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CDC publishes sanctions against six former Yorkshire players and coaches
The Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) has today published its decision to sanction six former Yorkshire County Cricket Club players and coaches.
The independent Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) has today published its sanction decisions in relation to six former Yorkshire County Cricket Club players and coaches.
The sanctions follow a CDC Panel disciplinary hearing, held from 1 to 7 March, when five individuals – John Blain, Tim Bresnan, Andrew Gale, Matthew Hoggard and Richard Pyrah - were found to have breached ECB Directive 3.3 for their alleged use of racist and/or discriminatory language.
Additionally, Gary Ballance had already admitted to breaches of that same Directive. The CDC Panel then heard submissions on sanction at a further hearing on 3 May 2023.
The sanctions for each of the six individuals are outlined below (in alphabetical order) with the full written reasons available to view, here.Gary Ballance – a six-match playing suspension (to take effect if he returns to ECB-regulated cricket as a player) and a £3,000 fine. Mr Ballance is also formally reprimanded, together with a strong CDC recommendation to undertake an appropriate racism/discrimination education course identified by the ECB, at his own expense, particularly if he intends to return to cricket in any playing or coaching capacity.
John Blain – a £2,500 fine. Mr Blain is also formally reprimanded, together with a strong CDC recommendation to undertake an appropriate racism/discrimination education course identified by the ECB, at his own expense, particularly if he intends to return to cricket in any playing or coaching capacity.
Tim Bresnan – a three-match playing suspension (to take effect if he returns to ECB-regulated cricket as a player) and a £4,000 fine. Mr Bresnan is also formally reprimanded, together with a strong CDC recommendation to undertake an appropriate racism/discrimination education course identified by the ECB, at his own expense, particularly if he intends to return to cricket in any playing or coaching capacity.
Andrew Gale – a four-week suspension from coaching cricket (to take effect if he returns to ECB-regulated cricket as a coach) and a £6,000 fine. Mr Gale is also formally reprimanded, together with a strong CDC recommendation to undertake an appropriate racism/discrimination education course identified by the ECB, at his own expense, particularly if he intends to return to cricket in any playing or coaching capacity.
Matthew Hoggard - a £4,000 fine. Mr Hoggard is also formally reprimanded, together with a strong CDC recommendation to undertake an appropriate racism/discrimination education course identified by the ECB, at his own expense, particularly if he intends to return to cricket in any playing or coaching capacity.
Richard Pyrah – a two-week suspension from coaching cricket (to take effect if he returns to ECB-regulated cricket as a coach) and a £2,500 fine. Mr Pyrah is also formally reprimanded, together with a strong CDC recommendation to undertake an appropriate racism/discrimination education course identified by the ECB, at his own expense, particularly if he intends to return to cricket in any playing or coaching capacity.
The sanctioned individuals are able to appeal the decisions before the end of business on Friday 9 June 2023.
The CDC has also confirmed that the sanction hearing for Yorkshire County Cricket Club, which has admitted four breaches of ECB Directive 3.3, will be held on Tuesday 27 June 2023.
These CDC sanction decisions have been made by an independent panel consisting of Tim O’Gorman (Chair of the CDC), Mark Milliken-Smith KC and Dr Seema Patel.
Gary Ballance statement:
“After much thought, I have decided to retire from all forms of professional cricket with immediate effect.
“I had hoped my move to Zimbabwe would provide me with a new-found happiness for the game and I will always be thankful to Zimbabwe Cricket for providing me with an opportunity to return to international cricket and welcoming me into their team. However, I have reached the stage where I no longer have the desire to dedicate myself to the rigours of professional sport and this would do Zimbabwe Cricket and the game itself a disservice, should I carry on. I wish them every success going forward.
“I have been fortunate to have some incredibly memorable moments in cricket, winning County Championships with Yorkshire and gaining the ultimate honour of representing England and Zimbabwe. I want to thank all of my clubs, coaches, support staff, teammates and supporters for their guidance and encouragement over my career, it has been a privilege.
