Last Updated on 3 years by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: ECB to charge Yorkshire and seven other individuals on racism allegations | Racism at Yorkshire: ECB to hand charges
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is set to charge Yorkshire and seven individuals associated with the racism allegations that have been levelled against them. Those under the scanner currently have not been explicitly named by the ECB.
The county club will be accused of not addressing a hostile culture against the minority-ethnic cricketers within their setup. They will also have to deal with charges of failure with respect to properly responding to complaints regarding racism or any form of discrimination.
None of the members of the present management team and players are amongst the names being investigated right now, ESPNCricinfo reports. On the other hand, the evidence given by Azeem Rafiq to the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee in November 2021 is very well-documented.
Yorkshire expected to plead guilty to racism allegations
However, Yorkshire is still accountable for its historic actions and the new management is expected to plead guilty, commit towards change and accept any form disciplinary action for the time being.
The Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) is authorised to carry out disciplinary hearings in domestic cricket in England. However, the CDC cannot sit in judgment of administrators and hence they will not be charged under this case.
An independent panel of the CDC will hear these cases in September-October 2022. It could possibly last for over a week and even a cross-examination will be conducted of people who provide witness statements.
“The ECB’s investigation has been thorough and complex, with the allegations covering a significant period of time and a number of witnesses and other individuals coming forward to share their own experiences and allegations. The ECB is grateful to all those who have taken the time to speak with the investigating team,” an official statement from the ECB read, as quoted by the aforementioned publication.
The board added, “In matters of this nature, our normal practice is not to identify individuals charged at this stage. This decision is taken on a case-by-case basis. It is however standard practice for the CDC disciplinary panel to publish its decisions and written reasons in full following the hearing.”
Gary Ballance only current player facing racism allegations
Gary Ballance is the only player facing racism allegations who is still on Yorkshire’s books. However, the southpaw hasn’t played throughout the domestic season and is on an indefinite break from the game due to mental health issues.
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan along with Matthew Hoggard and Tim Bresnan have faced racism allegations in this case. Vaughan and Hoggard have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing whereas Bresnan called it a day in his cricketing career prior to the beginning of this county campaign.
Meanwhile, Yorkshire had removed 16 staff members upon the outbreak of this scandal. Andrew Gale and Richard Pyrah, two coaches who lost their jobs in this process, are pursuing claims of wrongful dismissal. They are amongst six concerned individuals who have won the right for their case to be heard at a full employment tribunal in Leeds in the English autumn.
Accordingly, a judicial mediation will now take place before an employment judge in order to reach to an agreement before the aforementioned tribunal hearing begins.
Yorkshire has maintained that their ability to respond could be limited by the refusal to give information by the people in-charge at the time of the cases. “For clarity, YCCC notes that the allegations relate to charges as far back as 2004 up until 2021 and the Club will need the cooperation of those in position during this time in order to fully consider and respond to the matters raised,” the club has stated officially.
It adds, “Unless and until that cooperation by those with first-hand knowledge and responsibility during the relevant period is forthcoming, the Club is not able to comment on the investigation, evidence, report or charges but will, of course, continue to fully cooperate with the CDC throughout this process.”
However, the club will have to live with the fear of possible point deductions as a result of this case given that the hearings will most likely conclude only after the ongoing county season.
