Yorkshire cricket racism scandal: All you need to know as Azeem Rafiq gives evidence to MPs

The extent of the racism crisis engulfing Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC) is set to be laid bare on Tuesday when the the parliamentary select committee for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport holds an evidence session on the scandal.

MPs will hear from Azeem Rafiq, a 30-year-old former professional cricketer, after a report found he was a victim of "racial harassment and bullying" while at the club.

Rafiq made allegations of institutional racism against YCCC during two spells there, between 2008 and 2018.

The club upheld seven of 40 allegations he made, but said it would not take disciplinary action against any of its employees, players or executives, sparking outrage.

Since then a number of the top figures at the club have resigned from their positions, and ex-England captain Michael Vaughan has been accused of making racist comments to several players of Asian heritage - an allegation he denies.

What is a select committee? A parliamentary select committee is a cross-party group of MPs, set up to scrutinise the work and remit of a specific government department.

Witnesses are invited to speak freely in front of committees, unburdened by the legal pitfalls that can contain their allegations in public or in print as they are protected by parliamentary privilege.

Because of this, there's a high chance previously unheard claims will come to light on Tuesday.

Why is there a select committee hearing about Yorkshire cricket club?

The report into racism allegations levelled by Rafiq has attracted wide media attention and political interest, with politicians from both sides of the house condemning Yorkshire's response.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who in 2014 became the first British Pakistani person to head a government department, said “heads should roll” at Yorkshire, adding if the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) did not step in then “it’s not fit for purpose”.

The allegations also prompted an urgent question debate in the House of Commons and a mass co-signed letter from some of the county’s most prominent politicians urging the ECB to take action.

Who will they hear from?

Azeem Rafiq will speak to the cross-party panel of 11 MPs - chaired by Julian Knight, the Conservative MP for Solihull - at the first of three sittings starting at 9.30am.

MPs will hear from Rafiq after a report found he was a victim of "racial harassment and bullying," and the club's reaction to announce they would not discipline anyone.

Given the sportsman's apparent eagerness to have his say - he tweeted a video of a motorway journey on Monday with the caption “time for TRUTHS” - it would be no surprise to see that run into overtime.

ECB chief executive Tom Harrison and interim chair Barry O’Brien will also appear before the committee.

It will take place at The Wilson Room, Portcullis House - an office building in Westminster.

What about Yorkshire’s response? After Rafiq is finished, a second panel is due to feature former Yorkshire chair Roger Hutton, who resigned over the episode, as well as unnamed representatives of the club.

The committee had previously indicated chief executive Mark Arthur, who has since stood down, and director of medical services Wayne Morton would also submit themselves for questioning but that commitment appears to be up in the air.

A revised press release on Monday afternoon said Yorkshire’s witness list was “to be confirmed”.

White Rose director of cricket Martyn Moxon is almost certain to be absent having been signed off with a stress-related illness.

What do the committee already know?

Thanks to the intervention of Yorkshire’s newly installed chair Lord Kamlesh Patel, the committee has been given a full and unredacted copy of the independent report into Rafiq’s allegations.

A summary of that document upheld seven allegations and found that Rafiq had been the victim of racial harassment and bullying.

By the time they come to ask their questions, the MPs will be well versed in the details on the case.

Mr Knight has previously said Yorkshire’s treatment of Rafiq looked like “victim-blaming”, said he was “dumbfounded” by the decision not to discipline any staff in the aftermath of the report and that “the club must be held accountable for its culture”.

What comes after the hearing?

The committee will produce a report of its findings and present them to the Commons.

After that the government will reply within two months advising on its proposed course of action.

The committee can also recommend action from a non-governmental organisation - in this case Yorkshire and the ECB would be the only likely candidates - and would ask for responses on a similar time-scale.