In response to the racism controversy in Yorkshire, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) suggested that Zimbabwean cricketer Gary Ballance be fined £8,000 ($15,000) and suspended for eight weeks.
Azeem Rafiq, a former Yorkshire bowler, filed a case against six players, accusing them of using discriminatory language. Gary Ballance was one of them.
According to reports in The West Australian, Craig Harris, Ballance’s attorney, argued that the financial penalty should be reduced due to the cost of being involved in the hearings. In addition, he mentioned that Ballance had lost his position as a player for Yorkshire, his sponsorship contract, and was not considered for England selection.
Given that Ballance proclaimed his retirement from the sport last month, the suspension appears to be of little consequence. The board will also recommend sanctions for the remaining five players to the independent Cricket Discipline Commission panel in central London: John Blain, Tim Bresnan, Andrew Gale, Matthew Hostgard, and Richard Pyrah. Notably, Blain, Bresnan, Gale, Hoggard, and Pyrah had all withdrawn from the disciplinary proceedings and failed to appear in March for a liability hearing. In their absence, however, the allegations against them were heard.
In 2018, Rafiq alleges racism at the Yorkshire County Cricket Club
In 2018, former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq made racist allegations against the Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC). During his two spells at the club, from 2008 to 2014 and 2016 to 2018, Rafiq asserted that he was subjected to racist harassment and bullying and that the club was institutionally racist.
Gary Ballance, one of the players named in the report, admitted to using racial slurs against Rafiq on nights out and said he profoundly regrets his actions. YCCC received the independent assessment in August 2021. However, he claimed they were closest friends who used abusive language towards one another. Notably, the report labeled Gary Ballance’s racial slurs directed at Rafiq as “friendly banter,” which outraged lawmakers.
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