Six former Yorkshire players to be banned for using racist language

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Penalties are expected to be issued against six former Yorkshire players later today for using racist language.

An independent panel of the Cricket Disciplinary Commission found that five people – John Blain, Tim Bresnan, Andrew Gale, Matthew Hoggard and Richard Pyrah – had used the term “P***” about former Yorkshire teammate Azeem Rafiq or other people of Asian ethnicity when it issued its decision in the case on March 31.

A sixth individual, Gary Ballance, had already admitted to using racist and/or discriminatory language and is expected to be disciplined at the same hearing on Wednesday.

The panel will consider any written submission or oral representation by or on behalf of all six before deciding on any sanctions, but the PA news agency understands that only one written submission on behalf of Ballance was received as of Tuesday afternoon.

The other five people had withdrawn from the proceedings and failed to appear at a liability hearing held in early March, and the charges against them were heard in their absence.

Among the panel’s sanctioning powers are the imposition of suspensions and fines, and ordering the completion of an education or training course.

The CDC panel cleared former England captain Michael Vaughan of using racist and/or discriminatory language.

Yorkshire admitted to four charges in the case, which stemmed mainly from the allegations made by Rafiq and the club’s handling of the claims.

A separate hearing will deal with the sanctions the club will face on June 27.

Former England international Hoggard was found to have used the term “P***” towards Rafiq and other Asian players during the 2008 season, and the term “Rafa the Kaffir” towards Rafiq.

It also discovered that he had used the term “token black man” or “TBM” towards former Yorkshire teammate Ismail Dawood, and dismissed Hoggard’s claim that Dawood had created the nickname himself.

Gale, a former Yorkshire captain and head coach, was also found to have used the term “Rafa the Kaffir” towards Rafiq and the term “P***” towards Rafiq and Yorkshire academy player Mosun Hussain.

Blain was found to have used the term “P***” in 2010 and/or 2011 while in Yorkshire, while Bresnan and Pyrah used the term “fit P***” or “FP” about Asian women.

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