Azeem Rafiq calls for game to end institutional racism after CDC verdicts

The case against Michael Vaughan was dismissed, though charges against Matthew Hoggard, Tim Bresnan, John Blain, Richard Pyrah and Andrew Gale were all at least partially upheld

Azeem Rafiq has reiterated his call for cricket to focus on "the game as a whole" rather than individuals after a Cricket Discipline Commission panel found five former Yorkshire players to have breached ECB directives around the use of discriminatory language.

The case against Michael Vaughan was dismissed, though charges against Matthew Hoggard, Tim Bresnan, John Blain, Richard Pyrah and Andrew Gale were all at least partially upheld.

Only Vaughan agreed to take part in the hearings, with the other five men all declining the opportunity to defend themselves, explaining their decision not to attend by saying they had lost trust in the ECB's investigation and the disciplinary process.

"The issue has never been about individuals but the game as a whole," said Rafiq in a statement.

"Cricket needs to understand the extent of its problems and address them. Hopefully, the structures of the game can now be rebuilt and institutionalised racism ended for good."

He added: "Charges against seven of the eight defendants, including the widespread use of the P word, have been upheld by the CDC today.

"This comes in addition to the other reports, panels and inquiries that found I and others suffered racial harassment and bullying while at Yorkshire.

"It's time to reflect, learn and implement change."

^{The case against Michael Vaughan was dismissed (Getty Images)}

In his own statement, Vaughan said he hoped an "inclusive healing process" could begin in English cricket following his acquittal.

The former England captain criticised the CDC process, describing it as an "inappropriate, inadequate and backwards step".

"There are no winners in this process and there are better ways - there have to be better ways - for cricket to move forward positively and effectively," his statement read.

"I have never wanted to do anything that runs contrary to genuine efforts to clean up the game of cricket. I truly hope people can understand why, on a personal level, I just could not accept, or apologise for, something which I know I did not do.

"At times, this process has brought me to the brink of falling out of love with cricket. I won't address here the toll it has taken on me and my family, but I have no doubt it has also been incredibly stressful for all the others concerned. 

"I hope that for them and for cricket, an inclusive healing process can now begin."

Gary Ballance, the ex-England batsman, accepted the charge laid against him and therefore did not have his case heard at the CDC hearings. He has since relocated to Zimbabwe, and begun a second international career with the country of his birth.

^{Charges against Tim Bresnan and others were upheld (Getty Images)}

Yorkshire have already admitted to four ECB charges, and will face a sanctioning hearing at a late date.

A club statement on Friday read: "Throughout the Cricket Discipline Commission proceedings brought by the England and Wales Cricket Board, Yorkshire County Cricket Club has been driven by a determination to learn from the past. As a lub, we needed to accept and take accountability for the cultural issues which allowed racist and discriminatory behaviour to go unchallenged.

"It is not for the club to comment on the wider judgments made by the panel. Our focus remains on achieving a reasonable sanction, and we will make representations in due course to the CDC panel.

"In the meantime, the board is working hard to secure the club's long-term future as we continue on our road to recovery, and we are making great progress in our ambition to become a more inclusive and welcoming club for all."

Related Topics

• CDC verdicts: Charge against Michael Vaughan dismissed, five others found to have breached ECB directive