Yorkshire Cricket: Yorkshire County Cricket Club punished over racism scandal | Cricket News – Times of India

The club was also penalised £400,000 ($514,000) by the independent Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC), with £300,000 suspended for two years.
Yorkshire have dropped to the bottom of County Championship Division Two as a result of the points punishment.

In September 2020, Pakistan-born bowler Rafiq, 32, went public with charges of racism and bullying relating to his two periods at the English county.
Yorkshire’s board of directors issued a statement recognizing the sanctions.

“The CDC and ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) have today acknowledged the vast amount of work done by YCCC to overcome the cultural issues that existed within the club, which allowed racist and discriminatory behaviour to go unchallenged,” it said.
“We are accountable for these issues, and we accepted four amended charges as part of a continued commitment to ensure we are able to move forward.”
But the Yorkshire board added: “We are disappointed to receive the point deductions which affects players and staff at the club, who were not responsible for the situation.”
ECB chief executive Richard Gould, who was not in post during the Rafiq scandal, said: “There can be no place for racism in our game, and the penalties announced by the Cricket Discipline Commission mark the end of a thorough disciplinary process.

“No one should have to experience what Azeem Rafiq went through in cricket, and we once again thank him for his courage in speaking out.”
Six former Yorkshire players have previously been penalised by the CDC for using racist remarks.
Separately, the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) released a stinging report last month that highlighted “widespread” racism, misogyny, and classism in English cricket.
Following the racial incident regarding Rafiq’s treatment, the ICEC was formed in 2021.
(With inputs from AFP)