Richard Pyrah is set to return to Yorkshire County Cricket Club as the head coach of the senior women’s team, despite his controversial past. Richard Pyrah, previously found guilty of making racist comments about an Asian woman, will officially take on the role next month.
The Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) penalized Richard Pyrah last year with a two-week coaching ban and a £2,500 fine. He was found to have breached ECB directive 3.3, which addresses actions that may harm the interests of cricket or tarnish the sport’s reputation.
The CDC concluded that Richard Pyrah used racist and discriminatory language towards Asian women. Specifically, he referred to Azeem Rafiq’s sister, Amna, as a “fit Paki” or “FP” during a Yorkshire media day in 2014, as well as on other occasions between 2014 and 2018.
Despite his controversial past, Yorkshire Cricket Club welcomed Pyrah back after a settlement was reached in September 2022. The club acknowledged that his sacking in December 2021 was “procedurally unfair.” Pyrah, a former all-rounder who spent over a decade with Yorkshire, now steps into a leadership role during a pivotal time for women’s cricket.
“It’s an incredible honor for me to lead Yorkshire’s women’s side,” Richard Pyrah expressed. “This is the most rewarding moment of my career. Women’s cricket is growing rapidly, especially after ECB’s restructure of the women’s professional game.”
Yorkshire Women will compete in Tier 2 alongside Derbyshire, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Middlesex, Sussex, and Worcestershire in the 2025 season. They will participate in both 50-over and 20-over formats, with the aim of becoming a Tier 1 club by 2026.
Colin Graves, Yorkshire Cricket Club’s chair, praised Pyrah’s appointment, stating, “We’re thrilled to welcome Richard back to Yorkshire. After a thorough selection process, he stood out as the right person to lead our women’s team. We are confident he will guide our women’s professional team to the highest level.”
Richard Pyrah’s return marks a significant chapter for Yorkshire, as they aim to elevate their women’s cricket program to new heights.
