Yorkshire: County still have "huge journey ahead" after racism scandal, admits chairman Lord Patel

'Absolute relief' after Yorkshire structural reforms were approved - Chairman

Yorkshire still have a "huge journey ahead" to complete a culture change at Headingley, admits chairman Lord Patel.

Patel was speaking after India-based streaming platform Clean Slate became Yorkshire's new principal sponsor.

The club lost a significant number of sponsors following their handling of the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal.

"There's a long journey to go - governance reform, culture change, listening to people, mindset changing," Patel told BBC sports editor Dan Roan.

Clean Slate is the first Indian business with significant naming rights at a UK sporting venue.

The pavilion will be renamed and the company's name will appear on the playing shirts of Yorkshire.

The name will also appear on the shirts of the Northern Diamonds - the women's regional team.

"It's going to be incredible to have our pavilion covered with the words 'Clean Slate' - it's just appropriate because it is a clean slate for us," Patel added.

"Inclusivity, diversity and equity is at the heart of what they do.

"But it doesn't mean we are going to forget about what happened - absolutely not, it's going to inform what we do going forward."

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Lord Patel was appointed as Yorkshire chairman in November 2021 after the resignation of predecessor Roger Hutton

Yorkshire implemented a series of changes following widespread condemnation of their handling of Rafiq's experiences of racism at Yorkshire.

A Yorkshire investigation found their former player was a victim of "racial harassment and bullying", but the club said they would take no disciplinary action.

They were suspended from hosting international matches by the England and Wales Cricket (ECB) in November.

They regained that right last week after structural reforms were approved at an extraordinary general meeting.

Members overwhelmingly passed three special resolutions which met requirements set out by the ECB, while Lord Patel was confirmed as chair.

"The day they took international cricket off us, that was a big revenue loss," added Patel.

"And then 43 sponsors walked away within a week, so we were on the brink of financial disaster.

"I wouldn't be human if I didn't feel some relief, there's been lots of sleepless nights, at times it felt like a thankless task. A good night's sleep is well overdue, but there's a huge journey ahead."

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