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Former England bowler Matthew Hoggard says the disciplinary process linked to the Azeem Rafiq racism inquiry “failed everyone” after withdrawing his cooperation.
Hoggard, Tim Bresnan and John Blain have joined Andrew Gale in pulling out of the Cricket Disciplinary Commission hearing, which will be held in public at the start of March.
Former Yorkshire bowlers Hoggard, Bresnan and Blain and former Tykes captain and coach Gale were among seven individuals charged by the England and Wales Cricket Board last June in a case looking into allegations of racism and bullying by Rafiq while at Headingley.
Hoggard, Bresnan and Blain believe they will not be given a fair trial at the public hearing and their withdrawal means that only Gary Ballance, Michael Vaughan and Richard Pyrah are still cooperating.
Azeem Rafiq calls Matthew Hoggard, Tim Bresnan and John Blain’s decision to withdraw from Yorkshire racism trial ‘regrettable’
Speaking to the BBC, Hoggard said: “This process has failed everyone. Every party involved has a problem with the way this process has been handled.
“Azeem has a problem, all respondents have, [former Yorkshire chairman] Lord Patel has it, Yorkshire has it. There must be a better way.
“I’m pulling out because I don’t think it’s a fair process. There’s no winner in this. It’s not admitting mistakes. People who know the truth, know the truth. That’s all that matters to me. .”
Talk to The TimesBresnan said: “I’m willing to release everything because I’m out of the process. But they just prosecuted me. How can they do it without talking to me? It’s like being prosecuted and tried without being detained. I feel.
“Yes [Rafiq] say that I use that language [the P-word], along with others, but does not provide examples. There were no witnesses. I strongly disagree. I grew up in the wrong place.
Tim Bresnan says the whole situation ‘didn’t feel right’
“Two and a half years of non-stop articles, leaks, tweets, various things that came out without the right of reply. I cannot guarantee the witness that the statement he wants to make privately will not appear in the public domain.
“We have been told to remain silent until now as we may be affected by the case.
Blain said: “The decision to step down was quite easy in the end, because of the process we went through. But it hurt me a bit, because I knew my role in it and what I was at the club at the time.
Gale announced last year that he refused to participate in the process, which he described as “tainted”.
The ECB issued a statement on Friday which said: “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 both rigorous and fair.”
Rafiq previously indicated that he may reconsider his own participation in the process if there is no common element
“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.”
Rafiq said the resignations of Hoggard, Bresnan and Blain were “regrettable”.
He said, “For the past two years, I have been corrected over and over 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.”
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Rafiq told the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport selection committee that the only thing that needed to change in the 13 months since he gave shocking evidence of the racism he faced in cricket was that he was kicked out of the country.
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 he likes to make his defense public but some people who have been called to appear have raised objections and the process has been put on ice while his appeal is 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.
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