Michael Vaughan opens up on Azeem Rafiq's accusations, issues apology but denies allegations

Cricketer-turned-expert Michael Vaughan has offered his apologies to former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq for undergoing racism at Yorkshire. Rafiq had accused Vaughan of passing racist comments to Asian origin players. Rafiq’s comments shook Yorkshire Cricket County Club (YCCC) and the whole of England cricket in general.

The former England captain was removed from a BBC show and was also dropped from the Ashes coverage team. Vaughan recently opened up on the issue and denied being involved in any such instance. Speaking to BBC Breakfast’s Dan Walker, Vaughan said he was ‘proud as punch’ to play besides Rafiq, Adil Rashid, Ajmal Shahzad, and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.

"I don't ," Vaughan said. "My recollection from that day, as I've said, I was a Yorkshire player for 18 years, I was the first player to sign for that club that was not born in the county, so for 18 years we had gone from me being the first to sign for the club, Sachin Tendulkar being the first from overseas, to players being able to sign from other clubs.

"It was my last few games and I remember it clearly that I was proud as punch that we had four Asian players representing Yorkshire Cricket Club."

Vaughan also said he had a career that lasted over 18 years yet he was never accused of any related incident. Vaughan, however, apologized to Rafiq for the sufferings he underwent back then. "I'm sorry for the hurt that has gone through," Vaughan added. "Yorkshire Cricket Club, I believe, is me. It has been my life whether I have been a player or not, I believe that once you have played for Yorkshire you are always a Yorkshire player and I am sorry for all the hurt that he has gone through.”