Discrimination ‘widespread’ in English, Welsh cricket
Racism, sexism, classism and elitism are “widespread” in English and Welsh cricket, according to a long-awaited independent report.
The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) has delivered its findings from a two-year investigation, BBC wrote on Tuesday.
The ICEC has made 44 recommendations, including that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) makes an unreserved public apology for its failings.
ECB chair Richard Thompson said: “We will use this moment to reset cricket.”
The ICEC was announced by the ECB in March 2021 in the wake of global movements such as Black Lives Matter and Me Too.
It opened an online call for evidence in November of that year, receiving 4,156 responses. In March 2022, a call for written evidence resulted in more than 150 responses.
Among those to give evidence include England men’s Test captain Ben Stokes, women’s captain Heather Knight, former men’s captain Joe Root, World Cup-winning skipper Eoin Morgan, and Azeem Rafiq - the former Yorkshire player and racism whistleblower.
In a damning 317-page report called Holding Up A Mirror To Cricket, the ICEC concluded that:
“Structural and institutional racism” continues to exist within the game.
Women are treated as “subordinate” to men at all levels of the sport.
There is a prevalence of “elitism and class-based discrimination” in cricket.
Black cricket has been failed and the ECB must develop a plan to revive it.
Many who experience discrimination do not report it because of a distrust in the authorities.
Umpires regularly ignore abuse and dismiss complaints in both the professional and recreational games.
“There remains a stark reality that cricket is not a ‘game for everyone’ and it is absolutely essential that the work required to achieve that ambition must begin immediately,” wrote ICEC chair Cindy Butts.
“Be in no doubt, what is needed now is leadership. I very much hope that the recommendations we make in this report will be adopted and driven forward by the ECB and all others in leadership positions.”
The report praised the ECB for being “brave” enough to open itself to independent scrutiny.
Thompson, who became ECB chair last September, offered an “unreserved” apology.
“Cricket should be a game for everyone, and we know that this has not always been the case,” he said. “Powerful conclusions within the report also highlight that for too long women and black people were neglected. We are truly sorry for this.
“This report makes clear that historic structures and systems have failed to prevent discrimination, and highlights the pain and exclusion this has caused.
“I am determined that this wake-up call for cricket in England and Wales should not be wasted. We will use this moment to demonstrate that it is a game for all and we have a duty to put this right for current and future generations.”
The recommendations also include the equalisation of match fees between the England women’s and men’s teams with immediate effect, that the ECB reports on the state of equity in cricket every three years and the removal of annual fixtures between Eton and Harrow schools and Oxford and Cambridge universities from Lord’s.