Yorkshire call for Cricket Discipline Commission misconduct hearings to be held in public

GEORGE DOBELL: Both the club, who are expected to plead guilty, and Azeem Rafiq believe it is necessary for the hearings to be public to achieve closure. However, there has been significant resistance from other defendants

Yorkshire have joined Azeem Rafiq in calling for the hearings into allegations of misconduct at the club to be conducted in public.

The club are among those charged by the ECB's Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) in connection with allegations related to Azeem's experiences of racism, which first came to light in 2020. Yorkshire are expected to plead guilty to the charges, with preliminary hearings set for October 17 and 18.

Whether those hearings take place remains to be seen, though. While Azeem and Yorkshire believe it is necessary for the hearings to be public to achieve closure, there has been significant resistance from other defendants, including those who have suggested they are likely to plead guilty.

The CDC have been reluctant to hold the hearings in public on the basis that witnesses gave their evidence on the understanding the cases would be conducted in private. The Cricketer understands the ECB have recently canvassed the witnesses, however, and all but one agreed for the hearings to be public.

^{Azeem Rafiq also wants the hearings to be held in public [Alex Davidson/Getty Images]}

Azeem has now suggested he would be reluctant to appear as a witness in private.

Contrary to reports elsewhere, Azeem has not been given an ultimatum from the CDC over his involvement in the case. As he is a key witness, however, it is unclear which complaints could be upheld without him.

His relationship with the ECB has deteriorated, in part due to the long delays in the case reaching a hearing. He has given much of his evidence previously: in an employment tribunal, which took witness statements from many of those involved; the Squire Patton Boggs report; and an appearance in front of the DCMS committee – while others who are now saying they want a public enquiry previously declined to participate.

The ECB have confirmed that Tim O'Gorman, chair of the CDC, will preside at the hearing despite the revelation that he is legal counsel for Halfords, who use the same PR firm (Powerscourt) as Azeem.  

Meanwhile Azeem, Lord Patel and Cindy Butts, who is chair of the Commission for Equity in Cricket, are all expected to give evidence to the DCMS committee on December 13. It was Azeem's evidence to the committee last year which catapulted his story into the spot light. On this occasion, they are likely to be asked, among other things, about the backlash they have experienced to their attempts call out racism and make changes to the culture of the sport. Butts' long-awaited report is due to be published before the DCMS hearing.