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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Matthew Cooper

Michael Vaughan to return as BT Sport pundit this month after Azeem Rafiq racism claim

Michael Vaughan is set to be used as a pundit by BT Sport during the third Test between England and the West Indies later this month.

The move comes just three months after BT Sport dropped Vaughan from their Ashes coverage after he was implicated in the Yorkshire racism scandal.

Azeem Rafiq, who played alongside Vaughan at Yorkshire, accused the former England captain of making a racially insensitive remark to a group of Asian players during a match in 2009.

Rafiq alleged that Vaughan told the players: "There are too many of you lot, we need to do something about it."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan will appear on BT Sport's coverage of England's final Test against the West Indies (Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images)

Former Yorkshire overseas player Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and current England star Adil Rashid have both backed up Rafiq's allegation, claiming they also heard Vaughan make the comment in question.

However, Vaughan has categorically and repeated denied the allegation.

As a result of the accusation, BT Sport made a huge effort to avoid Vaughan appearing on their coverage of the Ashes, with the broadcaster originally planning to use commentary from Fox Sports throughout the series.

However, Vaughan commentated on the Ashes for Fox and BT Sport ended up flying David Gower out to Australia and using their own commentary for the Tests that Vaughan worked on for Fox.

At the time, the broadcaster said they took the decision to remove him from their coverage as it "would not be editorially appropriate or fit with BT Sport's values".

However, BT Sport presenter Matt Smith revealed during their coverage of England's first Test against the West Indies that Vaughan will appear as pundit in the studio for the final Test.

It comes just three months after the broadcaster dropped Vaughan after he was implicated in the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal (Parliamentlive.TV)

It comes after Vaughan revealed that he had been on a diversity and inclusion course after receiving advice from Simon Green, the head of BT Sport.

"I thought I was actually very modern and forward thinking in what we’re all trying to achieve in society," Vaughan told the Telegraph last month.

"But clearly there was a lot I didn’t know. I can say that from doing this course, I know that I’m a miles better person now than I was. What I learnt very quickly was that white people do have privilege."

Can you help underprivileged children experience the joy of cricket? Charity Bat for a Chance donates cricket kit to those most in need and is also fundraising. Find out more here

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