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Cricket News: ECB suspends Yorkshire from hosting major matches | ECB suspends Yorkshire from hosting matches in ongoing Azeem Rafiq

English households are now becoming more familiar with the name Azeem Rafiq as he fights the institutional racism he was subjected to during his playing time at Yorkshire CCC.

He first raised this issue in 2018 and since then he has been fighting to get justice and hold people accountable for their actions. But the way this investigation has been handled by Yorkshire CCC management and the executive board has been nothing short of appalling and disgusting.

In the full investigative report published by Yorkshire CCC, they claimed that at least one YCCC player admitted to using the term “P**i” aimed at Rafiq. However, that player was cleared of any wrongdoing as, according to the report, it was perceived as “friendly banter”. They go on to say that, in the context of “banter between friends” Rafiq might be “expected to take such comments in the spirit in which they were intended (i.e. good natured banter between friends)… [so] it was not reasonable for Azeem to have been offended by [the other player] directing equally offensive or derogatory comments back at him in the same spirit of friendly banter.”

But since then ECB has put out an official press release. They will be undertaking a full investigation on Rafiq’s allegations and the way YCCC handled the investigation in the first place. “The ECB has this afternoon received a copy of the report carried out on behalf of Yorkshire CCC into the allegations made by Azeem Rafiq, together with assurances from the club to cooperate fully with the ongoing regulatory process,” read the press release.

“It is clear to the Board that YCCC’s handling of the issues raised by Azeem Rafiq is wholly unacceptable and is causing serious damage to the reputation of the game. The ECB find this matter abhorrent and against the spirit of cricket and its values.”

Further to this, YCCC have to further deal with their major sponsors pulling out of renewing their contracts or terminating their current contracts. It was Anchor, their shirt sponsor, to first terminate the contract. The domino effect took place right after when other sponsors, namely Tetley’s, Yorkshire Tea, Harrogate Spa Water, Emerald and Nike all chose to terminate their agreement or not renew their contracts after the end of the current one. 

ECB have also chosen to name that player in its statement as Gary Ballance who last represented England in 2017. He has been suspended from selection as an immediate action.

“Before any regulatory investigation is complete, the Board wishes to take immediate action in relation to Gary Ballance. While Mr Ballance has not been selected to play for England since 2017, he will be suspended indefinitely from selection. This position will be reviewed following the ECB regulatory investigation into his conduct.”

ECB backing Azeem Rafiq comes as a major win to his fight against institutional racism. Further in the statement, ECB said, “As a governing body with duties to act for all in cricket, the ECB Board reaffirmed its commitment to taking decisions in the best interests of the whole game. It also agreed that sanctions including, but not limited to, financial and future major match allocations may be considered at the conclusion of our investigations.”

But the major hit to YCCC comes from their ban on hosting any international or major matches. “In the meantime, YCCC are suspended from hosting international or major matches until it has clearly demonstrated that it can meet the standards expected of an international venue, ECB member and First Class County.”

This means we will not see an international game being played at Headingley in 2022 or a match of The Hundred for that matter. In closing the report by ECB, they said “That the regulatory processes already underway into the allegations brought by Azeem Rafiq will ultimately be determined by an independent tribunal (The Cricket Disciplinary Commission).”

“The Board reiterated its unwavering commitment to ensuring that cricket is a game for everyone. Discrimination of any kind on the field of play, in the dressing room, in the stands, or in the boardroom is intolerable in sport or indeed, society. Cricket must work together to eradicate it.”

Written by Nash Sant. Follow Nash on Twitter today