“It is now time for me to move on to the next chapter of my life.
“I will be making no further comments on my decision at this time.”
Rafiq's Agent speaks from his soap box.
Throw enough mud about and some is bound to stick somewhere. BBC determined to start the season on a sour note.
Balances of Probability in the absence of evidence other than word of mouth testimony to events of over a decade ago, when no one reacted to anything at the time (or for years later).
St George d'Bell's verdict and it contains nothing that would surprise you, as he sets out to justify his own existence in the lead up to a book launch, no doubt!
We await the ECB sponsored verdict
Dan Roan reins-it in a little - BBC reporter usually reports Rafiq's words unquestioningly much the same as Rafiq's ghost writer St George d' Bell does. Are there future book sales dependent on the verdict?
BBC Woeful Tuesday update
BBC Thursday update
BBC Wednesday update
BBC summary to date
Yorkshire deleted!
Pyrah: "badly handled" and the allegations "not appropriately challenged".
Gary Ballance, who was supposed to be not fit enough to face cricket in England for the foreseeable future, so was released by Yorkshire (so they spin it), scores a Test century for Zimbabwe on his "second Test debut". Another monument to the lies that have been emanating from Leeds since you know what/who, one could suggest!
Yorkshire, Dear member - update
Pyrah pulls out
Hoggard has his say
Three more refuse to play in ECB Witch hunt
Baroness to be interim stand-in Chair as Lord stands down
Graves return? ...or will there be political intervention
Lord Patel to step down
No balance or no Ballance Rafiq blames the press.
Mentally unfit or driven out of England by a witch hunt? The self-confessed "witch" is excited to play for Zimbabwe!
Ballance going back to Zimbabwe?
Ballance released from contract
Former Yorkshire chair no faith in ECB enquiry
BBCSport
Yorkshire have agreed compensation with former coach Andrew Gale and ex-bowling coach Richard Pyrah following their sackings last year.
The pair were among 16 members of staff sacked in December in the fallout from the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal.
Gale, 38, spent his entire playing career at Yorkshire and was captain and coach during Rafiq's time at the club.
The compensation package comes after Gale and Pyrah won a claim for unfair dismissal in June.
Former all-rounder Pyrah, 39, played for Yorkshire between 2004 and 2015 before joining the coaching staff.
A Yorkshire statement read: "On the 3rd December 2021 the Yorkshire County Cricket Club Limited took the decision to dismiss its coaching and medical staff.
"The club has acknowledged that its dismissals of that group of employees was procedurally unfair.
"After meaningful dialogue between the club and the legal advisers acting on behalf of Andrew Gale and Richard Pyrah, the parties can confirm that acceptable terms of settlement have been reached.
"The financial terms of the settlements are confidential and no further public statement will be made about the terms..."
.... He (Gale) denied all of the allegations made by Rafiq.
Yorks had claimed they were to come forward with fresh evidence.
ReplyDeleteThe fact they are not to do so, and reached settlements, exonerates both men.
The accuser ?
Mark Arthur got 300 thousand quid I read in the daily mail too this morning. Good for him I say, a decent chap he always seemed to me .spoke to him many times during his time both at Trent Bridge and the city ground, Including in Scarborough when we last played up there.
ReplyDeleteOf course I’m nowhere near to the centre of all this but many of the sackings had a feel of being wrong at the time.foxy
Are you serious about Promotion ? - that’s an old Mark Arthur joke for the Forest fans out there.
DeleteProbably 2 years’ salary at CEO level of a Test Match County ?
Arghh,I’d forgotten about that . Lol.Just got in from the match too, now I’m going to have nightmares about David platt. Foxy
DeleteGood morning, nice morning and good news I slept well with no nightmares. Enjoy today’s final whether u are going to Trent Bridge or watching on television.Foxy .
DeleteTickets still available on the gate, just 600% higher in price than last year.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteStrange to relate, but the case of Lady Susan Hussey (not related to David ?!) similar to "The Yorkshire 16".
