Matthew Hoggard, Tim Bresnan and John Blain withdraw from ECB hearing into Yorkshire racism allegations made by Azeem Rafiq | Cricket News

Azeem Rafiq said it was “regrettable” that former Yorkshire team-mates Matthew Hoggard and Tim Bresnan had withdrawn from the disciplinary process that began following allegations of racism and bullying.

Ashes winner Hoggard and Bresnan were two men charged by the England and Wales Cricket Board in June in a disciplinary case looking into allegations of racism and bullying made by Rafiq during his time at the county.

Another former Yorkshire bowler, John Blain, has also resigned, with the trio believing they will not get a fair hearing with the process set to go public at the start of March.

Azeem Rafiq said: “For the past two years, I have been corrected time and again.

“This includes a legal inquiry which confirmed that I was a victim of racial harassment and bullying; a panel commissioned by Yorkshire which concluded that I had suffered discrimination; numerous apologies, public and private, from those who witnessed or participated in this conduct; and others have come forward to confirm culture in the wider game.”

“It’s unfortunate that these defendants refused to go to a public hearing and face what happened.”

Former Yorkshire player and head coach Andrew Gale, another person charged, announced last year he refused to take part in the process, which he described as “tainted”.

Gary Ballance, Michael Vaughan and Richard Pyrah, who were also charged by the ECB, are the three individuals who are still cooperating.

The hearing was originally scheduled for November last year but was canceled due to a dispute over whether it should be held in public, which Rafiq said was important for “transparency and closure”.

Former England captain Vaughan has written on Daily Telegraph that he was happy to do his defense in public but some of those who were summoned raised objections and the process was carried out when their appeals were considered.

Rafiq previously indicated that he may reconsider his own participation in the process if there is no common element.

Former Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton also made it clear that he would not participate under any circumstances as he did not trust the procedure.

Rafiq’s explosive testimony rocked the sport in November 2021 when he made an emotional appearance before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee.

During Rafiq’s most recent appearance before the committee, in December last year, he said he had not received support from the ECB since he first gave evidence and was forced to leave the UK because of the abuse he received.

Hoggard, who faces four charges of disrupting the game, focusing on his use of racist language during his time in Yorkshire, said the hearing had “failed everyone” including Rafiq.

In his first interview since the allegations against him, Hoggard told BBC Sport: “This process has failed everyone. Every party involved has a problem with the way this process has been handled.

“Sour [Rafiq] have problems with, all respondents have, [former Yorkshire chairman] Lord Patel has it, Yorkshire has it. There must be a better way.”

Hoggard added: “I resigned because I didn’t think the process was fair.

“No one wins, this is not an admission of guilt. The person who knows the truth, knows the truth. That’s all that matters to me.

“I, as a respondent, have not been spoken to by the ECB once.”

Talk to The TimesBresnan said: “For almost 800 days I have kept my advice on this. I have not been interviewed by the ECB and they have not accused me without talking to me. It is an accusation brought for an incident on an unspecified date.

“Leaking has been quite distasteful and reduced everything to a bit of a circus. There is no class or traditional values ​​about it. It has a substandard feel.”

Blain, a former Scotland seamer, said: “The decision to cancel was quite easy in the end, given the process we went through. But it hurt me a bit, because I knew my role in this and what I was in. the club at that time.”

The ECB issued a statement saying: “Individuals have the right to choose not to participate in the hearing if they wish, but the case will still be heard in their absence and we are satisfied that the disciplinary process in this matter has been rigorous and fair.

“The ECB’s investigative and disciplinary process has been overseen by an independent and specialist committee led by the King’s Counsel (KC).

“As in the case before the Cricket Disciplinary Commission, the accused have the right to a fair hearing by an independent and experienced CDC Panel where they can call witnesses, and can also challenge the evidence to support the allegations, including through the cross-examination of ECB witnesses. It is entirely the decision of the accused if they choose not to take advantage of this opportunity.

“At the end of the hearing it is for the independent CDC Panel, not the ECB, to determine guilt or otherwise and any sanctions.”