Colin Graves has apologized ‘personally and unconditionally’ to the victims of racism in Yorkshire, saying he ‘deeply regrets’ describing the dressing room abuse as ‘banter’, language he now accepts and some of whom are found ‘dismissive or indifferent’ after his long-awaited return. to Headingley was confirmed by the board on Wednesday.
Graves’ takeover is to be voted on by members at an extraordinary general meeting convened for Friday, February 2. Members will also be asked to ratify a change to the club’s rules to allow Graves to return to the board. Six of the club’s 10 current board members have committed to resign by that date, and the two membership representatives have also been asked to leave.
But there is confusion over Yorkshire’s future as a members club after it emerged that although the board had broken off negotiations with what its chief executive, Stephen Vaughan, described as “a lot of” potential investors, including “a lot of IPL teams”, who were unwilling were to work in such a structure, they neither sought nor received any assurance from Graves that he did not intend to implement the demutualization. “You can never say never under these circumstances and what Colin and his leadership team do in the future is completely up to them,” Vaughan said, “but there is no knowledge at all that that will be the case.” Such a move would have to be approved by members with a 75% majority.
Outgoing chairman Harry Chathli described Graves’ offer as “the only viable option to secure the club’s financial future at this time”. Graves will provide an unsecured loan of £1m – reportedly at an interest rate of 4.8% above the Bank of England base rate, which would currently be 10.05% – and has pledged to find further investment of £4m. But members were warned that “the financing of the further investments is dependent on the new administration and that there is no binding commitment to provide these or information on the sources of these funds”, and in any case that “the time of receipt and the amount thereof investments may not be sufficient to meet the club’s obligations.”
Graves, who was heavily involved with Yorkshire from 2002 and was chairman between 2007 and 2015, had never previously accepted racism was a problem during his time at the club. In a television interview last year, he admitted there may have been an “odd occasion” where problematic language was used in the dressing room, but said he thought “there could have been a lot of banter about that”. On Thursday, however, he struck a much more conciliatory tone.
“Yorkshire CCC is one of the country’s most illustrious sporting institutions and one of the most successful clubs in world cricket,” he said. “I believe the best days are still ahead… But the mistakes of the past must be recognized and acted upon.”
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“I offer my personal and unreserved apologies to anyone who has experienced any form of racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Discrimination or abuse based on race, ethnicity or any other protected characteristic is not and never will be acceptable. I deeply regret some of the language I used when asked about the events that took place while I was chairman, at a time when I was no longer with the club. I understand and sympathize with those who view my comments as dismissive or indifferent.”
“I am determined to do whatever it takes to ensure Yorkshire County Cricket Club remains a reflection of the communities it represents. The club cannot and will not succeed unless it is united in its commitment to meeting the highest professional standards, both on and off the pitch. I would like to make it clear that we accept the findings of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) report and its recommendations. If I am confirmed as Chair, the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion work carried out over the past two years will continue.”
But many were not convinced by Graves’ new approach, or the rationale that made him the club’s only savior. Azeem Rafiq, whose experiences at Yorkshire Graves have previously been downplayed, told the Guardian of the proposed takeover: “I think it’s very sad. It’s a clear message to myself, people of color and South Asian people that cricket is not a game for us and it is not a place where the people running the sport want us to come. That’s the message it sends. I’ve woken up to a barrage of abuse and that’s what’s enabling: people becoming more openly racist. How we got here is an absolute scandal. The game, the governing body, the sponsors – I think everyone in the cricket world should be ashamed of themselves.”
In a statement, the England & Wales Cricket Board said: “The ECB notes today’s announcement from Yorkshire CCC … and understands that they have concluded that this proposal was their only viable option to address the situation in which the club finds itself tackled and put on a sustainable basis.
“A lot of work has been done in Yorkshire – and in cricket more broadly – in recent years to tackle discrimination and make the game more inclusive, and it is vital that this continues. We welcome Colin Graves’ commitment to continue this work, his unreserved apology and acceptance of the findings of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC). These words must be put into practice if Yorkshire members approve this deal.”
Sanjay Patel and Sanjeev Gandhi, both of whom worked with Graves to establish the Hundred while he was ECB president from 2015 to 2020, will be appointed as non-executive directors, subject to approval by members. Philip Hodson, a businessman, former first-class cricketer at the University of Cambridge and former president of the MCC, will serve as deputy chairman.
Caroline Dinenage MP, chair of the parliamentary culture, media and sport committee which has devoted several sessions to cricket, with a focus on Yorkshire, and invited Graves to testify next month, said: “The disgraceful treatment of Azeem Rafiq by Yorkshire CCC was Yorkshire CCC’s disgraceful treatment of Azeem Rafiq. tip of the iceberg, where racism, classism, sexism and misogyny are entrenched in sport. The publication of the ICEC report last year marked a turning point for English cricket, which the ECB appears to be capitalizing on.
“Colin Graves’ return to Yorkshire and to English cricket risks undermining the progress made to date. If the club is serious about rebuilding its reputation and its finances, there must be a commitment from Mr Graves and the club to fully respect the ICEC’s findings and take action. The Culture, Media and Sport Committee will be closely monitoring the progress of this deal to ensure that Yorkshire CCC’s terrible past is not repeated.”