English cricket is deep-rooted with widespread institutional racism, sexism and class-based discrimination, a report has found.
The England and Wales Cricket Board issued an unreserved apology for the failings highlighted in the report and to the victims of discrimination in cricket, and will work over the next three months on a package of reforms based on the 44 recommendations within the report.
The ECB must commit to being an anti-racist, anti-sexist and anti-classist organisation and encourage all other cricketing organisations to do the same.
Within the next six months, it must put in place mandatory, specialist, high-quality training to support the development of racial literacy amongst its leadership and the most senior leadership of the wider game.
Within the next 12 months, it must undertake an in-depth examination of the decline of cricket in Black communities in England and Wales and develop a targeted action plan to reverse that decline
The ECB must increase, at pace, the levels of investment in the core infrastructure and operations of the women’s and girls’ game. There must also be a fundamental overhaul of the professional women players’ pay structure with equal pay at domestic level by 2029 and at international level by 2030.
“We certainly apologise to anybody that has felt excluded or discriminated against,” ECB chairman Richard Thompson told Sky News. “Reading those lived experiences clearly was very shocking to read what people have experienced in a way that they should never have had to have done.”
More than 4,000 people provided evidence to the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket which found:
•Half of respondents experience discrimination;
•Racism is entrenched in cricket;
•Women are marginalised and routinely experience sexism;
•Little to no focus on addressing class barriers;
•Complaints systems are confusing and not fit for purpose;
•Equity, diversity and inclusion requires significant improvement.
It was the murder of George Floyd in 2020 and global outrage over institutionalised racism that sparked the ECB into commissioning a report from Cindy Butts.
Around the same time, Azeem Rafiq called out racism within cricket in England.
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Azeem Rafiq tells Sky Sports News’ Dev Trehan he does not feel British South Asians are respectfully treated in elite sport and that the situation has to change now.
“All the stories that Azeem Rafiq talks about, that all happened to me,” a former player of Pakistani heritage told the investigators.
“All the abuse, the isolation, the hatred. [Team-mates] poured alcohol on me. They threw bacon sandwiches at me. I have lived with all that and never spoke to anyone about it.”
The frustrations faced reporting abuse were clear in the account of a recreational player of Indian heritage.
“Myself and a fellow player were called terrorists after a game,” he said. “We complained to the opposition Chair and, after an initial apology, the Chair decided that he wanted to defend the person who made the remark and that we were attempting to defame the club and they were the victims.”
Richard Gould, England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive
The ICEC report now runs to more than 300 pages – highlighting issues that were not adequately addressed after a previous ECB racism report 24 years ago.
“I think it’s absolutely disgraceful,” Ms Butts told Sky News. “It was really difficult to find evidence to show that has been properly dealt with. That’s really disappointing. And it needs to be dealt with now.”
The report says: “Our evidence shows that elitism alongside deeply rooted and widespread forms of structural and institutional racism, sexism and class-based discrimination continue to exist across the game.”
But Ms Butts does not believe a new national governing body is required.
“I believe that they are committed to making the changes that are necessary,” Ms Butts said. “We haven’t shied away from saying that the ECB itself needs to substantially reform in the way that it carries out its regulatory role shows its commitment to issues of equity.
“There are training needs. We talk about the lack of racial literacy, for example, within the ECB.
“So there are a number of things that I think point to ways in which we have recommended that the ECB can improve. I don’t think at this stage, disbanding the ECB will help to deliver all of the really important things that we think now need to happen.”
Gould: Report shows English cricket faces “existential threat”
Cricket in England and Wales faces an “existential” issue if it fails to address the failings highlighted by a new report, England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Richard Gould has said.
Gould said: “It is an existential issue for the sport. This is a report that the ECB specifically asked for two and a half years ago, and deliberately did not set narrow parameters.
Richard Gould believes cricket faces an “existential” issue if the failings aren’t addressed
“The game wants to understand, we want to understand, the seriousness of the issues and that’s why we’re grateful to the commissioners.
“You talk about direct language – we wouldn’t want it in any other way because then it leaves us in no doubt as to the state of the game and what needs to be done in order to drive forward.
“This report is a seminal moment for us. It helps us to fully understand the scope of the issues within the game, it allows us to understand the apologies that we quite rightly make to those people that suffered discrimination.
“We are determined to be able to act on this report and deliver on its intent in the coming months.
“This report will contain lots of information which will come as a shock to many and many people will be disappointed by. But there’s also a huge amount of determination throughout the game, throughout the country, to make sure that cricket can deliver and in only a way that cricket can.”
Yorkshire: Any form of discrimination is unacceptable
Yorkshire released a statement on Monday afternoon saying the hearing “marks the near culmination of a chapter that has weighed heavily on Yorkshire County Cricket Club for close to two years”.
The county’s statement added: “Racism and discrimination in any form is unacceptable and, as a board, we have been clear on the need to take accountability for the historical cultural issues that allowed racist and discriminatory behaviour to go unchallenged at the club.
“The acceptance of four amended charges brought by the CDC was part of a continued effort to acknowledge what happened in the past so we can learn and move forward.
“In making representations to the CDC panel, we hope to achieve a reasonable sanction which takes into account our acceptance of the charges, YCCC’s current financial position and the robust work we have undertaken to build the foundations for a club which is truly inclusive and welcoming to all.
“We hope that any sanctions are reflective of the circumstances the club is in today and do not serve to hinder
our ongoing commitment to create a brighter future for all associated with Yorkshire.”
Report confirms ‘deep-seated issue’ – Dinenage
Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, chair of the House of Commons’ Culture, Media and Sport Committee, hopes the report prompts significant change in the sport.
She said: “Today’s report confirms the Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s finding 18 months ago that there is a deep-seated issue of racism in cricket.
“The volume of evidence, not only of racial discrimination but also of sexism and elitism, is unacceptable in a sport that should be for everyone, and must now be a catalyst for change.
“The test now for the new leadership of the ECB is to ensure the whole sport is a welcome and inclusive place for all. We welcome their recognition of the need to reset, and look forward to making sure they follow through on their commitments.”
