Former England captain Michael Vaughan says he is “sorry for all the hurt” Azeem Rafiq has suffered during the racism scandal in Yorkshire.
In an extensive interview with the BBC, Vaughan continued to deny the claim and said he had never made racist comments while in Yorkshire.
But he does admit his regrets about some of the tweets he’s sent in the past.
“It’s heartbreaking and heartbreaking that a player who has been through so much is being treated so badly at a club I love,” Vaughan said.
“I bear some responsibility for that as I have played for the Yorkshire County Cricket Club for 18 years and if in any way I am responsible for any injuries to him, I do. sorry for that.”
Asked if he had ever made any racist comments during his time in Yorkshire, he said: “No, I don’t know. No.”
Vaughan was England captain during the Tests from 2003 to 2008. He played his entire domestic career at Yorkshire – from 1993 to 2009 – before becoming a summoner on the BBC. Test Match Special.
In an interview with BBC Breakfast’s Dan Walker, Vaughan, who will not participating in the BBC’s Ashes this winter, speak:
- Cricket has a problem with racism that it needs to accept.
- He has never heard racist language used in the dressing room but has heard things that are “unacceptable now”.
- He would “love” to play a role in helping Yorkshire move forward, alongside Rafiq.
- He hopes to return to comment with the BBC next year.
About the incident of alleged racism
Rafiq accused Vaughan of saying “too many of you, we need to do something” to him and three other players during a game for Yorkshire in 2009.
Rafiq’s account is supported by former Pakistani pitcher Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and British camcorders Adil Rashid, who said they had heard the comment.
Fourth player in the group – bowler Ajmal Shahzad – former told Daily Mail he has no recollection of the event and “sunbaenims were really nice to me”.
Vaughan, who was not involved in the initial independent investigation, said he either doesn’t remember the incident or doesn’t recognize the words it allegedly used.
“I just clearly remember how proud I was that we had four Asian players representing the Yorkshire County Cricket Club,” he said.
“Nothing but a proud, elderly professional nearing retirement and absolutely delighted that Yorkshire has come so far during my time at the club.”
Addressing MPs, Rafiq insisted Vaughan may not remember the incident because “it meant nothing to him”.
“It’s painful because I’ve always felt that every team I’ve been in, the biggest compliment I’ve received as England captain for six years is that I’m the kind of person that really is. gives strength to the group,” Vaughan said.
“I’ve always felt that I’m the person in the dressing room who really wants people to feel involved.”
Asked if Rafiq, Rashid and Naved were lying, he said: ‘The problem with this situation is we’ve got too much’ he said, he said, she said, they said ‘ and I think we have to move on from accusations of conversations from years ago.
“There’s a bigger picture here.”
Vaughan embarrassed by historic tweets
Vaughan’s historic Twitter posts have been widely shared on the social network in recent weeks.
In 2010 he tweeted “Not many Brits live in London… I need to learn a new language” and in 2017, after the Manchester Arena bombings, he answered “yes” to the question of whether Holistic British Moeen Ali should ask Muslims if they are terrorists.
Vaughan said he was embarrassed by the tweets and is now a different person.
“I deeply apologize to anyone I offended with those tweets,” Vaughan said.
“Time has passed and I regret those tweets. We all make mistakes and in my life I’ve made quite a few mistakes on Twitter, I’m sorry for that.”
Walker: Are you embarrassed to reread those tweets?
Vaughan: Correct.
Walker: And now you feel like a different person…
Vaughan: Sure.
Yorkshire players have also been criticized for calling Indian hitter Cheteshwar Pujara “Steve” – something Vaughan took to the airs in 2018, saying “Steve when they called him in Yorkshire because they weren’t. can pronounce his name”.
“Obviously we’re in different times,” Vaughan said.
“That was three years ago – that’s how many times have moved in three years.
“So when you start saying 12 years, 15 years, 20 years, things are moving very quickly.
“We’re in that situation now for the game, the sports locker room is not just a cricket locker room, where people need to be educated.”
‘I’ve heard things you can’t accept now’
Rafiq, who one report found was the victim of “racial harassment and bullying” while in Yorkshire between 2008 and 2018. told a committee of English cricket MPs to be “institutionally racist”.
He said racist language, including terms targeting his Pakistani heritage and others, was used “constantly” and “never eliminated” during his time in Yorkshire.
Vaughan, who retired during Rafiq’s second season as a professional at Yorkshire, said he had never heard racist language used in the dressing room.
“I’ve heard a lot of things in my 18 years as a dressing room player that you wouldn’t even accept now,” he said.
“I would say that any sportsman out there from that era says otherwise, I don’t think they’re telling the truth.
“There are things that are said over and over again during the day. It’s not considered offensive. It will be now.”
He added: “I can apologize if I’ve gotten into any shape or form with a dressing room whose culture isn’t for everyone.
“My recollection is of all the dressing rooms that I played in in which we mingled with everyone. But I’m happy when people come in and say you know that’s not the case.”
Vaughan on his TMS future
Last week, the BBC announced Vaughan would not be taking part in their cricket show in The Ashes this winter.
A statement said “while he is involved in an important story in cricket, for editorial reasons we do not believe it is appropriate” for Vaughan to participate.
Vaughan says he “understands” the decision and that he and the partnership are having “ongoing conversations” about his future.
“I just hope in time there’s a chance to go back and what I love more than anything since I retired is the game of cricket.
“I hope next year I can return to work with the team.
“I love participating in Test Match Special and hope in the near future I will have the opportunity to do it again.”
