sport news Gary Ballance breaks cover amid racism storm: Ex-England cricketer is seen for ...

Ex-England international Gary Ballance has broken cover for the first time since he admitted using racist language towards his former Yorkshire team-mate Azeem Rafiq.

The 31-year-old - who is now barred from national duty over his handling of the crisis - had concern etched into his face as he took his dog for a walk.

Ballance appeared to be trying to keep a low profile as he drove to the countryside spot for the animal exercise earlier today.

Dressed in trainers, jogging bottom and a waterproof he had a black beanie hat pulled over the top of his head.

His trip out in public is the first since the racism scandal rocking cricket exploded earlier this week.

In September last year Ballance's former Yorkshire Country Cricket Club team-mate Azeem Rafiq did an interview with ESPN Cricinfo where he said 'institutional racism had left him considering killing himself.

The club vowed to investigate and this September released its findings, which said Rafiq was the 'victim of racial harassment and bullying' with seven of the 43 allegations made by the player upheld by an independent panel.

But in October Yorkshire announced its own internal investigation found 'No conduct or action taken by any of its employees, players or executives that warrants disciplinary action'.

It led to Ballance being named as a player who used racist language and he said this week: 'It has been reported that I used a racial slur and, as I told the independent enquiry, I accept that I did so and I regret doing so.

'To be clear - I deeply regret some of the language I used in my younger years.'    

 It set into motion a domino effect which saw Michael Vaughan dragged further into the scandal today as he denied claims he was racist towards a group of Yorkshire's British Asian players - only for one of the club's star fast bowlers to publicly insist that he heard it.

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan says he is willing to give evidence that Mr Vaughan said 'there's too many of you lot', claiming he was next to Mr Rafiq at Trent Bridge in 2009 when Vaughan is alleged to have said it.

Last year Mr ul-Hasan, who played almost 100 tests and ODIs for Pakistan, said Asian players were regularly racially abused at Yorkshire – and 'nobody did anything about it', adding: 'I fully support what Azeem said'. 

It came as Yorkshire's chairman Roger Hutton quit today and tore into its management over the lack of 'care and contrition' shown to Azeem Rafiq after he was repeatedly called a 'P*ki'. 

BBC pundit and former England captain Mr Vaughan himself revealed he is named in the report into alleged racism at the county, but said: The allegation hit me over the head like a brick but I have nothing to hide'.

It was claimed that he told a group of Yorkshire players with Asian heritage — including Rafiq, Adil Rashid, Ajmal Shahzad and Pakistan 's Rana Naved — that there were 'too many of you lot, we need to do something about it'. He said last night: 'I completely and categorically deny that I ever said those words', and would be willing to meet Mr Rafiq to discuss it. 

Vaughan, 47, played for Yorkshire his entire career from 1993 to 2009, before moving into an advisory role at the club after retiring.    

Writing in his Telegraph column, he said: 'In December 2020 I was asked to speak to the independent panel formed by Yorkshire to investigate Rafiq's claims.

'The night before I was due to give evidence, out of the blue, I was hit with the news that Rafiq was alleging that in 2009 before a Yorkshire match against Nottinghamshire, I had said to Rafiq and two other Asian players as we walked on to the field together that there are 'too many of you lot, we need to do something about it'.

'This hit me very hard. It was like being struck over the head with a brick. I have been involved in cricket for 30 years and never once been accused of any remotely similar incident or disciplinary offence as a player or commentator. 

'I completely and categorically deny that I ever said those words.' 

Vaughan also denied a second claim in the report, that in his post-playing days he had advised Yorkshire chiefs in front of Rafiq that they should sign New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson due to his ability to bowl off-spin.

Rafiq claimed in the report that this was racism, intended as a direct threat to his own place in the team as a frontline spinner, with Williamson only a very occasional bowler.

'It is because of my race, colour, ethnic origin, that Michael Vaughan made the comments that he did,' said Rafiq. 

Vaughan responded on Thursday night: 'I would never have said that in front of a group. I saw the way Williamson played in Twenty20 cricket and recognised that we needed three-dimensional cricketers in our top four who could score runs, bowl overs and field well.

'Never have I discriminated against anyone or judged a player based on race. All I ask and all I have ever asked is, 'how can we improve as a team?'

'By suggesting Yorkshire sign Williamson I was attempting to improve the team and my cricket knowledge suggests that was the right call.'

Vaughan, the second individual to reveal he is part of the report after Yorkshire batsman Gary Ballance, said he is keen to meet Rafiq to discuss the claims.

'In time, I am more than happy to meet with Azeem,' he said. 'I would welcome it. I would like to sit with him, listen to what he went through and understand his perspective. It has been very hard for me to communicate with him directly for legal reasons but I hope we can now talk in person and understand each other's point of view.'

Yorkshire's chairman quit today and tore into its management over the lack of 'care and contrition' shown to Azeem Rafiq after he was repeatedly called a 'P*ki'.

Roger Hutton announced his resignation minutes after Tom Harrison, Chief Executive of the ECB, said he would 'find it difficult' for Mr Hutton to stay in his role. 

I n an

read more from dailymail.....