Vaughan ‘in stand-off’ with BBC over renaming his show after Azeem Rafiq case

03/10/2022

Former England Test captain Michael Vaughan is said to be in a stand-off with the BBC over renaming his Radio 5 Live show, following his involvement in the Azeem Rafiq racism case, according to Sportsmail.

Rafiq unearthed an institutionally racist problem within cricket in England, and more closely Yorkshire County Cricket Club where Vaughan used to play his domestic cricket.

Rafiq – a fellow former Yorkshire cricketer – accused a number of the club’s employers of racism whilst he represented the White Rose, including Vaughan.

The 31-year-old accused the former Test captain of telling a number of his Yorkshire teammates of Asian descent that there are ‘too many of you lot, we need do something about it’ in 2009.

Following the controversy the 2005 Ashes-winning captain was stood down by the BBC, however the broadcaster did admit it would be open to him returning at some point.

Four months on it seems the BBC could well be contemplating the return, however the obstacle of Vaughan’s popular 5 Live show remains an issue.

According to Sportsmail the broadcaster is keen to rename the Tuffers and Vaughan Cricket show to something more ‘generic’, however the ex-England skipper is said to be against the idea.

As a result, the report suggests that Vaughan is reluctant to accept the name change as this would insinuate he is accepting wrong doing, something he has repeatedly denied.

Do you think Vaughan should return to the BBC? Let us know in the comments section below.

In the midst of the scandal the 47-year-old sat down for an interview with the BBC to offer his sympathies to Rafiq, but firmly denied he had used the racist language alleged by his former teammate.

He said: “I’m sorry for the hurt he has gone through.

“It hurts deeply, hurts me that a player has gone through so much, been treated so badly at the club that I love.”

When asked if he had ever used racist language during his time at Yorkshire Vaughan firmly responded: “No I didn’t, no.”

Despite pleading his innocence, the former England man was dropped from a number of his media roles including from the BBC and BT Sport.

Vaughan remains under contract with the former, but is expected to miss their coverage of the overseas tour in the West Indies before returning for England’s home outings against New Zealand, India and South Africa.

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