Matthew Hoggard, an Ashes Hero, was prevented from speaking at Friday’s awards dinner because he used racist language towards Azeem Rasiq.
The announcement came after Tom Harrison, chief executive of the ECB, vowed that he would continue to work to improve cricket. Following an emergency meeting at the Oval of all stakeholders, Harrison stated that he was the person to change the sport and drive greater diversity. SportsmailFreitag
Harrison claimed he received the support of the 41 ECB members to address the racism crisis, which will begin with the publication of a 12-point action plan next week, though he is still expected to leave Lord’s next year once a new chair has been appointed.
Matthew Hoggard (L), has been prevented from speaking at an Awards Night because of the direct effects of Azeem Rasiq (R) racist revelations.
‘I’m determined to lead this change through cricket,’ Harrison said.
‘I feel passionately about this issue. It’s something I feel to my core. I’ve been trying to drive an inclusive and diverse sport from the moment I arrived as chief executive in 2015. I feel very motivated and very supported to make sure that change happens.’
Meanwhile Hoggard, 44, had been booked to appear at the ECB-accredited North East Premier League’s presentation evening, but following Rafiq’s revelations at the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee on Tuesday that the paceman had nicknamed him ‘Raffa the Kaffir’ — for which the ex-pace bowler has since apologised — Ryan Sidebottom was drafted in to replace him.
Gordon Halliday (NEPL Secretary) confirmed the news. Sportsmail: ‘Our committee didn’t feel it would be appropriate for Matthew to speak at our presentation evening. People of mixed ages, mixed genders, and mixed races attend.
Hoggard has earned good money on the after-dinner speaking circuit but was blocked from the North East Premier League’s presentation evening
‘The committee felt it was in the best interests of Matthew and of those attending that we found a replacement speaker.’
Hoggard is a popular after-dinner entertainer since his retirement in 2013. He is represented by Champions Celebrity Talent Agency.
The cancellation comes after the BBC pulled Hoggard’s 2005 Ashes-winning skipper Michael Vaughan from his recent radio show in the wake of other Rafiq revelations.