECB deliver on their commitments, and that Yorkshire CCC continues to make the culture change needed."

Yorkshire has been seeking fresh investment since losing sponsors over its handling of the racism scandal, while it also had to agree compensation packages with sacked staff who won claims for unfair dismissal. The ECB initially withdrew Yorkshire's right to stage lucrative international matches at Headingley and only reinstated it after major governance changes were enacted.

Last year, Yorkshire revealed it needed to repay £14.9m to the family trust owned by Graves, one of its major creditors since a financial bail-out in 2002.

The club's management told staff that they were "seriously considering" the deal with Graves' consortium, having previously been linked with a rescue package from retail billionaire and former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley. It is expected that Graves would be reinstated as chairman.

Charity Sporting Equals has said his return would "make a mockery" of victims of racism.

But Yorkshire insisted a "rigorous process" by the board had been conducted "to ensure the club stays operational."

Source : BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

The Board of Yorkshire County Cricket Club has tonight agreed to recommend the loan agreement from Mr Colin Graves.

The club will be sending a notice to members tomorrow (Thursday 11th January) ahead of an EGM which will outline the details of the offer as well as the resolutions and rule changes that are required to be ratified by members at the EGM.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Following Yorkshire CCC's announcement of its proposed refinancing agreement with a consortium led by Colin Graves, the ECB has issued the following statement:

“The ECB notes today’s announcement by Yorkshire County Cricket Club. We have been in regular contact with the club’s leadership as it has sought to address significant financial challenges, and understand they concluded that this proposal was their only viable option to address the situation the club is in and put it on a sustainable footing.

“Considerable work has been carried out at Yorkshire - and across cricket more widely - in recent years to tackle discrimination and make the game more inclusive, and it is vital this continues. We welcome Colin Graves’ commitment to continue this work, his unreserved apology and acceptance of the findings of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC). These words must be put into action if Yorkshire members approve this deal.

“Yorkshire is an incredibly diverse area and the club’s iconic status means it has a huge opportunity to be at the forefront of the sport’s work to become more inclusive. We have been working with the club for some time to support its work in breaking down barriers and becoming more welcoming to people from all backgrounds, and we will continue to do so as we deliver on the actions set out in response to the ICEC.

“In addition, the ECB continues to exercise its ongoing role of ensuring effective oversight of governance across the wider game. There are also significant powers which can be used to hold Yorkshire County Cricket Club to account if it does not continue with the progress and reform we have seen over the last few years.”

ECB

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Colin Graves has apologised for the Yorkshire racism scandal as he looks set to return to power at the club.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1745481957809528998

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Yorkshire: Azeem Rafiq says Colin Graves' expected return has led to racist abuse


Colin Graves' expected return as Yorkshire chairman "empowers" racists, says former player Azeem Rafiq.

Yorkshire's board has approved a takeover deal from a consortium led by Graves, 75, that members will likely vote in favour of on 2 February.

Graves' previous spell was part of the period for which the club was fined for failing to address the systemic use of discriminatory or racist language.

"I'm broken," said Rafiq, who revealed experiences of racism at the club.

"I'm struggling to understand how we've got here. It's a mix of emotions - a lot of anger and frustration."

Yorkshire chief executive Stephen Vaughan told BBC Sport the club had to accept the Graves-led offer because of its "dire financial situation" and to ensure its work on improving equality, diversion and inclusion could continue.

Graves, who was chair of Yorkshire between 2012 and 2015, will return to the role if his takeover is approved.

He has previously denied knowledge of any racist behaviour during his time at the club but on Thursday apologised "personally and unreservedly" for the Yorkshire racism scandal.

Speaking to BBC Yorkshire, Rafiq said: "I've woken up this morning to a barrage of abuse - racist, Islamophobic - this is what [Graves' return] empowers.

"It empowers those idiots out there who feel they can be openly racist."

Rafiq, who is calling on the club's sponsors to oppose Graves' return, detailed allegations of racism during his two spells at Headingley for the first time in 2020, leading to investigations by the club and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

"The abuse is incredibly triggering, I've taken a lot over the last three years and continue to take it," added Rafiq, who said racism he faced at Yorkshire left him "close to taking my own life".

Rafiq said he has no hope Yorkshire members will vote against Graves' takeover.

"Yorkshire members and Colin Graves are a match made in heaven, I hope they enjoy themselves," he said.

Yorkshire are in a perilous financial position, with debts of £17m scheduled to be repaid by October. Last year the county revealed it needed to repay £14.9m to the family trust owned by Graves following a bailout in 2002.

The club lost sponsors over its handling of the racism scandal and also had to agree compensation packages with sacked staff who won claims for unfair dismissal.

Graves will advance an unsecured loan of £1m to Yorkshire if the takeover goes through and arrange further funding of up to £4m if certain appointments to the new board are approved.

Rafiq said that may get Yorkshire through financial difficulties in the short term but questioned the longer term impact Graves' return will have on cricket.

"It sends the message loud and clear to South Asians that cricket is not a welcoming and safe place for us," he said.

"For a long time I saw Yorkshire as my club, I no longer do."

Last year, the ECB criticised Graves for suggesting some incidents of racism at the county were "banter".

Graves' comments followed six former Yorkshire players being sanctioned with fines and bans by the Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) after they were found to have used racist language at the club.

In his statement, Graves, who was ECB chair from 2015 to 2020, said he "profoundly" regretted that language and he understood those who regarded his comments as "dismissive or uncaring".

