Yorkshire racism trial delayed until March

Yorkshire racism trial set to be delayed until March and could drag on until the start of next season, with defendants including Michael Vaughan, Matthew Hoggard and Tim Bresnan asked for their availability to schedule a hearing

  • The ECB  asked seven defendants for their availability in February and March
  • Michael Vaughan, Matthew Hoggard and Tim Bresnan are among defendants
  • Vaughan is one of seven ex-Yorkshire players charged with using racist language
  • A hearing had been arranged for November 28 but was then postponed 
  • The seven players are still waiting for the opportunity to clear their names 

The Yorkshire racism trial is set to be delayed until March and could drag on until the start of the next domestic season. 

Sportsmail has learned that the ECB have asked the seven defendants, who include former England stars Michael Vaughan, Matthew Hoggard and Tim Bresnan, for their availability between 22 February and 30 March, with the governing body planning to schedule a hearing for that period.

Vaughan was one of seven ex-Yorkshire players charged with using racist language towards Azeem Rafiq last June, and six months later they are still waiting for the opportunity to clear their names. 

The Yorkshire racism trial is to be delayed until March and could drag on until next season

Michael Vaughan is one of seven defendants who have been asked for their availability


Ex-England internationals Tim Bresnan (left) and Matthew Hoggard (right) are also defendants who are still waiting for the opportunity to try and clear their names during the trial

A hearing of the ECB’s Cricket Discipline Commission was originally scheduled for 28 November, but was postponed after several of the defendants appealed against the decision to hold it in public.

The CDC have yet to rule on that appeal or provide a firm date for the new hearing, which is set to take place around two-and-a-half years after the original allegations were made. 

Rafiq first complained of suffering racism at Yorkshire in August 2020, when he also made the allegation against Vaughan without naming him.

Azeem Rafiq (pictured) first complained of suffering racism at Yorkshire in August 2020

Vaughan stood down from his role as a pundit on Test Match Special and the BBC’s television highlights after being charged last June and has not worked since. 

The former England captain had also been suspended by the BBC after publicly revealing he had been accused of racism by Rafiq in November 2021, spending five months on the sidelines before returning briefly at the start of last summer.




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