daniel chigunweLONDON. — BT Sport says it will not use Fox Sports commentary with Michael Vaughan during the Ashes in Australia as it “would not be editorially appropriate”.
The ex-England captain will not be part of the BBC’s coverage of the series, but the organisation says it “expects to work” with him in the future.
Vaughan was named in the Yorkshire report by ex-team-mate Azeem Rafiq, who alleged he made a racially insensitive remark to a group of Asian players.
He has repeatedly denied the claim.
Vaughan said he has had to delay his trip to Australia until next week “because of a positive Covid test, which is frustrating”.
BT Sport holds the UK TV rights for the series, which is scheduled to start on 8 December in Brisbane, and was reviewing plans to use Fox Sports.
“As a result of Covid-19 and travel restrictions BT Sport had made the decision to take our commentary feed from the Australian host broadcaster,” said a BT Sport statement.
BT Sport said the recent report into the Yorkshire racism scandal was “extremely disappointing” and a “concern for all”.
It added: “Given these recent events and the controversy with the situation we have taken the decision that including Michael Vaughan within our Ashes coverage would not be editorially appropriate or fit with BT Sport’s values.
“We are still finalising plans but we are assessing the option of taking a hybrid approach, using Fox commentary where possible with the aim of putting our own commentary team in place if necessary.”
Meanwhile, the BBC says Vaughan “remains on contract” with the organisation.
“We’re in regular contact with Michael and have had positive conversations with him in recent days,” said a BBC statement.
Vaughan captained England in Tests between 2003 and 2008. He played his entire domestic career at Yorkshire – between 1993 and 2009 — before becoming a summariser on BBC Test Match Special in 2009.
In a recent wide-ranging interview with the BBC on Saturday, he continued to deny the claim and stressed he never made racist comments while at Yorkshire, although he admitted regret at some tweets he had sent in 2010 and 2017.
He also said he was “sorry for all the hurt” Rafiq had gone through during the Yorkshire racism scandal.
Rafiq alleged Vaughan said “too many of you lot, we need to do something about it” to him and three other Asian players during a County Championship match for Yorkshire in 2009.
Rafiq’s account was supported by former Pakistan bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and England leg-spinner Adil Rashid, who both said they heard the comment.
The fourth player in the group — bowler Ajmal Shahzad — previously told the Daily Mail he had no recollection of the event and “the senior guys were really good to me”.
“Our contributors are required to talk about relevant issues, so Michael’s involvement in a story of such significance means it’s not possible for him to be part of our Ashes coverage or wider cricket coverage at the moment,” said the BBC.
“We’re pleased with how our conversations are going and expect to work with Michael again in the future. He remains on contract to the BBC.” — BBC Sport.
Online Reporter