Ex-Yorkshire players accused of racism by Azeem Rafiq may leave disciplinary process

The ECB are refusing to disclose crucial evidence to the former Yorkshire players accused of racism by Azeem Rafiq which has left several of them on the brink of pulling out of the disciplinary process. 

Sportsmail has learned that lawyers acting for the seven players, who include former England stars Michael Vaughan, Matthew Hoggard and Tim Bresnan, have been repeatedly denied access interviews and statements from key witnesses by the governing body.

Hoggard and Bresnan are understood to be so frustrated that they could formally withdraw this week, although Vaughan is determined to fight on and clear his name. The former England captain has not worked since stepping away from commentary duties with the BBC last June after he was charged with bringing the game into disrepute by using racist language towards Rafiq by the ECB.

Several ex-Yorkshire players are considering pulling out of the ECB’s disciplinary process after being accused of racism my Azeem Rafiq (pictured)

It comes after documents requested by players last January were only released in October

The contested documents include a bombshell interview from ex-England and Yorkshire bowler Ajmal Shahzad, who as the Daily Telegraph reported on Saturday told ECB investigators in December 2021 that Rafiq may have ‘pressurised’ England spinner Adil Rashid into supporting his allegations of racism against Vaughan.

It is understood that several of the players requested a copy of the Shahzad interview last January, but it was not released by the ECB until October, just weeks before the twice-postponed disciplinary hearing was due to take place.

‘I question whether he’s accurate in what he’s saying,’ Shahzad told the ECB investigators about Rafiq’s allegations. 

One such document shows Ajmal Shahzad (pictured) claiming Adil Rashid may have been ‘pressurised’ into supporting Rafiq’s allegations

‘I think there are a lot of things you guys may not be aware of that are happening, and it’s quite murky and it’s not very… it’s not nice to be involved in.

‘I think Adil is being pressurised. He backed up Azeem’s allegations two days before they went to a parliamentary hearing. Why? I can only think that some sort of external pressure was put on to him.’

Shahzad’s testimony echoes another written statement given to the ECB published by Sportsmail last month by a former member of staff at Yorkshire, who also suggested that Rashid had been pressured by Rafiq.

Rashid has denied being pressured in a statement released by a spokesperson

‘When the media furore was at its zenith, Mr Rashid telephoned me on more than one occasion,’ the witness told the ECB. ‘He appeared distressed and indicated to me he was being pressured to corroborate allegations of racism, even though he did not want to.

‘He said to me, more than once, that he could not remember the particular comment he was being asked to say he witnessed, nor anything racist being said in his presence. He said to me that he had told Mr Rafiq, ‘No matter how many times you tell me I heard it Azeem, I cannot remember hearing it’.

Michael Vaughan is keen to continue with the disciplinary process as he looks to clear his name

‘Mr Rashid’s voluntary comments during telephone calls he chose to make to me are at odds with claims I have seen in the media, attributed to him, concerning racist comments observed or overheard.’

Rashid has denied being put under any pressure to support Rafiq.

‘Adil has been very clear about what he has witnessed and has not been under any pressure, as he has made clear in his statement to the CDC [Cricket Discipline Commission],’ a spokesperson for the England spinner said.