Racism in cricket: 'Nuclear option' of independent regulator possible, says sports minister

Rafiq is emotional about racism in Yorkshire.

If the England and Wales Cricket Board does not put its house in order over racism, the UK government may create an independent regulator.

Rafiq's testimony was "harrowing" and he believes Yorkshire is an "institutionally racist" club.

He said that they all want cricket to get its act together and sort out its problems.

The Yorkshire response to Rafiq's concerns was slow and it raises questions about how seriously sport takes the issues raised.

"Tom Harrison assured me that he will do whatever it takes to correct the wrongs." He is angry.

On Tuesday, Harrison told the select committee that English cricket is approaching an "emergency" over its failure to address racism.

If the government was not happy with the action being taken, it would intervene.

"Cricket in the UK is not nationalised, we don't have direct control over the sport," he said. If they don't get their act together, we have the option of legislating to bring in an independent regulator.

If we had to, we could go down that route.

Rafiq claimed last year that he was close to taking his own life because of institutional racism at Yorkshire.

An independent panel in October upheld seven of the 43 allegations and found that he had been a victim of racial harassment and bully at the club.

Yorkshire said it wouldn't take action against any player, employee or executive.

The employment tribunal with Rafiq has been settled with the consent of Yorkshire's chief executive, Mark Arthur, and the resignation of the chairman, Roger Hutton.

Yorkshire has lost several sponsors and is no longer able to host international matches due to the suspension by the England and Wales Cricket Board.