EXCLUSIVE: Michael Vaughan offers to pay for Adil Rashid’s return to England so he can give evidence at next month’s Yorkshire racism trial – with the ECB insisting it would be ‘disproportionately expensive’ to fly him back from Bangladesh
- Michael Vaughan has offered to pay for Adil Rashid’s trip back from Bangladesh
- Rashid is a key witness in the case against Vaughan ahead of next month’s trial
- The ex-England star will be the only charged individual present at the hearing
Michael Vaughan has formally offered to pay for Adil Rashid to fly back from England’s one-day games in Bangladesh to give evidence at the Yorkshire racism trial next month.
Sportsmail revealed earlier this week that the ECB have argued in legal submissions to the Cricket Discipline Commission [CDC] in charge of the hearing that it would be ‘disproportionately expensive’ for Rashid to return to England, but Vaughan has removed that obstacle by offering to cover the cost.
Rashid has emerged as the ECB’s key witness in their case against Vaughan, who has been accused of using racist language towards Azeem Rafiq, with the England leg-spinner supporting his claim that the Ashes winning captain used the phrase ‘too many of you lot’ to a group of Asian Yorkshire players in 2009.
It is understood that Rashid’s lawyers have this week received a letter from Vaughan’s legal team in which he has offered to pay for the cost of his return trip.
The hearing is due to take place from March 1-8 and clashes with England’s one-day and Twenty20 series in Bangladesh, with six matches scheduled between March 1-14.
Michael Vaughan has formally offered to pay for Adil Rashid to travel back from Bangladesh
Rashid is seen as a key witness in the case against Vaughan, who has been accused of racism
The ECB saw it as ‘disproportionately expensive’ to fly Rashid back for the hearing next month
Vaughan’s lawyers want to cross-examine Rashid in person as they regard him as pivotal to the entire case, which has resulted in the being stood down from all his commentary duties with the BBC since being charged by the ECB last June.
In response the ECB are insisting that Rashid need only give evidence remotely, with a final decision to be made by the CDC.
In addition to offering to pay for Rashid’s flight Vaughan’s legal team have also written to the ECB querying the arrangements they would put in place for a virtual hearing.
It is understood that despite repeated questions the ECB have yet to provide any details of the security and IT capabilities they would have in Bangladesh to guarantee a fair process.
Vaughan is the only one of seven individuals charged over the Yorkshire racism scandal who will appear next month’s disciplinary hearing next month after Richard Pyrah, the county’s former assistant coach, became the sixth ex-player to withdraw this week.
A spokesperson for Rashid declined to comment.
The hearing is in relation to the allegations of racism made by former cricketer Azeem Rafiq
The ex-England captain will be the only charged individual present at next month’s hearing
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