In a statement on Thursday night, the ECB said the county - who are due to host men's Tests in 2022 and 2023 - would be stripped of that right until "it has clearly demonstrated that it can meet the standards expected of an international venue"
Yorkshire have been suspended from hosting international cricket.
The decision came following a meeting of the ECB board on the back of the developments in recent days relating to Yorkshire’s handling of the Azeem Rafiq case.
A statement from the national governing body read: “Given recent events, it is clear there are serious questions regarding the governance and management of YCCC. The club’s failure in relation to actions and responses to their own report represent a significant breach of its obligations to the game.”
It added: “It is clear to the board that YCCC’s handling of the issues raised by Azeem Rafiq is wholly unacceptable and is causing serious damage to the reputation of the game. The ECB find this matter abhorrent and against the spirit of cricket and its values.
“The board reiterated its unwavering commitment to ensuring that cricket is a game for everyone. Discrimination of any kind on the field of play, in the dressing room, in the stands, or in the boardroom is intolerable in sport or indeed, society. Cricket must work together to eradicate it.”
The ECB board has also requested that the ECB executive commission a review of Yorkshire’s governance to consider whether it is fit for purpose, while the Cricket Discipline Commission will determine Rafiq’s allegations at an independent tribunal.
Headingley was due to host England’s Test against New Zealand next summer, as well as a one-day international between England and South Africa. The venue was also awarded an Ashes Test for 2023.
The suspension also includes a ban on hosting major matches, which includes the final and eliminator of The Hundred, though not the group stage games. The stadium was the home of Northern Superchargers in the tournament’s inaugural edition.
Azeem Rafiq made allegations of "institutional racism" at Yorkshire last summer
The ban on Headingley hosting international or major matches will remain in place “until it has clearly demonstrated that it can meet the standards expected of an international venue, ECB member and first-class county”.
Gary Ballance, who has not played for England since 2017, has been banned from international selection indefinitely while his conduct is investigated after admitting on Wednesday evening to using a racial slur against Rafiq.
In the last 48 hours, several major sponsors have withdrawn their support of Yorkshire.
On Thursday, Nike – the county’s kit supplier – ended its partnership with Yorkshire, while Leeds Beckett University paused their relationship and Harrogate Water ended their association.
A day earlier, Emerald Group, Yorkshire Tea and Tetley’s all ended their brand relationships with the county.
Sports and leisure provider David Lloyd Clubs have also brought their partnership with Yorkshire to an end, having previously suspended the partnership earlier in the year, while Anchor, the butter brand owned by Arla Foods, announced the end to their association with the club on November 2.
Publishing company Emerald will continue their financial commitment to the stadium, which is shared with rugby league side Leeds Rhinos, but will no longer sponsor Yorkshire.
Rafiq, 30, played for Yorkshire across two separate spells between 2008 and 2018. Last summer, he accused the county of “institutional racism”, with the club then launching a protracted investigation.
Yorkshire have been suspended from hosting international cricket - they were due to host Tests in 2022 and 2023
Yorkshire have declined to publish the subsequent report in full, citing concerns over potential legal consequences. In September, the county released an overview of the case and admitted that Rafiq was a victim of “racial harassment and bullying” during his time on the playing staff at Headingley.
Yorkshire have also issued an apology to Rafiq, but no current employees at the county are to be disciplined as a result of the report’s findings.
The ECB is currently reviewing the report into Rafiq’s allegations, having only been sent an unredacted copy in late October.
On Tuesday, health secretary Sajid Javid had a word of warning for the governing body as it deliberates action against the county. Javid’s post on social media read: “‘Paki’ is not banter. Heads should roll at Yorkshire CCC. If [the ECB] doesn’t take action it’s not fit for purpose.”
Ballance, who was named in a Daily Mail report on Wednesday as the player who used the term, said in a lengthy statement: “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.
“I am aware of how hurtful the racial slur is and I regret that I used this word in immature exchanges in my younger years and I am sure Rafa feels the same about some of the things he said to me as well.”
He claimed that the comments were made in “a situation where best friends said offensive things to each other which, outside of that context, would be considered wholly inappropriate”.
Mesba Ahmed, a member of the panel that carried out Yorkshire’s investigation, defended the investigation’s findings to the Daily Telegraph. The panel determined that the comments were not offensive and were in the guise of “friendly and good-natured banter”.
Gary Ballance has been suspended from England selection while his conduct is investigated
Ahmed, a vice-chairman of the National Asian Cricket Council, said: “If you’re Irish and I’m Scottish or you’re English and I’m Scottish and you have banter and you’re all mates and you hang around and you do things yourselves and we call each other names and we go along with it and you’re happy with it, I’m happy with it, what do you call that? You can judge it yourself.
“If you call me, ‘You Irish so-and-so’, and I call you, ‘You English so-and-so’, and we’re having banter, we’re mates, we’re having a laugh – whatever – we’re playing golf together and we’re having a laugh, you guys will have to judge that yourself.”
The chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee, Julian Knight MP, has called on club chairman Roger Hutton to come before his panel, with director of cricket Martyn Moxon also expected to attend. Rafiq will give evidence on November 16.
On Thursday, Rafiq responded to Ballance’s admission by stressing that the current situation was “not about individuals” and instead about “institutional racism and abject failures” at Yorkshire.
He added that the county and cricket more widely “desperately needs reform and cultural change”.
Meanwhile, Yorkshire have called an unscheduled board meeting for Friday to discuss the ongoing fallout.
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