'That’s not what I am about' - Michael Vaughan denies racism allegations by Azeem Rafiq

Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan has vehemently denied charges of explicit racism levied upon him by his former county teammate, Azeem Rafiq.

Azeem Rafiq had first blown the whistle on the racism issue back in 2020. He had accused Michael Vaughan for using some extremely disturbing racist language and bullying in 2009 when they used to play for the Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Azeem Rafiq had revealed that Michael Vaughan, back then, said- "there’s too many of you lot, we need to do something about it," for him and atleast three other cricketers of Asian race.

Michael Vaughan counter-accuses Azeem Rafiq of using 'race-card'

When produced before the ongoing Cricket Discipline Commission hearing in London, Vaughan agreed to ECB lawyer Jane Mulcahy, that the statements quoted by Rafiq were not only unacceptable, but that it was against his nature to use such words for anyone anywhere.

The 48-year-old claimed that in his entire career he had never indulged in the malpractice of racism nor ever encouraged anyone to use it. He had always backed his players when he was captain, irrespective of colour, race or creed. He was flabbergasted that such heinous allegations were being levied upon him.

“I have a very clear mind about, back in 2009, that I know I didn’t say the words I’ve been alleged to have said. If you go through the history of me as a player, I don’t know of a time when I could put my teammates in a bad state of mind to go out and win a cricket match. That’s not what I’m about," Vaughan was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

In retaliation, Vaughan accused Rafiq of misusing the "race-card" for his personal benefit. He alledged the 32-year-old had said he would shoot the race-card if he was denied a full-time contract with Yorkshire.

Matthew Wood, a former personal development manager at the Professional Cricketers’ Association and an ex-Yorkshire cricketer, recalled an incident back in 2018 where Rafiq had confessed on using the race-card to him against the management. Wood confessed this during the recording of the witness statement.

“In my dealings with Azeem, I was aware of two occasions in which he (directly or indirectly) acknowledged that he would be prepared to use the ‘race card’. By that, I understood Azeem to mean that he would make, or allude to, an allegation of racism in bad faith in order to gain an advantage. I asked Azeem, ‘And what will you do if Yorkshire don’t offer you a new contract?’ Azeem replied with words to the effect of, ‘I’ll just hit them with the race card’," said Wood. 

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