02 March 2023 , 22:48
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England bowler Adil Rashid has insisted that he was not 'pressured' to support the racism allegation by Azeem Rafiq against Michael Vaughan.
Former England skipper Vaughan has been charged by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) over the allegation that he said ‘there are too many of you lot, we need to have a word about that’ in reference to four Asian players before a match for Yorkshire against Nottinghamshire in 2009.
Vaughan is alleged to have said the phrase towards his team-mates at the time - Rafiq, Rashid, Ajmal Shahzad and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan. By referring to a group of Asian players as ‘you lot’ the ECB believe that Vaughan has brought the game into disrepute by using racist and/or discriminatory language.
The ECB charged seven individuals in relation to Rafiq's racism allegations, but only Vaughan is set to attend his hearing. Rich Pyrah, Matthew Hoggard, Tim Bresnan, John Blain and Andrew Gale all refused to attend the hearings and deny the charges while Gary Ballance has admitted a charge related to the use of racially discriminatory language.
Rashid was cross-examined on day two of the Cricket Discipline Commission in London.
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The England leg-spinning all rounder was at the heart of the team’s ODI win over Bangladesh with 17 not out and two wickets in the three wicket win, but the next day he was providing evidence by video link in the case against Vaughan.
During an ECB interview shown to the hearing, Rashid's "close friend" Shahzad said he thought the bowler 'was being pressurised' to support Rafiq's allegation.
In front of the CDC panel Rashid refuted this claim insisting: “No, no. Like I said before I wasn’t pressured by Azeem (Rafiq)."
Adil Rashid celebrates a wicket in England's ODI against Bangladesh (Getty Images)When asked about the alleged comment Rashid said: “I remember him saying the words yes. There are too many of you lot, we need to have a word about that. As soon as the huddle broke up and people went to their places, that is when I remember these words being said. I have a very clear recollection of it.
“Michael made an ill-judged comment. I heard it. I do not believe that he is racist or that this was said with any bad intention. But it was said.”
However, during the cross-examination that lasted for more than an hour Rashid appeared to contradict himself on other questions. At one stage Rashid appears adamant that while he and Rafiq were friends and talked about many things, they never once talked about this issue.
Later on, when it is shown that Rafiq claims the pair had indeed discussed the matter, Rashid then agrees and says ‘it is right’ that they had.
Adil Rashid told the Cricket Discipline Commission that he didn't think Michael Vaughan was a racist (Getty Images)There were several times when Rashid didn’t quite understand the questions and had to ask for things to be made more simple, while he refused to engage with why there were no WhatsApp messages between him and Rafiq, even though it was allegedly their main mode of communication.
The leg-spinner made it clear that he did not want to get involved in the situation at all right from the outset, but now that he is, he has given his version of events.
Michael Vaughan arrives at the Cricket Discipline Commission hearing on Thursday (AP)Vaughan’s lawyer Christopher Stoner KC said that his client denies the charge and said the burden of proof is on the ECB.
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Stoner said: “Mr Vaughan cannot recall precisely what he said but is clear the words used and in the context used are unacceptable. Mr Vaughan is adamant he did not use them.
“This panel will only have one contemporaneous document and one broadly contemporaneous document. The contemporaneous document is Sky footage where words are said to be spoken where the camera was close to players and broadcast.
Azeem Rafiq raised allegations of racism which he claims happened when playing for Yorkshire in 2009 (PA)“We say the entirety of that footage is inconsistent with anything untoward being said. The alleged comment was not said at the time and including at the end of the game where it would quite obviously have been discussed even between friends, even if it did not become formally reported. It was not in fact mentioned by anyone for a period of 11 years. Now 14 years after the event, it is word against word.”
The Ashes-winning skipper is set to speak as a defendant on Friday, but Thursday was all about Rashid and then Rafiq.
The public CDC hearing began on Wednesday when allegations against Tim Bresnan, Matthew Hoggard and John Blain were heard. All three have denied bringing the game into disrepute and using racial slurs.