MICHAEL VAUGHAN, three other ex-England cricket players were charged with bringing disrepute to cricket over allegations of racism.

Their county Yorkshire was also indicted and this comes just a week before the third Test against New Zealand at Headingley.

Ashes-winning captain Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard, bowler Matthew Hoggard and Gary Ballance, all-rounder Tim Bresnan, are accused of using racist and discriminatory language

Andrew Gale, an ex-Yorkshire skipper, is thought to be one of seven people charged.

After Azeem Rafiq, a former Yorkshire all-rounder, made public his claims of being racially abused in the county.

Vaughan "completely, categorically" denied ever saying to Rafiq or other players of Asian heritage in Yorkshire in 2009 that there were "too many of your lot -- we need something to fix it."

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Hoggard denied the allegations. Bresnan also denied using racist language toward Rafiq. Ballance, on the other hand, admitted calling Rafiq "P ***"" but said it was just "banter” with his best friend.

The Cricket Disciplinary Committee will hear the cases in September or October. However, this may be delayed by legal wrangling.

Vaughan and the other players intend to fight the charges. They will also have the opportunity to present their side under cross-examination.

Ballance, despite not having played this season, is the only remaining player on the Yorkshire staff.

Rafiq provided a witness testimony to the ECB. He stated: "I appreciate the announcement of the ECB. I hope we can get to the hearing fast.

"This was another difficult, but necessary, process.

"It's been two years since my public disclosures about my experiences. But I hope that this will all mean that no young player ever has to go through such pain or alienation again."

According to an ECB statement, "In matters such as these, our usual practice is not to identify individual charged at this stage."

"It is however a standard practice for CDC disciplinary panels to publish their decisions and written reasons in complete after hearings."

Yorkshire stated that the allegations relate to allegations dating back as 2004.

A club spokesperson said that the club would need the cooperation of all those in positions during this period in order to fully examine and respond to the issues raised.