Former England cricketer Matthew Hoggard says Yorkshire’s historic racism investigation and disciplinary course of has failed everybody concerned, together with Azeem Rafiq.
Rafiq first claimed racism in Yorkshire in August 2020 and later known as it English cricket “Institutionally Racist”.
Hoggard, who performed county cricket for Yorkshire and Leicestershire, says he has a “good relationship” with Rafiq, who he known as after seeing him on tv in September 2020.
He instructed BBC Sport: “The process has failed everyone. Every party involved has a problem with the way the process has been dealt with.”
“Azeem [Rafiq] There’s a problem with this, all the respondents have, [former Yorkshire chairman] Lord Patel has it, Yorkshire has it. There has got to be a better way.”
Hoggard is dealing with 4 fees Bringing the sport into disrepute centered on allegedly utilizing racist language throughout his time at Yorkshire.
In his first interview after the allegations in opposition to him have been made, Hoggard mentioned: “I’m withholding the name because I don’t think it’s a fair process.
“There’s no winner on this. It’s not an act of contrition. Those who know the reality, know the reality. That’s all that issues to me.”
Hoggard claimed, “Right now, Rafa is getting no matter he desires.” “It is being weighted to at least one aspect. I, because the respondent, haven’t been spoken to by the ECB even as soon as.”
The ECB mentioned it “wrote to present people a possibility to reply in writing” before filing any charges and “any defendants requested that we converse to them as nicely”.
Rafiq mentioned he has been vindicated “repeatedly” over the previous two years.
He added: “This features a authorized inquiry which confirmed I used to be the sufferer of racial harassment and bullying; a Yorkshire-commissioned panel which concluded I suffered discrimination; quite a few apologies from folks each private and non-private. , who have been or have been concerned on this conduct; and others have come ahead to verify the tradition within the wider recreation.”
In what Hoggard says will be his only public comment on the matter, he claims:
- The investigation and disciplinary process has been flawed from the start
- The ECB is refusing to hand over evidence collected during its investigation, whether they will aid or harm its defence.
- His relationship with Rafiq is that of “mates” and he does not believe his former team-mates are willing to pursue individuals
- The 4 allegations in opposition to him are a case of “dressing room tradition somewhat than racism” from the previous.
In a press release, the ECB mentioned: “Individuals have the best to decide on to not attend hearings if they need, however issues can be heard of their absence and we’re glad that the disciplinary course of on this case has been rigorous and truthful.” Both have been.
“As with any case earlier than the Cricket Disciplinary Commission, the defendants are entitled to a good trial by an unbiased and skilled CDC panel, the place they might name witnesses, and so they may additionally problem the proof in assist of the allegation, together with cross -Examination can also be included. ECB witnesses. It is completely the choice of the defendants whether or not they don’t need to avail themselves of this chance.
“At the end of the hearing it is for the independent CDC panel, not the ECB, to determine blame or otherwise and any sanction.”
‘How can we defend ourselves?’
Hoggard, an Ashes winner with England in 2005, was considered one of seven males charged with Yorkshire in June final yr following allegations by Rafiq of historic racism.
Former Yorkshire captain and coach Andrew Gayle Immediately after being charged withdrew his engagement within the course of.
Hoggard withdrew the identify on Friday, together with former England all-rounder Tim Bresnan and former Scotland quick bowler John Blaine.
former england captain Michael Vaughn, former england worldwide gary stability Former Yorkshire bowler Richard Pirah is dealing with different fees on the ECB’s Cricket Disciplinary Commission listening to in March.
The CDC has determined to carry the listening to in public following a request by former spin bowler Rafiq – the primary time it has accomplished so.
Hoggard gave a press release to the ECB after the allegations have been made, however says he was by no means interviewed as a part of the investigative course of.
He claims the ECB contacted 56 witnesses as a part of its investigation, however says the governing physique is refusing to show over all of the proof collected, regardless of in depth requests from Hoggard’s attorneys. The 46-year-old additionally says there are particular dates hooked up to solely one of many 4 fees in opposition to him.
“How can we defend ourselves?” Hoggard mentioned. “How can one have a good trial?
“The ECB have proof – whether or not it helps or hinders us – that they will not allow us to see. Why is that?
“This course of has been flawed from the start on either side. I’m sorry for Azeem if he doesn’t really feel that his voice is being heard.
“It’s not fair to anyone in this process. How did it take this long to get here?”
The ECB mentioned it had adopted “due process, including complying with its disclosure obligations and providing materials to relevant parties at the appropriate time”.
‘Good phrases’ with Rafiq
Rafiq’s first spell with Yorkshire, between 2008 and 2014, coincided with Hoggard’s ultimate years with the county earlier than signing for Leicestershire in 2009. Rafiq had a second spell at Headingley between 2016 and 2018.
His allegations of racism at Yorkshire have been first made in August 2020 in an interview with the Cricket Badger podcast, and Hoggard known as out Rafiq the next month. The two have been in contact since then.
Hoggard mentioned, “We keep a good relationship because we’ve never fallen out or had a verbal spat between us.” “Our relationship has been that of friends for a long time. Azeem lost his way in cricket and felt Yorkshire had let him down.
