Ex-England cricketer Bresnan accused of racist language

Ex-England cricketer Bresnan accused of racist language
Tim Bresnan has been accused of using a racist comment towards Azeem Rafiq's sister while the England and Wales Cricket Board told a disciplinary panel it is "more likely than not" three former Yorkshire players used racist or discriminatory language. The public Cricket Discipline Commission hearing into allegations of racism from former Yorkshire player Rafiq began in London on Wednesday with the cases of England pair Matthew Hoggard and Bresnan and their one-time county teammate John Blain being heard. The trio all deny a charge of bringing the game into disrepute and allegations of using racial or discriminatory language.
ECB lawyer Jane Mulcahy KC stated it is "more likely than not" each of the trio used the racist phrases being alleged - which included "P***" - due to a number of reasons, including the systemic use of racist or discriminatory language during that period at Yorkshire. During the first day of proceedings it was alleged Bresnan used a racial slur against Rafiq's sister Amna in 2014. Bresnan, Mulcahy said, is alleged to have directed the term "fit P***" and "FP" towards Asian women, including Rafiq's sister Amna at an official Yorkshire media day.
He was also alleged to have referred to Rafiq and Asian teammates Adil Rashid, Ajmal Shahzad and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan as "the brothers" and "you lot". Bresnan denies the allegations. He said the term "brothers" was used but not in a racial or discriminatory context.
He detailed his use of the term "brothers" or "bro" in WhatsApp messages or group chats as part of his defence. He also insisted he had no recollections of using the phrase "you lot" in a match against Derbyshire and claimed to have never met Amna Rafiq. But Mulcahy insisted for each alleged charge that "on balance of probability, more likely than not, that he used the phrase and it was racist or discriminatory".
Former England captain Michael Vaughan, Hoggard, Bresnan, Blain, Andrew Gale and Richard Pyrah all face charges related to the use of racially discriminatory language, with Vaughan the only one set to appear in person at the hearing. Yorkshire admitted four amended charges and Gary Ballance admitted a charge which meant both were not required to participate. Mulcahy also set out the allegations against former England bowler Hoggard, which included creating and using the term "Rafa the Kaffir", repeated use of the word "P***", referring to Rafiq and other players as "you lot" and use of the term "TBM" (token black man) towards teammate Ismail Dawood.
Hoggard admitted using the term "Rafa the Kaffir", but denied he created it and it was used in the context alleged. He admitted it did breach ECB directive 3. 3.
He admitted the use of the word "P***" but denied any racist or discriminatory intent and could not remember exactly on what occasions this occurred. He also denied it breached ECB directive. While Hoggard also admitted using the phrase "you lot", he denied the use of it to identify a group of ethnic minority players and denied it breached ECB directive 3.
3. Hoggard did admit to using the phrase "TBM" or "token black man" and that it breached directive 3. 3 but denied it had any racist or discriminatory intent.
Mulcahy told the panel "it is obvious that Hoggard has caused prejudice and/or disrepute for cricket and himself" due to the systemic use of racist or discriminatory language at Yorkshire and the fact he admitted to using the word "P***". .