adminNOTTINGHAM. – Charges have been brought against “a number of individuals” by English cricket’s governing body in relation to allegations of racism at Yorkshire.
The accused could be banned or fined by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
They have not been named but it is understood ex-England captain Michael Vaughan and former Yorkshire players Matthew Hoggard, Tim Bresnan and Andrew Gale are among the individuals charged.
Yorkshire itself has also been charged with breaching the anti-racism rules.
BBC Sport has approached the individuals for comment.
Details of abuse first surfaced in September 2020 when former player Azeem Rafiq said discrimination left him feeling suicidal.
“In matters of this nature, our normal practice is not to identify individuals charged at this stage,” said the ECB.
Yorkshire said the “allegations relate to charges as far back as 2004, up until 2021”.
After being named in Yorkshire’s report into Rafiq’s claims, Vaughan, who now works as a pundit for BBC Sport and others, was stood down from presenting his BBC Radio 5 Live show in November.
The 47-year-old was then not involved in the BBC’s coverage of the Ashes but returned to the BBC’s cricket coverage in March.
The BBC declined to comment.
In a statement, Yorkshire added: “The club will need the cooperation of those in position during this time in order to fully consider and respond to the matters raised.”
Since Rafiq’s accusations became public, 16 members of staff have left Yorkshire in a widespread overhaul of its senior leadership.
The ECB said it had carried out a “thorough and complex” investigation to establish the grounds for the charges against both the county and the individuals involved.
It said the charges arose from alleged breaches of a directive regarding “conduct which is improper or which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket or which may bring the ECB, the game of cricket or any cricketer into disrepute”, and the ECB’s anti-discrimination code.
The governing body expects hearings to take place in September or October and for the outcome of each case to be published after decisions are reached.
“It is standard practice for the cricket discipline commission disciplinary panel to publish its decisions and written reasons in full following the hearing,” the ECB added.
“I welcome today’s announcement by the ECB and hope we can move to the hearing quickly,” said Rafiq on Wednesday.
“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.”
BBC Sport understands Rafiq is himself likely to be charged at a later date over historical anti-Semitic posts on social media. – BBC Sport
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter