Michael Holding blasts Yorkshire for ‘lacking testosterone’ as ECB slammed

Michael Holding had some strong words for the Yorkshire CCC and the ECB. Sponsors have now distanced themselves from the country cricket side following the racial abuse of Azeem Rafiq

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Michael Holding says racial inequality is ‘a load of b*ll*cks’ in Good Morning Britain speech

Michael Holding has slammed the Yorkshire CCC and England and Wales cricket board amid the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal.

The former West Indies fast bowler called the board “weak” and said Yorkshire should have been suspended “immediately”.

Rafiq, 30, was found to have been a victim of “racial harassment and bullying” while playing for the team, but Yorkshire decided no player, employee or executives should face disciplinary action.

The handling of the racism claims by Yorkshire has been branded “wholly unacceptable” as they now suffer the repercussions as a result.

This week has seen several sponsors, including Nike, distance themselves from the team, and the ECB has banned Headingley from hosting international matches.

Former England player Gary Ballance has also been ‘suspended indefinitely’, but irrespective of the decisions that have now been taken, Holding says not enough has been done and slammed the board for being ‘afraid to take the right action.’

He told Sky News : “The ECB have put out a statement, but if you read that statement carefully you will see they have left themselves some wiggle room.”

“The ECB could come out next week, or in a couple of weeks’ time, or a couple of months’ time and say ‘yes, we are satisfied Yorkshire has done what is necessary, they are ready’ – and they will get a Test match next summer.

“That is not a strong statement, that is not strong action.”

Holding played for Canterbury, Derbyshire and Lancashire during his county career.

Based on the Yorkshire and the ECB’s poor approach to dealing with the racism, Holding described those in charge of the boards as “lacking in gumption” and also explained Yorkshire are not the only English cricket team with a racism problem.

“If there are no repercussions for bad actions nothing changes,” he said. “I wouldn’t say they are lacking in ability, I would say they are lacking in gumption. I don’t want to use a word that wouldn’t be acceptable on television.

“They are lacking in backbone, they don’t want to take strong action, they are weak and I think that is their problem.

“They investigated, they got their results, but then they did not go on to take action.

“I would say they are lacking in testosterone perhaps.”

The 67-year-old expressed his shock and surprise at Yorkshire discovering Rafiq’s claims to be true, but deciding nobody should be punished.

“I don’t see how you can come out after an investigation and say, yes, a lot of the claims that the young man made, we found them to be true, but, we’re not going to do anything, we’re not going to take any action against anyone that was guilty of what the young man said… I don’t quite understand that,” he said.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan is alleged to have made a racist comment to a group of Asian players, which he vehemently denies.

He was stood down from a BBC radio appearance, scheduled for 8 November, following the claims.