ReplyDeleteYet again verdict before trial. In fact what trial ? What justice ?
This is an increasingly sad series of events. Further hearings and testimonies can serve no useful purpose, and can only risk further mental health issues to 16 people, who, even after all this time, have had nothing proved against them
ReplyDeleteIt’s dragging on . Going forward lessons have got to be learned this would start with mandatory inservice training on equality and diversity, from top to bottom starting with the ceo s downwards.i had to attend such training annually at work, this never appears to of happened in the cricket world . Foxy
ReplyDeleteI think E&D manditory training was every three years where I worked. I'm sure there is a queue of different providers offering their services to cricket clubs locally and nationally to present such training. It's not rocket science, it will just take a bit of cash and the motivation from the top. Rocket science training was taken annually, along with the H&S refresher BTW.
DeleteSome of the mandatory training was annual, some every 3 years. What ever it costs it will be chicken feed compared to the millions this has cost already.
ReplyDeleteNobody has come out of this unscathed; the guilty, the innocent; The accused; the accuser, Yorkshire or the wider cricket community.
At some point I think it would be best to have a good Friday style agreement where everyone before a given date is let out on license. Then a full and comprehensive educational plan can be instituted. So called “ banter “ in the workplace be it cricket or anywhere else should of gone with Bernard manning , Jim Davidson and love thy neighbor.foxy
Any threats against Azeem Rafiq are deplorable and the culprits should be caught and face the law.
ReplyDeleteBut for him to blame The Yorkshire Post Newspaper for them is wrong. They say they have reported the facts all along, their job.
It is also not the case that we have allegations of anti semitic texts from him, he has publically admitted them.
Chuffin ek, "24/7 security" from the England and Wales Cricket Board - they have diversified
ReplyDeleteRemember “Rambo “ the security guard at Trent Bridge in the 90s? Wondered where he’d gone. Foxy
ReplyDeleteIt’s a pity he doesn’t use a New Balance bat like Joe Root etc to provide even more balance?
ReplyDeleteYes Foxy, I recall “Rambo” very well. He was about 5ft 7 tall but the same as wide with a crew cut type of haircut and he had his moment of fame once particularly game when an intruder strayed into the pitch and he haired after him and brought him to the ground. It was a bit like a speeded up scene from Benny Hill if anyone else recalls it ?
Ha, yes I do remember the incident you described now you come to mention it.
DeleteThe kids used to like to shout “RAMBO” ( at a safe distance) when he went by at Sunday league games.
He was around for a few seasons, may of even made it into this century at Trent Bridge.
I can reveal a slightly different side to him perhaps, I took my then 10 year old daughter to see Disney on ice at the ice stadium when it first opened and he sat with his kids a few rows in front.
Think he was a Scotsman if memory serves
There’s been a few characters around the ground over the years.
Foxy
I wish Lord Patel well, but his period in office has seen the club lose it's focus.
ReplyDeleteOf course racism is wrong, but so is sacking 16 people with no procedure, nor any chance to defend themselves.
Yorkshire statement today :
"Equality, diversity, and inclusivity are at the heart of our club "
Oh really ? It used to be cricket.
75,NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteChoppy waters ahead at Yorkshire ccc
Doesn't sound like much fun
Everyone looking over their shoulder at what's happening and what might be said ( or not said?)
Its a changing world alright
Lord Patel has fulfilled a very difficult role, I am not going defend sacking staff without due process, this was clearly wrong but please remember the pressure YCCC was under from the ECB for action after the inertia of the previous board. What sealed the fate of the 16 who were sacked was the signing of the ‘White Rose Values’ statement. It is disappointing that some of the 16 signed this document condoning past wrongs!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the chat on this site thank you & please keep it up.
Exiled Notts fan currently a Yorkshire attender!
When Lord Patel came in things had to be seen to be done. That phase has passed but it’s going to rumble on and rear up for quite some time to come I reckon. Foxy
ReplyDeleteIt is up to Yorkshire but CG does not seem to be a character to heal wounds, which really are gaping.
