ECB recommends fine, eight-week ban for Gary Ballance over Yorkshire racism case

Following the Yorkshire racism scandal, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) recommended that Zimbabwe cricketer Gary Ballance be fined STG8,000 ($A15,000) and suspended for eight weeks. Ballance was one of six players who were accused of using racist language in the case, which originated from charges made by the former Yorkshire bowler, Azeem Rafiq.

Craig Harris, Ballance's lawyer, claimed that the financial penalty should be lowered due to the cost of being involved in the hearings as per reports by The West Australian. He also noted that Ballance lost his position as a player at Yorkshire, a sponsorship contract, and was not considered for England selection as well.

In light of the fact that Ballance announced his retirement from the game last month, the ban seems to be of little significance. The board will also recommend sanctions to the independent Cricket Discipline Commission panel in central London for the other five players- John Blain, Tim Bresnan, Andrew Gale, Matthew Hoggard, and Richard Pyrah. Notably, Blain, Bresnan, Gale, Hoggard, and Pyrah had all withdrawn from the disciplinary procedures and failed to appear at a liability hearing in March earlier. However, the allegations against them were heard in their absence.

Rafiq alleges racist abuse at Yorkshire County Cricket Club in 2018

Former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq filed allegations about racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC) in 2018. Rafiq claimed that he was subjected to racist harassment and bullying during his two stints at the club, from 2008 to 2014 and from 2016 to 2018, and that the club was institutionally racist. 

In August 2021, YCCC received the independent assessment, and Gary Ballance, one of the players listed in the report, admitted to using racial language towards Rafiq on nights out and said he deeply regrets what he had done. He did, however, claim that they were best friends who used abusive language with each other. Notably, the ethnic abuse used by Ballance towards Rafiq was classified as "friendly banter" in the report, prompting outrage from lawmakers.