Gary Ballance on the brink at Yorkshire

GEORGE DOBELL: The Headingley club have initiated talks over the former England batter's future, with the Cricket Discipline Commission preparing to take action

Gary Ballance's future at Yorkshire could be over after the club initiated talks about his future.

While Ballance signed a new contract last year, he is highly likely to be charged by the Cricket Discipline Commission in the next few weeks as a result of allegations of racist and bullying behaviour.

He recently pulled out of the club's pre-season tour to the UAE and all parties are wondering whether a fresh start could be beneficial.

However, the club's director of cricket, Darren Gough, said Ballance would be part of the squad as recently as a couple of weeks ago.

"It was a very difficult situation with Gary," he told The Daily Mail. "He was disciplined by the club, he admitted the use of racist language and apologised for it.

"It’s crucial all forms of discrimination are eradicated from our game and society, and we talked to Gary about his actions and behaviour. He understands and he’s educating himself.

^{Azeem Rafiq (Daniel L Smith/Getty Images)}

"He’s going to be part now of an inclusive and welcoming environment that we’re building at Yorkshire and that’s obvious already in our recruitment on the coaching side."

All parties are now wondering whether a fresh start could be beneficial.

Azeem Rafiq, whose testimony proved so damning against Ballance, had previously suggested the player should be allowed to continue his career.

"If Gary apologises properly and has some sort of acceptance and accountability, he should be allowed to play," Azeem said in November. "Anyone who apologises deserves a second chance."

It is understood, however, that Ballance has not apologised, and that his testimony in the Yorkshire enquiry differed quite significantly at times from the evidence given in Azeem's employment tribunal.

Specifically, he denied using the term 'Kevin' as slang for a non-white person in the Yorkshie enquiry, but admitted it in the employment troibunal. He admitted using the term 'P***' in both settings.

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