Yorkshire have pleaded guilty to an ECB charge of destroying crucial documents relating to the Azeem Rafiq racism case in an extraordinary admission that raises questions over the integrity of the disciplinary process that has divided cricket. 

The county will not take part in the racism trial beginning next week as they have admitted liability on all four charges, leaving former England captain Michael Vaughan as the sole defendant after five of his former Yorkshire team-mates pulled out claiming they would not receive a fair hearing.

The ECB confirmed Yorkshire's guilty pleas on Wednesday, saying the club have admitted 'failure to address systemic use of racist and/or discriminatory language, and a failure to take adequate action in respect of allegations of racist and/or discriminatory behaviour,' but did not detail the four individual charges.

Sportsmail has learned that one of the guilty pleas relates to an admission that evidence relating to Rafiq's claims of suffering racist abuse during his two spells at Yorkshire was destroyed, which significantly hampered the ECB's investigation. 

Crucial documents are understood to have disappeared from Headingley in around November 2021 with Yorkshire admitting they could not locate them. 

'As previously outlined, the club is unable to comment on any media enquiries in relation to the ongoing Cricket Discipline Commission proceedings,' a Yorkshire spokesperson said.

Yorkshire are set to receive a heavy fine and a significant points deduction across all competitions next season as a punishment, but their admission will lead to questions about the validity of the charges brought against their former players. 

Ex-England bowlers Matthew Hoggard and Tim Bresnan were scathing in their criticism of the ECB's investigations when announcing their withdrawals from the process earlier this month, claiming they had been denied access to documents and had not even been interviewed before being charged.

The withdrawals of Hoggard, Bresnan, Andrew Gale Richard Pyrah and John Blain have left Vaughan as the last man standing in the case brought by the ECB, which is largely based on the testimony of Rafiq. 

Former England batsman Gary Balance has admitted using racially discriminatory language towards Rafiq and will not be participating in hearing.

Vaughan strongly denies saying 'too many of you lot' to a group of four Asian players in 2009 and is determined to clear his name, not least as he has been suspended by the BBC since being charged by the ECB last summer. The twice-postponed hearing is due to finally start next Wednesday in London.

The ECB declined to comment.