STRUCTURAL reforms at Yorkshire were approved by the club's members, paving the way for Headingley to stage England matches this summer.

At an extraordinary general meeting, the governance changes ordered by the England and Wales Cricket Board, following Yorkshire's mishandling of ex-player Azeem Rafiq's racism claims, were voted through.

"The Members of Yorkshire County Cricket Club tonight overwhelmingly passed three special resolutions at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held in the Long Room at Headingley," a statement read.

"The club can now continue to drive the right approach through essential governance reforms and meets conditions set by the England and Wales Cricket Board for the return of International and major matches at their ground."

The three special resolutions were voted through with two at 85 per cent and the other at 83 per cent.

Yorkshire chair Lord Kamlesh Patel said: "We welcome the outcome of this EGM and thank the members for their full and proper consideration, an open exchange of views, and their votes.

"It is an overwhelming vote for positive change. This support will help Yorkshire County Cricket Club to be an inclusive and welcoming place and gives us the clarity and certainty we need to keep building this great club.

"Yorkshire has now met the ECB's conditions for the return of international cricket and, working with them, we'll deliver some great events here at Headingley this summer.

"We're looking forward to the start of the season, for all our teams and for cricket at all levels right across this county."

The ECB welcomed the news but insisted there was much work still to do at Headingley.

"We are pleased that Yorkshire members have given their overwhelming support to these reforms," an ECB spokesperson said.

"This is an important step forward in bringing about real change and setting the club on course for a more inclusive future.

"We welcome the progress made by Lord Patel so far, as well as his commitment to making the club one which everyone, from all backgrounds, can be proud of.

"With these governance reforms now having been passed, we are satisfied that international cricket can now be staged at Headingley this summer.

"However, there is much work still to be done at Yorkshire and it is important that the plans set out so far are now delivered. We will continue to monitor progress closely.

"Our regulatory investigation into the complaints brought by Azeem Rafiq, which is separate to this process, remains ongoing and we will update on this in due course."