ReplyDeleteYorkshire are reportedly £20M in debt, owing £16M of it to The Graves Family Trust. It is reported that he is no longer associated with that Trust.
The last set of YCCC official accounts stated there are "material doubts" over the club continuing at all.
Whatever your views on the actions Azeem Rafiq and Lord Patel, the club seems to have been damaged by them, whatever the intentions.
She is a person I admire, but her knowledge of cricket ?
ReplyDeleteThe three are so right, the process is deeply flawed. ECB have already said they believe the allegations. So verdict before hearing, sounds like the old Soviet Union.
ReplyDelete75 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteGUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT. It makes it easier to get a " conviction"
Well Done Richard !
ReplyDeleteWhat a pathetic response from the club, throwing people to the wolves ! Know a different sport, but remember Sir Alf sticking up all the way for Nobby. But then Alf had backbone !
Well done Gary too, 137 not out in Test Match v West Indies.
ReplyDeletePlaying for an African team. Racist ? No way !
And becomes only the second player after Riki wessells dad to score tons for 2 different countries ( apparently) foxy
DeleteAm ready to ignore it !
ReplyDeleteThe very definition of a farce, or is that the Notts 2023 AGM ?
The AGM only lasted something like two and a half hours including a half time break. This Yorkshire farce has been dragged out for far too long.
DeleteYCCC ; Y = yawn
ReplyDelete75 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteMICHAEL VAUGHAN is accused of saying “you lot” to a group of ethnic Yorkshire players.
But if you watch the Apprentice program on BBC1 every Thursday you will often here that term used by Alan Sugar at the end of the episode in the Boardroom. To the remainder of the losing team ( after the firing) he nearly always says “ you lot , go back to the house!”. He says this to all candidates regardless.
In a Tweet today, Lancashire referred to Yorkshire as "them lot" accompanying a film of edits from past Blast games between the two Roses counties. Nothing sinister or offensive.
ReplyDeleteDidums
ReplyDeleteGreat point, Nottsviewer.
ReplyDeleteAs an aside, ECB are claiming jurisdiction over our pro players, "throughout their lives", even after leaving employment in the game.
Apart from hubris, is their any basis for this ? In all matters, or just cricket ?
For instance, if you no longer work in the game, are you obliged to pay any fine levied ?
Yorkshire or ( the ) sussex’s?
ReplyDeleteConfused of Essex
ReplyDeleteAre you saying The Sussexes are on The Apprentice?
No the Yorkshire saga is like the Sussex saga in the USA! It’s going on and on and on (like the Ariston advert )and people have generally heard it all and made their own minds up .
ReplyDeleteThere's a Sussex cricket saga in the USA? Flippin'eck!
DeleteYep , Hollywood actor C Aubrey smith played for them !( apparently; a bit before my time)
ReplyDeleteAjmal Shazhad, Notts, Yorks and England, told invistigators there was no culture of racism at Yorkshire, while he was there, and he never encountered it in his playing career. Bless him ! Rather shows if you have a good attitude to people, you mostly get that back in return.
ReplyDeleteShahzad ! sorry to him for error, and wish him well, at Derbyshire coaching, I think.
ReplyDeleteI spoke to Shahzad a couple of times when he was at Trent Bridge.
ReplyDeleteOnce was at a baked potato vendor on rectory road
Continued... he seemed a good guy to me .
ReplyDeleteDon’t know where the baked potatoe vendor went , he was around a lot longer than Shahzad but after a number of years went. Foxy
What some people have said, or have not said, is something of a "hot potato".
DeleteYes indeed.
ReplyDeleteI could track down the date because he was “ in the squad “ for that nights 20:20 game at old Trafford and I was “ just about to go up there in a bit”
We tret ourselves to a room with a balcony in the Old Trafford lodge.
Ian Butler played, I can’t remember if Shahzad did , but remember notts won.
(Potatoes were I think £3-50 with a choice of either curry , beans ,coleslaw or mince) foxy
Food for thought.
