Roger Pugh steps down as cricket league chairman after controversial comments about ex-Yorkshire player

THE chairman of one of the region's biggest cricket leagues has resigned just weeks after making controversial comments about former Yorkshire player Azeem Rafiq.

Roger Pugh's decision to step down from the Yorkshire South Premier League comes after he called Rafiq "discourteous and direspectful" in a blog.

Before that Yorkshire had appointed a sub-committee to investigate the allegations of racism made by spinner Rafiq about his time with the county.

Rafiq, who now has business interests in Rotherham, said he had been "in pain" every day and came close to committing suicide.

In a statement, Pugh said: "It is with great regret and a heavy heart that I have decided to stand down as chairman of the Yorkshire South Premier League, with immediate effect."

When contacted by the Advertiser, Pugh said in hindsight he would have phrased his remarks slightly differently.

He said he had "tremendous support from people within the league who know me" but was unable to say more at the present time.

The league's fixture secretary, Matt Summerhill, will take over as chairman for the rest of the year.

More on this story in Thursday's Advertiser

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