Yorkshire reforms to be monitored as Colin Graves apologises for ‘banter’ remark on racism

The England and Wales Cricket Board has warned it will be closely monitoring Yorkshire’s ongoing reforms after returning financial backer Colin Graves apologised “personally and unreservedly” to racism victims.

“Significant powers” to hold the club “to account” were outlined in a statement from the governing body after Yorkshire’s board approved a loan offer that paves the way for Graves’ return as chair.

Ahead of a vote to approve the deal with members on February 2, Graves issued a statement saying he “profoundly” regrets previously describing abuse at the club as “banter”.

The Costcutter founder also faces a grilling by MPs next month, with concerns already expressed by Dame Caroline Dinenage, chair of the parliamentary group that previously heard from Azeem Rafiq.

Graves’s return at Headingley had already met with opposition from former player Rafiq, anti-discrimination charity Sporting Equals and several other MPs. Criticism was particularly intense over an interview the entrepreneur gave Sky last year. Graves then said he was unaware of incidents of racism when he was chair of Yorkshire between 2012-2015 but admitted there “could have been a lot of banter in there about it, and I know people don’t like that.”

Graves moved to adopt a more conciliatory tone and distanced himself from those comments. “I apologise personally and unreservedly to anyone who experienced any form of racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club,” he said in a statement. “Discrimination or abuse based on race, ethnicity or any other protected characteristic is not and never will be acceptable.”

Yorkshire on Wednesday night issued a statement to confirm board approval of the Graves offer and recommend members vote for it at an EGM.

“I am determined to do whatever is required to ensure Yorkshire County Cricket Club continues to reflect the communities it represents,” Graves said. “The club cannot and will not succeed unless it is united in its commitment to meet the highest professional standards, on and off the field.”

Graves reassured members that Yorkshire will abide by all new measures put in place at the club to improve diversity and the recommendations of a report into racism in cricket.

“I want to make it clear that we accept the findings of the report carried out by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) and its recommendations,” he said. “If I am confirmed as chairman, the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion work that has been carried out over the last two years will continue. I hope that new and older members, former players, commercial sponsors and broadcasters will work with us to ensure that everyone connected with Yorkshire cricket is proud to be associated with the club.”

In response, the ECB said it understood the club’s position that the Graves deal “was their only viable option to address the situation the club is in and put it on a sustainable footing.”

Welcoming Graves’ apology, the governing body said: “Yorkshire is an incredibly diverse area and the club’s iconic status means it has a huge opportunity to be at the forefront of the sport’s work to become more inclusive.”

However, in a warning it will be closely watching the club improve its record in fighting discrimination, the body added: “There are also significant powers which can be used to hold Yorkshire County Cricket Club to account if it does not continue with the progress and reform we have seen over the last few years.”

‘Treatment of Azeem Rafiq by Yorkshire was the tip of the iceberg’

Former club chairman Graves has previously been accused of declining to appear before MPs during previous inquiries. But with Graves apologising for racism at the club, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee has “invited” him to answer questions again next month.

“The disgraceful treatment of Azeem Rafiq by Yorkshire CCC was the tip of the iceberg, with racism, classism, sexism and misogyny found to be entrenched across the sport,” Dame Caroline said in a statement.

“The publication of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket’s report last year offered a turning point for English cricket, which the ECB appears to be taking. The return of Colin Graves to Yorkshire and to English cricket risks undermining what progress has been made so far. If the club is serious about rebuilding its reputation as well as its finances, then there needs to be a commitment from Mr Graves and the club to fully respecting the findings of the ICEC and taking action on them. The Culture, Media and Sport Committee will be watching closely as this deal progresses, so that the terrible past of Yorkshire CCC does not repeat itself.”

Despite searching for more than a year for new investment, Yorkshire went back to Graves with no other options left on the table.

He will immediately provide the club with £5 million to deal with debts, the most pressing believed to be to HMRC, before turning to the £16.1 million owed to the Graves Family Trust. The consortium led by Graves, which includes former MCC president Phillip Hodson, who is set to become deputy chair, will create a limited company that will turn the £16 million debt into equity, effectively buying Headingley and leasing it back to the club on a 99-year rent-free agreement.

But to turn that debt into equity it will mean Yorkshire is no longer a member-owned club, like Hampshire, and that will require a 75 per cent approval of the club’s 3,500 members to go through.