ECB tight-lipped over Gale ban

Yorkshire captain Gale was banned for his team’s final two LV= County Championship matches of the season, under mandatory disciplinary procedure, following his on-field spat with Lancashire batsman Ashwell Prince at the start of this month.

When he was subsequently kept away, at the behest of the ECB, from Yorkshire’s trophy celebrations after they won the title for the 32nd time at Trent Bridge last week, the governing body clarified the situation in a press release.

Amid reports of a racist element, one expected to be strenuously denied by Yorkshire and their captain, the ECB declined to add to last Friday’s statement.

It read: “After an incident at the recent LV=CC match between Lancashire and Yorkshire, the England and Wales Cricket Board made a formal complaint to the cricket discipline commission (CDC) about the conduct of the Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale.

“On receipt of this complaint, the CDC has decided to convene a disciplinary panel hearing to consider the matter.

“The ECB will not make any further comment until the disciplinary process is concluded.”

The Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday that the case will centre on Gale’s alleged use of the term ‘Kolpak’, in a heated exchange with Prince - and whether it can be construed as racist.

A ‘Kolpak’ cricketer is one born overseas but free to play on a domestic contract under the laws of the European Union.

Former Yorkshire and England batsman Michael Vaughan was swift to react on Twitter to the situation, bemoaning perceived “double standards” in pursuing a racist allegation against Gale.