Julian Knight, the MP and chair who presided over the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee meeting in which Azeem Rafiq outlined his experiences of racial abuse at Yorkshire, has welcomed the departure of the club’s coaching staff.
On Friday the county announced the departure of director of cricket Martyn Moxon, first XI coach Andrew Gale, the remainder of the coaching team and backroom medical staff, who were employed externally by Pavilion Physiotherapy Clinic. The club revealed that 16 people had left the club.
“Significant change is required at Yorkshire County Cricket Club and we are committed to taking whatever action is necessary to regain trust,” said Yorkshire chair Lord Patel. “The decisions announced today were difficult to make, but are in the best interests of the club. Without making important changes to how we are run, we cannot move on from the past to become a culture which is progressive and inclusive.”
Knight said the DCMS committee backed the news of wholesale changes, saying: “We welcome the announcement by Yorkshire County Cricket Club on the departure of its entire coaching staff. The experience of Azeem Rafiq at YCCC demanded no less.
“On Tuesday we will be discussing racism in cricket with the National Asian Cricket council and considering the ECB’s 12-point plan to tackle it.”
Yorkshire have announced that a new director of cricket to replace Moxon will be announced imminently, but the departure of senior coaching figures has reportedly been met with resistance by players.
According to the Telegraph, Lord Patel was in discussion with players on Friday, with some threatening to leave the club. “The players are absolutely distraught and feeling very aggrieved at what has happened,” an unnamed source told the newspaper.
