Kamlesh Patel will step down from his function as Yorkshire County Cricket Club chairman in March, the membership stated on Friday.
Patel, 62, took over from Roger Hutton in November 2021 with the membership in disaster and was tasked with navigating them by way of a racism scandal involving Azeem Rafiq.
Rafiq, who’s of Pakistani descent and a former captain of the England Under-19s, stated in September 2020 that he had obtained racist abuse and was made to really feel like an outsider at Yorkshire and that he had even contemplated suicide.
Following an impartial report into the allegations, a lot of sponsors ended their partnerships with Yorkshire and the membership had been suspended from internet hosting worldwide or main matches by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Following Patel’s appointment, all members of the membership’s teaching workforce left, together with director of cricket Martyn Moxon and coach Andrew Gale. Patel additionally initiated a whistleblower hotline on the membership, amongst different reforms.
England’s cricket board lifted Yorkshire’s ban on internet hosting worldwide cricket at Headingley in February final 12 months after the membership permitted structural modifications to the board, following which Rafiq welcomed the reforms and praised Patel’s management.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to work for such a prestigious organisation,” stated Patel, who will step down on the membership’s subsequent annual basic assembly (AGM) in March.
“There is still much for the club to do, but I have the strongest faith that Yorkshire will be back at the pinnacle of English cricket for the long-term.”
Rafiq responded to Patel’s departure by tweeting: “So much to say on this but for now – Lord Kamlesh Patel should be thanked for making sure Yorkshire is (sic) still got the lights on.”
Yorkshire chief government Stephen Vaughan stated Patel needs to be pleased with what he had achieved throughout his tenure on the membership.
“The structures that have been put in place are vital in ensuring that Yorkshire is a club that people are proud to be associated with,” Vaughan stated.
“Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity are at the heart of our Club and I am excited to work with the board, executive team and new chair to continue on this journey of meaningful change.”
