Yorkshire bring in Lord Patel of Bradford as chair after emergency board meeting

Two non-executive directors step down in wake of Roger Hutton’s resignation

“When I was a boy I developed into a very fast runner,” Patel told ESPNcricinfo. “Do you know why? Because gangs of skinheads used to delight in what they called P**i-bashing and you either learned to run or you took a beating.

“So that word – the P**i word – has real meaning for me. I don’t need to be told it’s not banter.”

Patel looks an astute choice. Born in Kenya, but brought up in Bradford when his parents moved to the UK about a year later, he knows the area, loves cricket and has copious experience. Having trained as a social worker, he was subsequently appointed as Chair of Social Work England and, before that, chair of the Mental Heath Act Commission. He has previously served on the board of the ECB as a senior independent director and had been invited to join the Yorkshire board in recent weeks anyway.

His Asian heritage is, of course, also relevant. The club needs to prove to potential supporters, sponsors and players that it is committed to providing a more inclusive environment. Patel provides tangible evidence that times have changed.

He experienced, he says, “loads” of racism while playing league cricket in the region as he was growing up. And while he believes the situation has improved somewhat, he is under no illusions.

“I grew up at a time when you used to see those ‘No Blacks, No Irish, No dogs’ signs,” he says. “I experienced loads of racism playing cricket.

“I think things have improved. But sometimes it just feels more subtle now. Sometimes I still wonder why, if they’re telling me I’m a rubbish bowler, they have to make mention of the colour of my skin at the same time.”

He has a tough job, though. While non-executive directors Hanif Malik and Stephen Willis – the latter of whom was on the panel that helped produce the report into Rafiq’s allegations of racism – have stood down, the executive directors, notably Mark Arthur, the chief executive, and Martyn Moxon, the director of cricket, remain. While they do so, it is hard to see the club managing to improve its reputation.

“The club needs to learn from its past errors, regain trust and rebuild relationships with our communities,” Patel said. “There is much work to do, including reading the panel’s report, so we can begin the process of learning from our past mistakes.

“Yorkshire is lucky to have a vast talent pool of cricketers, and passionate supporters, from all of our communities and we must re-engage with everyone to make a better Yorkshire County Cricket Club for everyone.”