The BBC have announced that Michael Vaughan will return to their cricket coverage later today on the 5 Live Cricket Programme.
Vaughan was stood down from his role as a cricket commentator and pundit by the BBC in November and did not feature in their coverage of the Ashes after he was implicated in the Yorkshire racism scandal. Azeem Rafiq, who played alongside Vaughan at Yorkshire, accused the former England captain of making a racially insensitive remark to a group of Asian players during a match in 2009.
It was alleged that Vaughan told the players: "There are too many of you lot, we need to do something about it." Former Yorkshire overseas player Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and current England star Adil Rashid have both backed up Rafiq's allegations. However, Vaughan has categorically and repeatedly denied the allegation.
The former England captain did commentate on the Ashes for host broadcaster Fox Sports and has since worked as a pundit with BT Sport on the recent series between England and the West Indies. And Vaughan will make his first appearance back on the BBC this evening as part of the 5 Live Cricket Programme which will be broadcast from 21:00-22:00 BST.
A BBC spokesperson said: "As we have said previously, we always expected to work with Michael again and he will be back on air reviewing England's tour of the West Indies." Other guests on the programme include James Anderson, Phil Tufnell and Carlos Brathwaite.
It comes after Vaughan recently revealed that he had been on a diversity and inclusion course after receiving advice from Simon Green, the head of BT Sport. "I wouldn’t say I was so stubborn to think that change in society wasn’t happening, and that I wasn’t aware and understanding of it," Vaughan told the Telegraph last month.
"I thought I was actually very modern and forward thinking in what we’re all trying to achieve in society. But clearly there was a lot I didn’t know.
"I can say that from doing this course, I know that I’m a miles better person now than I was. What I learnt very quickly was that white people do have privilege – but I was very defensive and angry about anyone saying that.
"'Don’t be stupid. Everything I’ve got came because I worked hard. I’ve not been given anything. How dare you say anything?'"
