England are set to play at Headingley this summer after the ECB lifted a suspension of international cricket imposed on Yorkshire in the wake of the racism scandal sparked by allegations from Azeem Rafiq.
The ECB said the decision to allow Yorkshire to host international cricket once more “follows a rigorous review of progress made against several criteria set out in November 2021”.
Headingley is set to host the Third Test between England and New Zealand in June, and the Third ODI against South Africa in July. Yorkshire are also due to host an Ashes Test in 2023, which will be a key selling point as they seek sponsors to replace the many that turned their back on the club last year.
The ECB also “acknowledged the hard work and good progress” under the leadership of the new Chair Lord Kamlesh Patel, but said the lifting of the suspension was subject to two conditions that must be implemented by 31 March.
The first condition is “resolving the issues relating to rules changes and decisions at the club which have been subject to procedural flaws”, and the second is |amendments to club rules relating to the appointment and operation of the Board, including removal of Graves Trust powers”.
The ECB believe that Yorkshire have shown: “a demonstrable commitment to building a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion”; “evidence that it is adopting a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination; they have “committed to identifying and tackling historic cases of discrimination”; a desire to “ensure that Yorkshire County Cricket Club is a welcoming environment for everyone”.
Barry O’Brien, the ECB’s Interim Chair, said: “The Board welcomed the hard work and actions taken by Yorkshire County Cricket Club towards putting the Club on a new path. Alongside the progress already made, we considered many factors in reaching our decision.
“Amongst them, the impact on fans who have bought tickets in good faith and the young people who will benefit from Yorkshire’s improved outreach and pathway provisions. Finally, the Board was mindful that the return of international cricket will support continued change and progress at the Club.
“I very much hope that the traumatic events that have taken place at Yorkshire over the past several months and years will act as a catalyst for increasing the pace of change throughout the game.”
Lord Patel said: “I welcome this decision and thank the Board of the ECB for supporting the return of international matches at Headingley once again. We have worked night and day to bring about tangible change at Yorkshire, and the removal of the sanctions has validated and reignited our drive for positive progress.
“I would like to thank the ECB for its support, and its robust challenge throughout the process. It has been a difficult period for Yorkshire County Cricket Club, and there remains a lot of work to be done, but the level of scrutiny has pushed us towards implementing action which will not only transform this club but can lead the way forward for the sport as a whole.”
