Deadline set for the return of international cricket to Headingley
Yorkshire County Cricket Club has had a tumultuous 2021 following the fall out from the racism accusation by former professional cricketer Azeem Rafiq and what was widely seen as the club’s miss handling of the situation.
However following the news before Christmas that the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), the UK’s equality watchdog believes the actions described by Rafiq were likely “unlawful”, the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the sport’s governing body has set a deadline of early spring to decide if the he club can regain its international status, which it lost in November, in time for the summer season.
This move comes after the ECB originally said it would require the club to demonstrate it “can meet the standards expected” before removing the suspension. It has now stated that Yorkshire will need to meet certain conditions by early spring.
Since the move was made however, there has been a complete change at Yorkshire with Lord Patel taking over as chairman and former Yorkshire and England cricketer Darren Gough joining as director of cricket, while all the coaching staff have left.
Although an ECB investigation into the issue is currently ongoing a decision on the summer schedule is required as a result of a busy schedule at the grounds capable of hosting international matches which include the third Test against New Zealand on 23 June and an ODI against South Africa on 24 July.
Alternative venues for the third test match could see it move to The Oval and Southampton, as Lord’s, Trent Bridge and Edgbaston are all due to host a test around that time and Old Trafford will be staging concerts that week.
The July fixture also falls within a busy period with the relaunch of The Hundred format and the Commonwealth Games women’s T20 competition meaning there are already scheduling conflicts.
If the Yorkshire is stripped of the fixtures for this summer, it will have serious financial implications for a club which saw revenues rocket during 2019 when it played host to the Third Specsavers Ashes Test Match, four ICC Cricket World Cup fixtures and a One Day International versus Pakistan.
