Several MPs along with inclusion in sport charity Sporting Equals have joined Azeem Rafiq in condemning Colin Graves’ potential return to Yorkshire CCC.

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Graves is reportedly in advanced negotiations to organise a takeover of the county, nine years after his tenure as club chairman ended. His potential return has garnered significant criticism in light of the allegations of systemic racism at the club during Graves’ time in charge, first revealed by Rafiq in 2020.

“We are into 2024 and yet cricket is still failing its fight to be more inclusive,” wrote Rafiq in the Mirror today (January 8). “Failing its fight against racism and failing in its fight against discrimination. The return of Colin Graves to Yorkshire absolutely underlines that.”

Yorkshire CCC was fined £400,000 by the Independent Cricket Discipline Commission last year and docked 48 points in the 2023 County Championship due to allegations of historic racism at the county. In June last year, three years after the scandal first came to light, Graves said he had never witnessed any racism at Yorkshire during his tenure from 2012 to 2015.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Graves said: “I don’t believe it’s institutional racism in Yorkshire… If people can prove it fine, but I don’t think it is institutionally racist as an organisation. I just don’t see it.

“I think there’s been odd occasions where words have been said that people may regret afterwards. I don’t think it was done on a racist, savage basis. I think there was a lot of – I know people don’t like the word ‘banter’ – but I think there could have been a lot of banter in there about it, and I know people don’t like that.”

Rafiq alleged in 2020 that he had been subjected to racist comments from players and staff during his playing career at Yorkshire, firstly between 2008 and 2014 and later 2016 to 2018, and that the club was institutionally racist. A subsequent investigation and report by Yorkshire upheld seven of Rafiq’s allegations, which was met with widespread backlash. Yorkshire was subsequently suspended from hosting international matches by the ECB, and Lord Kamlesh Patel was appointed as club chairman following the resignation of Roger Hutton. Yorkshire’s suspension from hosting international fixtures was lifted in early 2022. The club announced Patel was to step down in early 2023.

In the wake of the scandal, Yorkshire has faced financial difficulties related to loss of sponsorship deals and its brief suspension from hosting international games. The club is over £20 million in debt, £15 million of which is owed to the Graves Trust. Graves was part of a group who rescued the club from bankruptcy in 2002 and became chairman of the ECB in 2015. When Graves joined the ECB his loans to the club were consolidated into the Graves Trust to avoid a potential conflict of interest.

The return of Graves as chair would provide Yorkshire with a significant financial boost, after the club reported in their 2023 annual report: “It is forecast that a cashflow over and above the club’s existing borrowing facilities will arise towards the end of 2023 and without further funding of circa £3.5 million the club will not be able to continue as a going concern.”

There have been reports of other offers of a takeover to the club, including from IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals, and retail tycoon and former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley. However, in spite of these offers, Graves is now reportedly in exclusive talks with the club and his return as chair is set to be put to a members’ vote of approval. It’s been alleged by House of Lords peer, Lord John Mann, that the club refused to talk to other potential buyers he put forward, instead focussing on Graves for financial resolution.

In an open letter to sports minister Stuart Andrew issued today (January 8), charity Sporting Equals – who exist to promote ethnic diversity across sport – issued an open letter condemning Graves’ potential return. The letter read: “The potential reinstatement of Colin Graves as Chairman of Yorkshire County Cricket Club would undermine the progress made. His reinstatement would send a message that emboldens those who perpetuate the myth that racism is simply banter, that it is enough to pay lip service to policies and procedures. It would make a mockery of the suffering of ethnically diverse players across the country.”

The letter also called for “a thorough, fair, independent and resilient disqualification process to rid the game of bad actors”.

MPs have also joined the criticism of Graves’ potential return. Clive Efford, who was a member of the select committee which heard Rafiq’s evidence in 2021 said: “It’s a retrograde step and a disaster for cricket if the ECB allow it to happen. I supported Yorkshire not being stripped of the Ashes Test match on the basis that they had taken major steps and seemed determined to move forward, but clearly I was mistaken.”

Alex Sobel, MP for the Leeds North West constituency which includes Headingley, has also reportedly written to Yorkshire chair Harry Chathli expressing his concern at Graves’ return and asking for a meeting.

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Yorkshire County CricketRacism In English Cricket