ReplyDeleteWould Shahzad remember talking to me at the potato vendor over 10 years later?
Can I vouch that the conversation we had were the exact words that I’ve quoted as being said or a very near approximation?
Did either of us insult each other?
Would we remember if we did?
Can the potato man be interviewed?
Did the incident actually happen?
Ok, bit frivolous but all will have different opinions and answers.
And crucially can the three of us say what fillings we had in our spuds?foxy
75 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteAs the Queen famously said about a year ago ref Prince ,Arry allegations -
“ recollections of conversations can vary”
I have read that Pyrah has submitted a witness statement.
ReplyDeleteIt seems if anyone defends themselves, they are then accussed of racism. for dong so. That those in the huddle, 2 ?, who say they heard MV's alleged words, are telling the truth, the rest, surely more than 6 GD ? Or did Yorks take the field with 9 players ? have their evidence discounted.
PS Please. 2 players have admitted using the P word, nowhere have I read that the word was regularly used on the team bus, as George claims. Was he on that bus then, otherwise, how does he know that ?
ReplyDeleteMichael Vaughan cleared. Commission saying "Probabilty words were not said." So probaility 2 people have not been telling the truth.
ReplyDeleteProbabilty !
ReplyDeleteThe "P" word. Is that "P" for "Probability" or "Pyrah"? The whole fiasco has been Pathetic.
ReplyDeleteAfter failing to prove Michael Vaughan said either, "there's too many of you lot" or "you lot" to a group of players of Asian origin in 2009 at Trent Bridge, the ECB will now press new charges claiming Michael Vaughan referred to AR as "you" in 2010 in a conversation telling him (AR) that a seat was reserved for him (AR) on the team coach for a trip to Old Trafford. Monty Python: If it floats it must be a witch and if it speaks it must be a racist, using ECB logic.
ReplyDeleteCan you hear that tapping from the press box? Thats ghost writer George Dobell rewriting a chapter in Rafiq's biography before the whole book is lost with his publisher's lawyers.
ReplyDeleteCricket has survived far bigger crises than this.2 world wars, terrorism , illegal gambling, apartheid, body line, the Packer affair,the d Olivea affair, ball tampering, the near bankruptcy of the 1960s to name but a few.its always come out the other side and emerged changed yes, but generally better for it . It may take Yorkshire longer than some to get over it but it’s been a mess from start to finish. Foxy
ReplyDeleteWhat has happened to Orac, Stonewall Jackson and Timothy Lumdens?
DeleteRich, struggling to sign in, sorry.
ReplyDelete"Balance of probability" is not proof of guilt. In fact with such a low threshold required, for Vaughan's, and 3 other charges, where even this was not achieved, it is though pretty much proof of innocence.
As these allegations were, I think made before Parliamentary DCMS committee, does that amount to misleading Parliament ?
Me again, Rich.
ReplyDeleteNot accussing anyone of lying.
Could all be true, or none of it, or some of it.
So after all this time and damage, including to people's mental health, we do not know what happened. Because it is all just opinions, of what is more probably true than not, the balance of probabilty.
So no proof, real, as per a real court, no proof beyond reasonable doubt.
What a waste, what a sham !
Not want to put words in Gary's mouth, but there seems to be understandable disillusion with the game there. A pretty wide spread feeling, I think.
ReplyDeleteWell can't suspend people who.are no longer in the game. Can even fines be enforced in this situation ?
ReplyDeleteProbably not over. Three of the 6 publically stated they would not any pay fines levied.
ReplyDeleteECB's only recourse, in that situation would be through The Small Claims Court. But they might lose. None of the 6 now work in cricket
John Blain is considering legal action against ECB.
Yes it’s the end of it .it can all be forgotten about (until the next time)the personnel are too old to do back to a playing career. One or two may eventually get work somewhere in due course ( let’s face it , bad though things appeared to be at times, none of them were Rose. West) . Foxy
ReplyDelete