Yorkshire racism scandal: Colin Graves backs key reforms and says county must move on

Former Yorkshire chairman Colin Graves has told the BBC he has backed crucial changes to the club's rules, and that the county «needs to move on».

The England and Wales Cricket Board says the reforms must be approved if lucrative international hosting rights are to be reinstated at Headingley.

The club were banned from hosting major matches in November over their handling of the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal.

Yorkshire potentially risked bankruptcy if the hosting rights had not returned.

The club are hoping to pass the changes at an extraordinary general meeting on 31 March, which they were forced to cancel earlier this month after discovering it had not been properly called.

It emerged that the club's former leadership had failed to file amended club rules with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Another former Yorkshire chairman, Robin Smith, told the Yorkshire Post it meant Lord Patel's appointment as the new chairman in November was «invalid».

But Lord Patel said a group of individuals was «actively seeking to delay and derail» reform.

«As a Yorkshire vice-president and member I have voted to support the changes as outlined by YCCC to its members,» Graves told BBC Sport.

«I really hope that the legal advice taken by the club on these issues is sound and solid.

»The club now needs to move on, and get back to staging International matches and playing cricket at the highest level in England and Wales.

«The talent that Yorkshire continues to produce is outstanding, as shown in the recent West Indies Test match where four out of 11 players came through the Yorkshire academy.»

The reforms to Yorkshire's constitution would put eight independent directors on its board and confirm Lord Patel's position as chairman.

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