Colin Graves apologises for racism at Yorkshire before returning as chairman

Colin Graves has expressed his regret for racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club as he is set to make a return to the club. The former Yorkshire chairman will rejoin the county club after the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) accepted a loan proposal from a consortium led by the 75-year-old. Notably, he served the club between 2012 and 2015.

The ECB's Cricket Discipline Commission had penalised Yorkshire GBP 400,000 and deducted 48 points in the 2023 County Championship for permitting racism and discrimination at the club over 17 years. Earlier, all-rounder Azeem Rafiq disclosed the racism at the club as a whistleblower. However, Graves had turned down any details of the same but now issued an apology.

"The mistakes must be acknowledged and acted upon. I apologise personally and unreservedly to anyone who experienced any form of racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Discrimination or abuse based on race, ethnicity or any other protected characteristic is not and never will be acceptable," Graves said in a statement as per BBC.

"I profoundly regret some of the language I used when asked about the events that took place when I was chairman, at a time when I was no longer at the club. I understand and sympathise with those who regarded my comments as dismissive or uncaring. I am determined to do whatever is required to ensure Yorkshire County Cricket Club continues to reflect the communities it represents. 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," he added.

We welcome Colin Graves' commitment to continue this work: ECB

In a statement, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) welcomed the announcement made by Yorkshire as they are set to redesignate Colin Graves as their chairman.  

"The ECB notes today's announcement by Yorkshire County Cricket Club. We have been in regular contact with the club's leadership as it has sought to address significant financial challenges, and understand they concluded that this proposal was their only viable option to address the situation the club is in and put it on a sustainable footing.

"Considerable work has been carried out at Yorkshire - and across cricket more widely - in recent years to tackle discrimination and make the game more inclusive, and it is vital this continues. We welcome Colin Graves' commitment to continue this work, his unreserved apology and acceptance of the findings of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC). These words must be put into action if Yorkshire members approve this deal.

"In addition, the ECB continues to exercise its ongoing role of ensuring effective oversight of governance across the wider game. 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," ECB said in an official statement.