Yorkshire CCC: Lord Kamlesh Patel wants players to focus on their core role Yorkshire News

Patel has overseen sweeping reforms after being parachuted into his role amid one of the most turbulent spells in Yorkshire history following Azeem Rafiq’s damning allegations of racial harassment and intimidation.

But a number of institutions are monitoring the situation closely, from the England and Wales Cricket Board to a select committee for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

And speaking to promote a venture with the aptly named Clean Slate Studioz, an India-based global streaming platform that has a “mission for equality,” Patel knows the club is not out of the woods yet.

“We keep looking back because it informs us to look forward,” Patel said.

“But this is certainly not an overnight case. We still have a lot of pressure, rightly so.

“Everybody talks about the ECB and the DCMS, but what people tend to forget is that if the Equality and Human Rights Commission had investigated us, we would have been in the desert for at least a couple of years, because it is a damning thing. for a regulator who felt that illegal discrimination had occurred.

“That keeps us on our toes, it forces us to do what we want, but it will take time, there’s no question about it.

“I just hope that we can be a beacon for others, we can be a role model and we will make some mistakes along the way, but having partners like Clean Slate will challenge us.”

A number of sponsors cut ties with Yorkshire and were temporarily taken away from hosting the England games at Headingley, which has since been restored, following their initial handling of Rafiq’s allegations.

But while the club, as well as some current and former employees, could still face punishment from the ECB, Patel hopes the players can now focus on what’s happening on the pitch, starting with their first match of the LV= Insurance County Championship. against Gloucestershire at Bristol today. .

Patel said: “If I were a player with everything that’s happened with the media and political attention, losing international status, your career is on the line and then this ‘Mr. So-and-So’ comes along and we make drastic changes, I’ve been nervous and worried.

“Now we are moving forward. Let’s hope the players come in now, enthusiastic and excited and thinking ‘we’re safe’.

“Inevitably, there are likely to be penalties for individuals as well as for Yorkshire. I’m trying to get everyone to forget about it and get on with the game. If it happens, it will happen.”