Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale given two-match ban for offensive comments

The England and Wales Cricket Board has confirmed that Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale will serve a two-match ban and take an anger management course after being charged with making offensive comments.

The charges, which also included "failing to conduct himself fairly and properly on the field", are in relation to an incident which involved Ashwell Prince during Yorkshire's County Championship match against Lancashire on September 2.

A statement from the ECB said: "Mr Gale admits that his conduct was improper and contrary to these ECB Directives. He acknowledges and deeply regrets that the words he used caused any offence and, in particular, that they could have caused offence as a result of the reference to the nationality of the person to whom they were made.

"Mr Gale wishes to express that this was absolutely not his intention."

Gale will be suspended for Yorkshire's pre-season match in Abu Dhabi, as well as the team's first Championship game of the 2015 campaign.