FOLLOWING the Yorkshire County Cricket Club racism scandal, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Wednesday (3) recommended fines of between £4,000 and £8,000 for six former players.
Azeem Rafiq, a 32-year-old bowler, accused the county of racism and bullying during his two spells there in September 2020.
Tim Bresnan and Matthew Hoggard, two ex-England Test players, were among the former Yorkshire players who had the allegations against them upheld in March by the Cricket Discipline Commission.
Ballance, accused of using racial slurs in the case, has previously acknowledged the offence. The ECB said Ballance should be fined £8,000 and requested an eight-week suspension.
It considered the 33-year-old’s admission of guilt and apology when making its recommendations to the panel. The ECB also recommended the former Test batter attend a racism and discrimination course.
“We understand there has been a significant impact on Mr Ballance’s mental health, and that in April 2023, Mr Ballance announced his retirement from professional cricket,” said ECB lawyer Jane Mulcahy.
“So the ECB therefore suggests there be a reprimand, and Mr Ballance be fined £8,000, reduced from £12,500 to take in effect of his admissions.”
Ballance’s lawyer, Craig Harris, said the monetary fine should be scaled back owing to the costs associated with being a party to the proceedings, he lost his position as a player for Yorkshire, lost a sponsorship deal, and was passed over for selection for England.
Harris further cited the Yorkshire dressing room’s established culture, which included the frequent use of an offensive racial epithet, and claimed that Ballance, a Zimbabwean native, had also experienced racist remarks first-hand.
The other five individuals—John Blain, Tim Bresnan, Andrew Gale, Matthew Hoggard, and Richard Pyrah — have also been recommended for sanctions by the ECB.
The cricket chiefs pushed for fines of £7,500 for Hoggard, who was part of the England team which won the 2005 Ashes, £5,000 for Bresnan and Blain, and £4,000 for Pyrah.
If players or coaches plan to return to any form of cricket governed by the ECB, they advise them to enroll in educational programmes at their own expense.
Except for Ballance, all of the former players withdrew from the proceedings, and the allegations against them were heard without them.
In a few weeks, the Cricket Discipline Commission panel will likely render its rulings. Late next month, the Yorkshire County Cricket Club will review the charges it has already acknowledged.
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