Yorkshire suspended from hosting international and major cricket matches
The ECB have released a statement
Yorkshire County Cricket have been suspended from hosting international and major matches, the England and Wales Cricket Board has announced.
The board have met today following criticism over the way the club have handled racism allegations made by former player Azeem Rafiq.
The ECB have said: "It is clear to the Board that YCCC’s handling of the issues raised by Azeem Rafiq is wholly unacceptable and is causing serious damage to the reputation of the game.
"The ECB find this matter abhorrent and against the spirit of cricket and its values.
"There is no place for racism or any form of discrimination in cricket and where it is found, swift action must be taken.
"This matter must be dealt with robustly if the sport is to demonstrate its commitment to truly being a game for everyone."
The ECB have also said they will hold YCCC to account in relation to their handling of the matter, and the club’s failure in relation to actions and responses to their own report represent a significant breach of its obligations to the game.
They said: "As a governing body with duties to act for all in cricket, the ECB Board reaffirmed its commitment to taking decisions in the best interests of the whole game. It also agreed that sanctions including, but not limited to, financial and future major match allocations may be considered at the conclusion of our investigations.
"In the meantime, YCCC are suspended from hosting international or major matches until it has clearly demonstrated that it can meet the standards expected of an international venue, ECB member and First Class County.
"The ECB Board has asked the ECB Executive to commission a review of Yorkshire CCC’s governance to consider whether the existing arrangements are fit for purpose".