The ECB disciplinary hearing into allegations of racism at Yorkshire is set to be postponed until the new year, following a series of appeals against a controversial ruling that the case should be heard in public.

Last week, the Telegraph, the newspaper for which Vaughan writes a column, reported that Vaughan himself was "happy for the proceedings to be held in public".

Hutton, who was one of the few Yorkshire administrators, past or present, to attend last year's DCMS hearings, was similarly critical of the decision to make the proceedings public, stating: "I simply do not have confidence in the ECB, its governance or its agenda and who notably escape all scrutiny themselves."

In a statement, the ECB said: "Appeals have been filed by a number of the respondents in relation to the decisions of the CDC panel following the preliminary issues hearing last month. The appeals now need to be heard and therefore the full CDC hearing into the ECB's charges against Yorkshire CCC and a number of individuals will no longer start on November 28. That hearing is now expected to take place in early 2023."

Rafiq, who is also due to attend a follow-up DCMS select committee hearing on December 13, was this week accused of two counts of indecent exposure during his time at Yorkshire, in court documents relating to a lawsuit from the former club physiotherapist, Wayne Morton, who was sacked last year in a mass purge of the back-room staff.

A spokesperson for Rafiq, who has since left the country for an indefinite period following threats against his family, said: "People who have been desperate for the sport to retain its toxic culture have spread numerous variations of these false allegations since Azeem spoke at the select committee last year.

"Every time they have been shown to be incorrect and falsified, details always changing. This twisted campaign of lies has been never ending and it has seriously compromised Azeem's and his family's safety, which is why he has left the country.

"This level of lies and vengeance only proves the sport is not ready to change and why whistle-blowers need proper protection."