Azeem Rafiq open to meeting Michael Vaughan in wake of racism case

Azeem Rafiq is open to the idea of meeting his former Yorkshire teammate Michael Vaughan and believes there could be a role for the ex-England captain in reshaping cricket after the high-profile racism case.

Vaughan was cleared on Friday by a Cricket Discipline Commission panel of using racist language towards Rafiq and three other Yorkshire players of Asian ethnicity before a match in 2009. The panel found charges against five other individuals formerly connected to the club proven.

Vaughan met Rafiq 18 months ago in what the 48-year-old described as “positive and constructive discussions” before charges were brought by the England and Wales Cricket Board and Rafiq says he is willing to speak to Vaughan again.

“The one thing I’ve always tried to do is try to get in a room and have conversations because we’re only going to get things better if humans start to have conversations with each other and get each other’s perspective,” the 32-year-old said.

Asked if a meeting with Vaughan was something he would welcome Rafiq said: “Yeah, absolutely. Ultimately, it can’t be about me, it can’t be about Michael. This has got to be about the game and the game’s failings.

“I feel the game has an opportunity through the CDC findings. but also through the ICEC report [the Independent Commission on Equity in Cricket findings that are expected to be published this week]. The game’s got a very simple choice. It’s either going to confront its failings and really make a commitment and drive forwards together or it’s going to live in the level of denial that it has continued to for a long period of time and we’re going to end up with another Azeem Rafiq in 20 years’ time or probably not even that long.”

Vaughan said the dismissal of the