Michael Vaughan opens up in details on racism allegations made by Azeem Rafiq

Michael Vaughan has recently been trapped in a controversy where he has been alleged of making racist remarks on Asian players while playing for Yorkshire in 2009. In the latest turn of events, Vaughan broke the silence in the wake of allegations made by Azeem Rafiq which were further supported by Adil Rashid and Rana Naved. The former English skipper was reported of speaking, ‘too many of you lot, we need to do something about it’ for the Asian players.

In the latest turn of events, Vaughan has stated that he was ‘proud as punch’ of the Asian players in the lot and has no memories of making any unwanted comment back in 2009. Owing to all these allegations, Vaughan has also been removed by the BBC from the Ashes commentary panel, citing ‘editorial reasons.’

“I don’t [remember], my recollection from that day as I’ve said I was a Yorkshire player for 18 years, I was the first player to sign for that club that was not born in the county, so for 18 years we have gone from me being the first to sign for the club, Sachin Tendulkar being the first from overseas, to players being able to sign from other clubs. It was my last few games and I remember it clearly that I was proud as punch that we had four Asian players representing Yorkshire cricket club,” said Vaughan while speaking to BBC.

I’m sorry for the hurt that he has gone through: Michael Vaughan

Moving further in the conversation, Vaughan was apologetic for whatever transpired in all these days and added that those allegations hurt him. The 47-year-old stated that these allegations hurt more because as England skipper, he had the image of making everyone feel included in the dressing room and gelled up well with all.

“That hurts, because I’ve always felt that every single team that I have been involved in, the biggest praise I ever got as England captain for six years was that I was the kind of person that really galvanized the group, got the team working together as one. I wanted everyone in the dressing room to feel included,” he added.

“I’m sorry for the hurt that he has gone through. Yorkshire Cricket Club, I believe is me, it has been my life whether I have been a player or not, I believe that once you have played for Yorkshire you are always a Yorkshire player and I am sorry for all the hurt that he has gone through,” Vaughan concluded.