England leg-spinner Adil Rashid confirmed that he heard Michael Vaughan question the number of Asian players, who have played for Yorkshire in 2009. Vaughan has denied the allegation — made by former Yorkshire player Azeem Rafiq in a report into what he described as a culture of racism at the club — that he once said about the inclusion of four players of Asian origin in the lineup in 2009: “There are too many of you lot; we need to do something about it.”
Describing the same as per the quotes in ESPNCricinfo, Adil Rashid said, “I can confirm Azeem Rafiq’s recollection of Michael Vaughan’s comments to a group of us Asian players. I categorically deny saying the words attributed to me by Azeem Rafiq and want to re-state this publicly because the ‘you lot’ comment simply never happened.”
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He further added, “It is extremely upsetting that this completely false accusation has been made against me by a former teammate, apparently supported by two other players. For some time, Ajmal Shahzad has been on record saying that he never heard me say what has been suggested. I have been in contact with the six other players from that team and not one of them has any recollection of the remark being made.”
Yorkshire chairman Kamlesh Patel, who has come in as the replacement of former chairman Roger Hutton following his resignation earlier this month over the club’s handling of the matter, said he had been in touch with Rashid.
N Yorkshire’s website, Patel said, “I’m aware of the recent statement from Adil Rashid, and I welcome his courage in speaking up. I have been in touch with Adil personally today so that we can talk through the issues as soon as he is ready and able.”
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Rashid is the second player to back Rafiq’s version of events after former Pakistan bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, who played for Yorkshire in 2008-2009. Rafiq’s allegations of facing institutional racism while a Yorkshire player between 2008 and 2018 have led to a plethora of sponsors and a series of resignations from top executives at the club.
