- Bresnan, Hoggard and Blain join Gale in withdrawing
- ECB says hearing process ‘has been both rigorous and fair’
The England and Wales Cricket Board’s drawn-out disciplinary process concerning allegations of historical racism at Yorkshire is threatening to descend into chaos after Tim Bresnan, Matthew Hoggard and John Blain withdrew from proceedings. Their decision means that when the delayed hearings of the Cricket Discipline Commission finally take place no more than two of the seven individuals whose cases it will consider will present a defence.
Bresnan, Hoggard and Blain respectively played 163, 102 and 15 first-class games for Yorkshire, and join the county’s former captain and head coach, Andrew Gale, in withdrawing their cooperation. Gale announced his decision to do so last June, saying: “I have no faith that a fair and just outcome will be the result if I engage in the process … I believe that we are being put forward as scapegoats and I simply will not cooperate in that process.”
