Lloyd retires from cricket commentary team

He apologised last month when Rafiq said the 74-year-old was a "closet racist" after he made disparaging comments about Asian cricketers in 2020.

Sky had said they would be investigating Lloyd's comments.

"With the passing of Bob Willis and after the decision to move on by my good friends David Gower, Ian Botham and more recently Michael Holding, the commentary box feels a little emptier," Lloyd said in a statement.

"And so I feel it is time for me to do the same and move on to the next chapter ... I'm done now with Sweet Caroline but in the words of Elton John, I'm still standing!"

Lloyd played nine Tests and eight ODIs for England between 1973 and 1980, and he coached the team from 1996 to 1999.