Michael Vaughan Disappointed For Not Commentating For BBC Test Match Special After He Was Dropped From BBC Ashes 2021/22 Coverage

Nov 25, 2021 at 2:45 PM

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Michael Vaughan Disappointed For Not Commentating For BBC Test Match Special After He Was Dropped From BBC Ashes 2021/22 Coverage

Michael Vaughan, the former England cricket captain, says he is ‘very disappointed’ to be dropped from the BBC’s Ashes 2021/22 coverage but ‘wants to be part of the solution’ after being accused of making a racist comment.

The BBC confirmed on Wednesday that Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan would not be involved in their coverage of the upcoming series in Australia. The decision comes after Michael Vaughan was named in Yorkshire’s report into Azeem Rafiq’s claims of racism during his time at the club.

Michael Vaughan (Image Credit: Twitter)
Michael Vaughan (Image Credit: Twitter)

Michael Vaughan Is Disappointed For Not Commentating For BBC Test Match Special

Michael Vaughan has repeatedly denied the allegation made against him.

‘Very disappointed not to be commentating for TMS (BBC Test Match Special) on the Ashes and will miss working with great colleagues and friends, but looking forward to being behind the mic for Fox Cricket in Australia,’ Vaughan said on social media.

‘The issues facing cricket are bigger than any individual case and I want to be part of the solution, listening, educating myself and helping to make it a more welcoming sport for all.’

Joe Root’s England will attempt to win back the Ashes 2021/22 in Australia, with the first of five Tests starting on December 8 in Brisbane. Michal Vaughan, who played 82 Test matches for England, joined the BBC’s Test Match Special radio team as a commentator in 2009.

The 47-year-old stood down from his BBC Radio 5 Live show earlier in the month after former Yorkshire player Azeem Rafiq alleged Michael Vaughan told four Asian players – “too many of you lot, we need to do something about it” before a County Championship match in 2009.

England leg-spinner Adil Rashid
England leg-spinner Adil Rashid- Twitter

England leg-spinner Adil Rashid and former Pakistan bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan both said they heard the comment. In contrast, the fourth player in the group – Ajmal Shahzad – said he had no recollection of the alleged event. Michael Vaughan wrote in his column that he ‘completely and categorically denies’ making a comment and insisted he is not racist.

Michael Vaughan Denies Azeem Rafiq’s Allegation That He Used Racist Comments

Michael Vaughan has “completely and categorically” denied Azeem Rafiq’s allegation that he was racist towards him and other Asian Yorkshire teammates in 2009. Michael Vaughan’s revelation came hours after his former team-mate Gary Ballance admitted, via a statement issued by Yorkshire, that he had been the player who had used a racial slur in conversations with Azeem Rafiq.

Azeem Rafiq, who is of Pakistani origin, had spoken publicly about these racial incidents last year. Azeem Rafiq played in 38 First class, 35 List A, and 95 T20 matches representing Yorkshire from 2008-2014 and also in 2016 and 2018, where he picked up 71, 43, and 102 wickets respectively and even scored 1 ton in First Class. He played in Derbyshire on short term loan in 2011.

He said: ‘I categorically deny saying the words attributed to me by Azeem Rafiq and want to re-state this publicly because the ‘you lot’ comment simply never happened.”

Michael Vaughan was named in the Azeem Rafiq racism report (Picture: Getty)
Michael Vaughan was named in the Azeem Rafiq racism report (Picture: Getty)

‘It is extremely upsetting that this completely false accusation has been made against me by a former team-mate, apparently supported by two other players. I have been in contact with the six other players from that team and not one of them has any recollection of the remark being made.’

Announcing that Vaughan would not be involved in their Ashes coverage, the BBC said in a statement: “While he is involved in a significant story in cricket, for editorial reasons we do not believe that it would be appropriate for Michael Vaughan to have a role in our Ashes team or wider coverage of the sport at the moment.”

“We require our contributors to talk about relevant topics and his involvement in the Yorkshire story represents a conflict of interest.”

The 47-year-old former England batsman, who has been an analyst with the BBC since 2009, was dropped from a radio show by the broadcaster earlier this month after the allegations came to light.

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