The ECB’s Cricket Discipline Commission has published its sanctions against the six former Yorkshire players who were found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute by using racist language towards Azeem Rafiq, imposing fines ranging from £2,500 to £6,000 and adding a “strong recommendation” they should undertake anti-racism training courses at their own expense.
Matthew Hoggard, Tim Bresnan, Andrew Gale, John Blain and Richard Pyrah were all found guilty on some or all charges of breaching ECB directive 3.3 following hearings held in London in March. Their cases were heard in their absence after they withdrew from the disciplinary process. Gary Ballance was also not involved in the hearings, after admitting the charges he was facing. The former England captain Michael Vaughan did participate and was cleared.
Ballance, who announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in April, has been given a six-match suspension that will take effect “if he returns to ECB-regulated cricket as a player”, as well as a £3,000 fine. Blain and Pyrah have each been fined £2,500, Hoggard and Bresnan have been fined £4,000 and Gale £6,000. They have all been formally reprimanded and recommended to take training courses, “particularly if [they] intend to return to cricket in any playing or coaching capacity”.
Reacting to the fines, Rafiq said: “I have never cared about individual punishments. I just wanted the game to change for the better and a recognition of what I and others went through. The ECB and the wider game must now solve the problem of racism in the game. That is going to take a lot more work, transparency and real action.”
Bresnan and Blain have previously promised to appeal, and have until 9 June to formally do so, with the latter setting up a GoFundMe page to help fund his legal challenge.
He told the PA news agency: “I received legal advice not to participate in this process as it was so irredeemably flawed that I would not receive a fair hearing. This advice has proved depressingly accurate.
“I am entirely innocent of these false allegations and have launched a GoFundMe appeal to fund legal action to clear my name and am grateful for the many, many people across the cricketing community and beyond who have helped me reach over £22,000 towards my £100,000 total.”
A hearing to decide on a sanction for Yorkshire County Cricket Club, who admitted four charges of bringing the game into disrepute in February, will be held on 27 June.
