Robin Smith pressured to retract "serious and unfounded accusations" by DCMS

GEORGE DOBELL: In the latest chapter of the ongoing crisis at Yorkshire, DCMS chair Julian Knight has written to Smith asking for him to explain comments made regarding the committee's actions

Robin Smith has been asked to explain himself by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee after accusing them of putting “unlawful pressure” on the ECB.

Smith, the former Yorkshire chair, has led fierce resistance to the reforms suggested by the club’s current chair, Kamlesh Patel. This has included a demand for him to resign and a threat of legal action against him.

It has also included a suggestion that the DCMS committee applied “unlawful pressure” about the ECB to suspend Yorkshire’s right to host international cricket.

And, as revealed by The Cricketer previously, it is this accusation that has particularly infuriated members of that committee.

Ousting Kamlesh Patel is among Smith's demands (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Acting on his commitment, made to The Cricketer, to seek an explanation from Smith, Julian Knight, the chair of the DCMS committee, has now sent a formal email saying he was “astounded” by the accusation and found it “inconceivable” that Smith was “looking to use technical points of law to challenge efforts to restore the reputation of the club.”

Knight also asks Smith to “seriously consider publicly retracting” the comments. 

“I was astounded to read in the Daily Mail yesterday that you have accused my Committee of putting “unlawful pressure” on the England and Wales Cricket Board to sanction Yorkshire County Cricket Club for failing to address issues of racism at the club,” Knight wrote.

“You were also reported as accusing us of an abuse of power.

"These are serious and unfounded accusations to be made against a Parliamentary Select Committee and we think you should seriously consider publicly retracting them.”

“We considered it unbelievable that Azim Rafiq should have suffered racist abuse while playing at Yorkshire and were shocked by the reluctance of the club to acknowledge its responsibility in how this happened [sic].

"We now find it inconceivable that anyone should be looking to use technical points of law to challenge efforts to restore the reputation of the club and to risk the financial future of the club while threatening Lord Patel with financial ruin.

“I can only imagine if those accusations were accurately reported, that you were entirely unaware of the role of Parliament and its select committees to have made accusations of unlawful pressure and an abuse of power.

"My Committee would like you to explain what you think we have done that was unlawful or an abuse of power. These are serious and unfounded accusations to be made against a Parliamentary Select Committee and we think you should seriously consider publicly retracting them.”

^{Colin Graves' return to the Yorkshire board is also among Smith's aims (Tom Shaw/Getty Images)}

It also noted in the email that Smith appears to be working with Colin Graves, the former ECB and Yorkshire chair.

The Cricketer understands Smith is keen to see Graves restored to the Yorkshire board.

“We also note that you offered Lord Patel a meeting with you and Colin Graves, a man that has, when twice invited to speak to the Committee, told us he has no current interest in cricket or Yorkshire County Cricket Club,” Knight continues.

“The Committee retains an interest in this issue and I presume, if you were invited, you would attend a meeting of the Committee.”