Yorkshire County Cricket Club officials say they are breaking down cultural barriers after coming under fire.

Chairman Robin Smith and operations director Geoff Cope both attended a pioneering conference in Bradford this month organised to help improve links between the club and Asian communities.

More than 70 delegates from YCCC, local cricket clubs and schools attended the conference at the Thronbury Centre in Bradford Moor.

YCCC came under fire for its lack of Asian players in October last year, after Bradford North Labour MP Terry Rooney accused the club of having "deep routed, embedded racism" in its selection process for young talent.

At the conference, Mr Cope acknowledged there is a distrust of the club amongst Bradford's Asian communities.

However he asked for people to trust the club, pointing to its excellent work at grass routes level to promote involvement in the sport.

Mr Cope added the club has planned visits to a Sikh temple and an Asian sweet-making firm - both in Bradford - as he seeks to improve links between club and community.

He also pointed towards teenage fast bowler Ajmal Shahzad and wicketkeeper Ismail Dawood as examples of how Yorkshire's attempts to involve local Asian players is beginning to pay off.

Currently eight out of 22 players in the club's academy and scholarship programmes are Asian, he said.

Shahzad, 19, played once for Yorkshire last summer, and Mr Cope insisted he was picked not just for his ability but also because he was felt to be strong enough to cope with press interest in his selection.

"He'll play more this year, because he is a year older. There are people at his level not ready to play first-team cricket yet," he said.

The conference was organised by a delegation of Bradford North area committee councillors who have been looking at Yorkshire's selection policy in the wake of Mr Rooney's comments

Committee leader, Councillor David Ward (Lib Dem, Idle and Thackley), organised the conference.

"The committee visited Headingley last year and we were all very impressed by the work YCCC is doing at grass roots level," he said.

"We felt it would be very useful to tell people in Bradford how successful the club's policies are being but also to state what more could be done.

"We need to continue working together with the YCCC, local cricket clubs and schools and together plan with a steering group on future strategies."

Club chairman Mr Smith was confident progress was underway.

"It hasn't happened among players with an Asian background because there are cultural difficulties in making that commitment," he said.

"For instance, cricket has a strong social side - and a very strong Yorkshire and English tradition is to go into the pub and have a drink together.

"British-born Asians have found that a culture shock. But things are getting better - that's a feeling, not just a hope."

Article By Mark Casci.