\n<\/p>\n
The investigation into whether former England captain Michael Vaughan made an alleged racist comment in 2009 was “woefully inadequate”, a hearing has been told.<\/span><\/p>\n Vaughan, 48, is accused of saying “there’s too many of you lot, we need to have a word about that” to Azeem Rafiq and three other Asian players representing Yorkshire before a T20 match against Nottinghamshire.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n In his closing submissions, Vaughan’s lawyer Christopher Stoner KC accused the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), who charged Vaughan, of having a “biased position”.<\/span><\/p>\n In reply, ECB lawyer Jane Mulcahy KC said it was “simply not true” the body has been biased in this case and it was “inappropriate” to make that allegation.<\/span><\/p>\n Mulcahy said Vaughan and his legal team had gone to “ridiculous lengths” to “unfairly throw mud at the ECB” in their questioning of the investigation.<\/span><\/p>\n She said it is “inherently probable” Vaughan made the alleged comment to Rafiq, Adil Rashid, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Ajmal Shahzad on 22 June 2009. Vaughan has repeatedly denied the allegation.<\/span><\/p>\n England spinner Rashid and former Pakistan bowler Naved-ul-Hasan have corroborated Rafiq’s claim.<\/span><\/p>\n The fourth player in the group, former England bowler Shahzad, has said he has no recollection of it happening.<\/span><\/p>\n Stoner said there were “inconsistencies” in the the case and Rafiq’s allegation, adding that “due process” was “sent on holiday” by the ECB. <\/span><\/p>\n “This was prosecution from the outset,” said Stoner, who argued it was “inherently improbable” Vaughan made the alleged comment.<\/span><\/p>\n The panel, chaired by Tim O’Gorman, will attempt to deliver their written judgements in the case of Vaughan and all the other respondents by the end of March.<\/span><\/p>\n