Yorkshire free to host international cricket again after members’ vote

Proposals to restructure the board of Yorkshire and enable the county to host international cricket again this summer have been overwhelmingly approved by members on a pivotal day in the history of one of cricket’s most famous clubs.

Yorkshire lost its right to host international matches in the wake of its handling of racism allegations brought against the county by the former player Azeem Rafiq. Kamlesh Patel was subsequently appointed as chair last November to help oversee structural, wholesale changes at the county but a proposed extraordinary general meeting to approve the changes had been cancelled on two separate occasions, while former chair Robin Smith had indicated he would vote against the reforms.

With the England and Wales Cricket Board promising it would lift the ban on hosting international matches providing a number of conditions were met by the end of March, Yorkshire faced the prospect of a day that could have had grave ramifications on the county’s long-term financial future if the proposals were turned down by members. But in Headingley’s famous Long Room on Thursday evening, over 80% of the 1,100 members both in attendance and via proxy voted in favour of the changes.

Lord Patel’s appointment as chair – something Smith had described as “invalid” – was given the seal of approval before members voted in favour of the removal of Graves Trust powers and the appointment of six non-executive directors to the club’s board.

Patel said: “We welcome the outcome of this EGM and thank the Members for their full and proper consideration, an open exchange of views, and their votes. It means Yorkshire can stage internationals against New Zealand and South Africa this summer, in the process averting a major financial