Michael Vaughan: Former Yorkshire cricketer to be left out of BBC's Ashes coverage

Former cricketer Michael Vaughan has been left out of the BBC's coverage team for the Ashes for "editorial reasons", the broadcaster has said in a statement.

The BBC said it had taken the decision to avoid a potential "conflict of interest" in relation to ongoing allegations of racism.

The former England captain and Yorkshire player was stood down from his BBC radio show earlier this month after being implicated in allegations of racism made by his former team-mate Azeem Rafiq, which Vaughan denies.

A BBC spokesperson said: "While he is involved in a significant story in cricket, for editorial reasons we do not believe that it would be appropriate for Michael Vaughan to have a role in our Ashes team or wider coverage of the sport at the moment.

"We require our contributors to talk about relevant topics and his involvement in the Yorkshire story represents a conflict of interest."

Vaughan responded on his Instagram account: "Very disappointed not to be commentating for TMS on the Ashes and will miss working with great colleagues & friends, but looking forward to being behind the mic for @foxcricket in Australia.

"The issues facing cricket are bigger than any individual case and I want to be part of the solution, listening, educating myself and helping to make it a more welcoming sport for all."

Last week Azeem Rafiq spoke to MPs about his experiences at Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Rafiq alleged Vaughan said "too many of you lot, we need to do something about it" to him and a group of other players during a Yorkshire match in 2009.

In a statement issued earlier in November, Vaughan said: "I categorically deny saying the words attributed to me by Azeem Rafiq and want to re-state this publicly because the 'you lot' comment simply never happened.

"It is extremely upsetting that this completely false accusation has been made against me by a former team-mate, apparently supported by two other players.

"I have been in contact with the six other players from that team and not one of them has any recollection of the remark being made."