Former England bowlers Matthew Hoggard and Tim Bresnan have withdrawn from the disciplinary hearing into allegations of racism at Yorkshire.
Hoggard and Bresnan were both accused of making racist comments by their former Yorkshire teammate Azeem Rafiq, who was found by an independent report to have been a victim of "racial harassment and bullying" during his time at the club.
Rafiq alleged Hoggard used racist slurs towards Asian players "on a daily basis", while Bresnan was also accused of "frequently making racist comments". Rafiq added that Hoggard had called him to apologise for making certain comments, while Bresnan has categorically denied the allegations of racism.
The pair were among seven individuals charged by the ECB over the allegations, but have now joined former Yorkshire captain and coach Andrew Gale in pulling out of the process. In an interview with BBC Sport, Hoggard claimed the ECB had "failed everybody" including Rafiq and that the entire process was unfair.
"The process has failed everybody," he said. "Every party involved has a problem with the way this process has been dealt with. Azeem has a problem with it, all the respondents have, [former Yorkshire chair] Lord Patel has, Yorkshire have.
"There has got to be a better way. I'm pulling out because I don't think it's a fair process. There are no winners in this. It is not an admission of guilt. The people who know the truth, know the truth. That is all that matters to me.
"How can we defend ourselves? How can anyone have a fair trial? The ECB have got evidence - whether it helps or hinders us - that they will not let us see. Why is this?
"This process has been flawed from the start, from both aspects. I feel sorry for Azeem if he doesn't feel like his voice is heard. It's not fair on anyone in this process. How come it has taken so long for it get here?"
Bresnan, meanwhile, told the Times: "I am willing to release everything because I'm out of the process. But they just charged me. How is that possible without even speaking to me? It's like being charged and tried without even being arrested. That's how it feels.
"He's [Rafiq] saying I did use that [racist] language, along with others, but gave no example. There are no witnesses. I vehemently deny that. I grew up in a place where that's not right. Two and a half years of non-stop articles, leaks, tweets, different stuff coming out without any right of reply. I couldn't guarantee to witnesses that statements they wanted to make in private would not appear in the public domain."
In response to the pull-outs, the ECB insisted their process has been "both rigorous and fair". In a statement, they said: "Individuals are entitled to choose not to participate in the hearings if they wish, but the cases will still be heard in their absence and we are satisfied that the disciplinary process in this matter has been both rigorous and fair.
"The ECB's investigation and disciplinary process has been overseen by an independent committee and specialist leading King's Counsel (KC). As with any case before the Cricket Discipline Commission, defendants are entitled to a fair hearing by an independent and experienced CDC Panel where they can call witnesses, and they can also challenge the evidence in support of the charge, including through cross-examination of the ECB’s witnesses.
"It is entirely the decision of defendants if they choose not to take advantage of this opportunity. At the end of the hearing it is for the independent CDC Panel, not the ECB, to determine guilt or otherwise and any sanction."
Rafiq, meanwhile, said it was "regrettable" to see more people pulling out of the process. "Over the past two years I have been vindicated time and again," he said.
"This has included a legal investigation that confirmed I was a victim of racial harassment and bullying; a Yorkshire commissioned panel that concluded I suffered discrimination; numerous apologies, both public and private, from people who witnessed or were involved in this behaviour; and others have come forward to confirm the culture in the wider game.
"I was grateful to Matthew Hoggard for calling me to apologise shortly after I went public in 2020. It is regrettable, though, that these defendants are not willing to go to a public hearing and face what happened."