“I’ve talked to Rafa a couple of instances. In considered one of his statements he mentioned: ‘I did not assume then and do not assume now that Matthew Hoggard is a racist individual.’
“Azeem says I have nothing to worry about for his first spell in Yorkshire. It’s good enough for me.”
Hoggard additionally says Rafiq known as on him to apologize for dropping his job and damaging his repute after his first look earlier than a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) choose committee in November 2021 Was.
Rafiq instructed BBC Sport: “I was grateful to Matthew Hoggard for calling me to apologize so soon after it became public in 2020. However, it is regrettable that these defendants are unwilling to go to a public hearing and face what happened Are.”
Hoggard doesn’t consider Rafiq meant to pursue people, however says the allegations have “snowballed” and “narratively” modified what occurred within the Yorkshire dressing room.
Rafiq himself was reprimanded by the ECB in October final yr fb change containing anti-Semitic messages since 2011. The messages surfaced in November 2021, at which era Rafiq issued an apology.
cost
Three of Hoggard’s 4 fees relate to proof given by Rafiq, in addition to one associated to a nickname given to Ismail Dawood, a former Yorkshire participant.
Hoggard is alleged to have known as Rafiq an offensive nickname from the day of Rafiq’s first crew debut in June 2008 till he left Yorkshire the next yr.
Hoggard admits to utilizing the time period, which is racially offensive in South Africa, the place Hoggard beforehand performed.
However, he insisted that Rafiq was nicknamed by the opposite Asian members of the Yorkshire squad, utilizing the that means of a non-believer in Islam.
“somebody called him [it], I questioned it,” Hoggard mentioned.
“Rafa has admitted that he did something in the past that he was not proud of. He was called out by Asians in the changing room. He took no offense to it, he just laughed.
“I did not give you it as a result of it is a horrible identify for somebody in South Africa, which I questioned.”
Hoggard has also been accused of using a racist word during the 2008 season.
Furthermore, Hoggard is alleged to have used the term “you lot” as a derogatory term for Asian players in the Yorkshire dressing room in 2008 and/or 2009.
“Exactly,” he said. “I’d name any group ‘u lot.’ to danger ‘.”
Hoggard is also alleged to have used the alias ‘TBM’ or ‘Token Black Man’ for Dawood in 2004 and/or 2005.
Former wicket-keeper Dawood went on to become a first-class umpire and along with fellow umpire John Holder made allegations of racism against the ECB in 2020.
Hoggard claims that David himself gave the nickname to Hoggard’s stag doe.
“He launched himself to different folks,” Hoggard said. “It lasted one season at Yorkshire. He was ‘TBM’ generally.
“He later said ‘when it was said in the changing room, on the pitch or in passing, I questioned whether I was TBM because of quotas and I was no good on the field'”.
Dawood mentioned it was “another weak attempt to defame and ridicule” and was “absolutely not true”.
He added: “The upcoming ECB will provide a valuable opportunity for all parties involved, including Matthew Hoggard, to participate in the public racism hearing. I hope the CDC will acknowledge the decision and take note of the efforts to discredit rather than apologise. “
Hoggard mentioned the allegation was not about racism however dressing room tradition.
He additionally disagreed with Rafiq’s declare that English cricket is institutionally racist and mentioned he wouldn’t have behaved otherwise if given the possibility.
“Nothing is off limits,” he mentioned. “If you wrote down everything that was said in the changing rooms and read it, you would shudder. On top of that, both society and memory of events would have changed in the last 15 years.”
In distinction, Rafiq has known as the language used within the dressing room “racism and bullying”. The identify of his upcoming ebook is ‘It’s not banter, it is racism’.
Hoggard mentioned: “If I think someone was taking offense, didn’t like it or was shrinking, that’s not okay.
“If somebody was singled out, picked on and abused, if that altering room did not understand it, it was a foul tradition. If there was a division in that altering room, it might have been seen, however that Wasn’t the case.”
In November 2021, the ECB introduced a five-point motion plan to tackle racism, including a review of dressing room culture. That review was initially scheduled to be delivered at the end of the 2022 season but has yet to be published.
Although Hoggard has not played first-class cricket since 2013, the ECB argues that it retains jurisdiction over him by the terms of an undertaking to comply with the governing body’s rules, which is required to be registered to play. A person signs for
The ECB claims that the terms of the undertaking are binding for life.
talking in dcms second time In December final yr, Rafiq mentioned he had been “thrown in a foreign country” by “threats and abuse” since speaking out about alleged racism in Yorkshire.
While Hoggard said he sympathized with Rafiq, he also spoke about the allegations against him and his family.
“When the allegations first got here out, I did not need to depart the home,” he said. “I’ve been cancelled, folks saying they cannot seem with me. I’ve misplaced a whole lot of work.
“My family has taken a beating, especially my wife. I’m done. People who know me know what I’m about. That’s good enough for me.
“I’m not taking part in a course of that I consider just isn’t being performed pretty.”
With inputs from BBC
