Yorkshire off-spinner Azeem Rafiq has been handed a month-long suspension by the ECB for his Twitter rant at England under 19s boss John Abrahams.

Rafiq was dropped from the second Test against Sri Lanka at Scarborough last week after breaking a team curfew. The 19-year-old reacted by posting a foul-mouthed attack on Abrahams on the social network site.

Rafiq pleaded guilty to two charges yesterday, apologising to a three-man panel at Lord’s.

The charges were that there had been a breach of ECB directives by a personal attack in a public statement about Abrahams, and also by bringing the game into disrepute by that statement.

Rafiq has been suspended until August 26, the period being backdated from July 26. He has also been ordered to pay £500 towards the cost of the hearing.

As things stand, Rafiq would be available to return in the Clydesdale Bank 40 match against Northamptonshire on August 31.

But it is a possibility Yorkshire could add to that suspension. The White Rose county will make a statement today.