Former England bowler Matthew Hoggard says the disciplinary process regarding the Azeem Rafiq racism investigation “has failed everybody” after withdrawing his co-operation.
Hoggard, Tim Bresnan and John Blain have joined Andrew Gale in pulling out of the Cricket Discipline Commission listening to, which is because of be held in public at the beginning of March.
Former Yorkshire bowlers Hoggard, Bresnan and Blain and ex-Tykes captain and coach Gale had been amongst seven people charged by the England and Wales Cricket Board final June in a case inspecting allegations of racism and bullying made by Rafiq throughout his time at Headingley.
Hoggard, Bresnan and Blain imagine they won’t get a good trial at a public listening to and their withdrawals imply solely Gary Ballance, Michael Vaughan and Richard Pyrah are nonetheless co-operating.
Azeem Rafiq has known as Matthew Hoggard, Tim Bresnan and John Blain’s choice to withdraw from the Yorkshire racism listening to ‘regrettable’
Speaking to the BBC, Hoggard mentioned: “The process has failed everybody. Every party involved has a problem with the way this process has been dealt with.
“Azeem has an issue with it, all of the respondents have, [former Yorkshire chairman] Lord Patel has, Yorkshire have. There has acquired to be a greater manner.
“I’m pulling out because I don’t think it’s a fair process. There are no winners in this. It is not an admission of guilt. The people who know the truth, know the truth. That is all that matters to me.”
Speaking to The Times, Bresnan mentioned: “I am willing to release everything because I’m out of the process. But they just charged me. How is that possible without even speaking to me? It’s like being charged and tried without even being arrested. That’s how it feels.
“He’s [Rafiq] saying I did use that language [the P-word], together with others, however gave no instance. There aren’t any witnesses. I vehemently deny that. I grew up in a spot the place that is not proper.
Tim Bresnan says the entire state of affairs ‘has not felt proper’
“Two and a half years of non-stop articles, leaks, tweets, different stuff coming out without any right of reply. I couldn’t guarantee to witnesses that statements they wanted to make in private would not appear in the public domain.
“We’ve been ordered to maintain quiet up till this level now as a result of it might need affected the case. It simply hasn’t felt proper, the entire thing.”
Blain said: “The choice to withdraw was fairly a simple one ultimately, given the process we now have gone by. But it barely hurts me, as a result of I do know my function on this and what I used to be on the membership on the time.
Gale introduced final yr he was not prepared to have interaction with the process, which he described as “tainted”.
The ECB issued an announcement on Friday which mentioned: “Individuals are entitled to choose not to participate in the hearings if they wish, but the cases will still be heard in their absence and we are satisfied that the disciplinary process in this matter has been both rigorous and fair.
Rafiq has beforehand indicated he could rethink his personal participation within the process if there was no public aspect
“The ECB’s investigation and disciplinary process has been overseen by an independent committee and specialist leading King’s Counsel (K.C.).
“As with any case earlier than the Cricket Discipline Commission, defendants are entitled to a good listening to by an impartial and skilled CDC Panel the place they will name witnesses, they usually also can problem the proof in assist of the cost, together with by cross-examination of the ECB’s witnesses. It is fully the choice of defendants in the event that they select to not reap the benefits of this chance.
“At the end of the hearing it is for the independent CDC Panel, not the ECB, to determine guilt or otherwise and any sanction.”
Rafiq mentioned the withdrawals of Hoggard, Bresnan and Blain had been “regrettable”.
He mentioned: “Over the past two years, I have been vindicated time and again.
“This has included a authorized investigation that confirmed I used to be a sufferer of racial harassment and bullying; a Yorkshire-commissioned panel that concluded I suffered discrimination; quite a few apologies, each private and non-private, from individuals who witnessed or had been concerned on this behaviour; and others have come ahead to verify the tradition within the wider sport.”
“It is regrettable that these defendants aren’t prepared to go to a public listening to and face what occurred.”
Rafiq tells a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport choose committee that the one factor to alter within the 13 months since he first gave harrowing proof of the racism he confronted in cricket is that he is been pushed overseas
The listening to had initially been scheduled for November final yr however was pushed again as a consequence of a dispute over whether or not it ought to be held in public, which Rafiq had argued was vital for “transparency and closure”.
Former England captain Vaughan has written within the Daily Telegraph he’s glad to make his defence in public however a few of those that have been known as to seem have raised objections and proceedings have been placed on ice whereas their appeals are thought of.
Rafiq has beforehand indicated he could rethink his personal participation within the process if there was no public aspect.
Former Yorkshire chair Roger Hutton has additionally made it clear he is not going to take part below any circumstances as a consequence of an absence of religion within the process.
Rafiq’s explosive testimony rocked the game in November 2021 when he gave an emotional look in entrance of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport choose committee.
During Rafiq’s most up-to-date look in entrance of the committee, in December final yr, he mentioned he had not obtained any assist from the ECB since first giving proof and had been pressured to depart the UK due to the abuse he has obtained.
Discussion about this post