He also promised to continue the equality, diversity and inclusion work done by Yorkshire in recent years, with the ECB saying "these words must be put into action".

Rafiq said if Graves "genuinely cared" then he could have reached out to him "at any point over the last three years".

"There's got to be action here, words are not enough," added Rafiq.



BBC

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Colin Graves' controversial return to Yorkshire has been approved by club members at an extraordinary general meeting

Graves was Yorkshire's "only viable option", according to the ECB, after the county agreed to a proposal from a consortium led by the former chairman

 

[Cricket Warrior]

The Yorkshire County Cricket Club Limited (YCCC or Club) is pleased to confirm it received the approval of the Financial Conduct Authority of relevant changes to the Club’s rules yesterday (7 February 2024) and that Colin Graves has therefore been appointed as a new non-executive director of the Club.

Mr Graves’ appointment, which is subject to confirmation by YCCC’s members at the Club’s next Annual General Meeting (AGM), comes after members voted at the Club’s recent extraordinary general meeting (EGM) in favour of changes to the rules of YCCC regarding a loan agreement entered into with Mr Graves.

It is intended that Mr Graves will be elected as the new chair of the Board at its next Board meeting, due to take place tomorrow morning (9 February 2024). Mr Graves will succeed interim chair, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, who will remain on the Board as a non-executive director, and previous chair, Harry Chathli.

Mr Graves returns to the Board alongside Phillip Hodson, Sanjeev Gandhi and Sanjay Patel. The new appointments join Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Leslie Ferrar, alongside Chief Executive Officer Stephen Vaughan and Darren Gough, the Managing Director of Cricket at Yorkshire CCC.

Member nominated directors, John Jackson and Richard Levin, have stepped down from the Board and the process to replace them will be launched very shortly.

Mr Graves, said: “It is an honour and privilege to be appointed and be back at Yorkshire CCC. I will work tirelessly with the Board to resolve the financial position in which the Club currently finds itself, and to restore financial stability and sustainability to Yorkshire cricket for generations to come.

“Equally, it is my personal pledge to members and to the entire Yorkshire public that, regardless of background, community or ethnicity, all will be welcome in the fully inclusive culture and environment of The Yorkshire County Cricket Club. There will never be any exceptions.

“I have unreservedly apologised for any, and all mistakes either I or the Club has made over the painful and difficult years of the recent past. Lessons have been learned and will continue to be acted on as we move forward and focus on the future of our great Club. Yorkshire CCC will become a sporting institution of which everyone can be proud.”

Stephen Vaughan, the Chief Executive Officer for YCCC, said: “We are pleased to welcome Colin to the Board at The Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

“I, along with the rest of the Board, take our responsibility very seriously. The Board are custodians of the Club and we are mindful of the responsibility that comes with it.

“We are pleased that members voted overwhelmingly in favour of the rule changes enabling Colin’s appointment to the Board, and in doing so protecting the future of Yorkshire, and we look forward to him taking the Club forward.

“Colin will be able to draw on significant experience, both as a former ECB Chair and as a former Chair of the Club whose financial assistance was essential in safeguarding the Club’s ongoing existence some years ago has continued to support the Club in recent times.”

Prior to today, Harry Chathli stepped down as Chair and Board Members Lucy Amos, Kavita Singh, Nolan Hough, Yaseen Mohammed and Trevor Strain stepped down in accordance with the Club’s new financing plans.

 

[James]

Colin Graves' controversial return to Yorkshire has been approved by club members at an extraordinary general meeting

Graves was Yorkshire's "only viable option", according to the ECB, after the county agreed to a proposal from a consortium led by the former chairman

Having spoken to some members, at the meeting they were apparently presented with a binary choice of approving Colin Graves’ appointment or the club being dissolved.

 

[shaz619]

Having spoken to some members, at the meeting they were apparently presented with a binary choice of approving Colin Graves’ appointment or the club being dissolved.

It would have been better that they were dissolved, Yorkshire is not a proper club anyway.

I don’t know why they made an attempt to change things, only for this old mucker to make a comeback lol

The old guard will remain for a long time and their toxicity, this will set waves all the way up to grass root cricket.

It sends a message that it’s perfectly fine to be racist and allow it to be used to selectively develop the game.

 

[James]

It would have been better that they were dissolved, Yorkshire is not a proper club anyway.

I don’t know why they made an attempt to change things, only for this old mucker to make a comeback lol

The old guard will remain for a long time and their toxicity, this will set waves all the way up to grass root cricket.

It sends a message that it’s perfectly fine to be racist and allow it to be used to selectively develop the game.

Dissolution and a Phoenix club (Yorkshire Phoenix?) could be an option.

Yorkshire are in the doldrums anyway, still in massive debt and can’t afford to sign players, again they will struggle to pick up points this season even in Division 2.

The preservation of Headingley as an international venue for England to play at, with all its history as a ground is important imo, but there could be other ways to achieve this that don’t involve bailing out YCCC.

 

[FearlessRoar]

England offspinner-allrounder Moeen Ali, during an interview with a sports channel, said:


"Ever since I have played, it has always been good. I don't know what it felt like before me. If you are good enough, you are going to play wherever you are from. Shoaib Bashir has hardly played any cricket. But they identified him as someone who can bowl well in India. Hartley is the same. They liked his style of bowling. They felt he can do it in India. Stokesy and these guys will go on gut feel."

"The ECB have been doing a great job in terms of diversity and inclusion over a period of time. Nobody ever gets it right straight away. It takes a bit of time. It is happening. I still believe that if you are good enough, you will play."