Former England cricket team captain Michael Vaughan has been removed by the BBC from its commentary panel for the upcoming Ashes series. This action has been taken on Michael Vaughan for allegedly making racist remarks on Azeem Rafiq.
He was part of the commentary panel for next month's Ashes series between Australia and England. Michael Vaughan has reacted to the BBC's action. He has admitted that he is disappointed with this step.
Sharing a picture with Shane Warne, Allan Border, Mark Waugh and Adam Gilchrist, Vaughan wrote, “Very disappointed not to be commentating for TMS on the Ashes and will miss working with great colleagues & friends, but looking forward to being behind the mic for @foxcricket in Australia. The issues facing cricket are bigger than any individual case and I want to be part of the solution, listening, educating myself and helping to make it a more welcoming sport for all," Vaughan wrote in a statement posted on his Instagram account.
Former Pakistan-born Yorkshire player Azim Rafiq has accused many big names of England cricket of racism. One of his claims was that during a county match in 2009, Vaughan told Rafiq and other Yorkshire players of Asian descent that there are too many of you, we need to do something about it. The 2005 Ashes-winning captain has denied these allegations.
On Wednesday, the BBC confirmed that Vaughan would not be part of the Ashes commentary panel. On the BBC's action, Vaughan said on Instagram when he would miss commentating on the BBC, although he looked forward to sharing his analysis for Fox Cricket in Australia.