Richard Pyrah defends Yorkshire CCC regime sacked in wake of Azeem Rafiq racism scandal

RICHARD PYRAH, one of the coaches sacked by Yorkshire in the wake of the racism allegations made by his former team-mate Azeem Rafiq, has criticised the club on social media in a passionate defence of the ousted regime.
By Chris Waters
Published 21st May 2023, 19:20 BST

In response to a tweet from Yorkshire’s official account on Saturday night, confirming defeat by 34 runs against Birmingham Bears in their opening T20 game at Edgbaston, Pyrah took to Twitter to vent his frustration.

“I’m tired of staying quiet!” he wrote, with Yorkshire currently bottom of the fledgling T20 North Group and bottom of the County Championship Second Division.

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“I love all these players and they have the potential to be the best team in the country.

Richard Pyrah, the former Yorkshire player and second team coach, has launched a social media defence of the coaches and staff axed in the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal. (Picture: SWPix.com)Richard Pyrah, the former Yorkshire player and second team coach, has launched a social media defence of the coaches and staff axed in the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal. (Picture: SWPix.com)
Richard Pyrah, the former Yorkshire player and second team coach, has launched a social media defence of the coaches and staff axed in the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal. (Picture: SWPix.com)

“But people will now realise what a great set up and environment we had (all players wouldn’t thrive if it was a ‘bad’ environment!) and what a good job we were doing challenging on all fronts. Shambles!”

Pyrah, the former bowling coach, was one of 14 dismissed for signing a letter that criticised Rafiq’s “one-man mission to bring down the club”.

The 40-year-old is among six former Yorkshire players found guilty of using racist terms, with the England and Wales Cricket Board recommending that Pyrah receive a £4,000 fine and a two-week suspension in the still ongoing Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) process.

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Pyrah, who is now working outside cricket, chose not to defend himself at the CDC hearings owing to concerns regarding fairness and transparency.

The CDC ruled that he used a racist expression when referring to Rafiq’s sister, which he denied, while an allegation that he used the term “you lot” towards groups of Asian players was not proven.

Last September, Pyrah reached a settlement with Yorkshire after the club accepted that his dismissal was “procedurally unfair”.

Pyrah’s tweet on Saturday was “liked” by David Willey, the Northamptonshire and England all-rounder, who left Yorkshire last season, and retweeted by Wayne Morton, the former head of sports science and medicine, who is pursuing a High Court claim against the club on his behalf and other sacked staff.

Susan Moxon, wife of the deposed director of cricket Martyn Moxon, quote-tweeted: “Well said Rich.”

Related topics:YorkshireAzeem RafiqYorkshire CCCTwitter