The Azim Rafik racist scandal has rocked English cricket. Photo: The Telegraph/Paul Grover
Possible changes to the discipline of cricket are included in the recommendation. The commission, with the revision ruling, «failures in the regulatory processes have contributed greatly to the crisis the game is now facing.» «The phrase 'commemorate your homework' has often been used as evidence,» the report says.
After the commission urged the ECB to make an «unconditional public apology for its own mistakes and the mistakes in the game it governs,” governing body chairman Richard Thompson immediately apologized and promised in a letter to ICEC chairman Cindy Butts: “We will use this moment to restart cricket.”
Richard Gould, chief executive of the ECB, later acknowledged that «we know the results will shock and disappoint many.» The completion of a major investigation led by Butts has been hailed as the latest milestone after numerous investigations into discrimination in sports in recent years. However, Gould acknowledges that «there is a lot of work to be done now, and it will start with general game consultations.»
The report notes the game-wide confusion over how the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) regulatory framework has worked and highlighted the ECB's dual role as promoter and regulator as a «conflict of interest».
Report authors Michelle Moore (left to right), Sir Brendan Barber, Cindy Butts (Chair), Dr Michael Collins and Zafar Ansari. Photo: PA/Josimar Senior
«Our findings are unequivocal,» said Butts, who previously served as vice chairman of the Metropolitan Police following the racist findings against police following the death of Stephen Lawrence. “Racism, class discrimination, elitism and sexism are widespread and deeply rooted. The game has to come to terms with the fact that these are not jokes or just lousy apples… The harsh reality is that cricket is not a game for everyone.”
As for the women's game, she wondered why the England team had not yet played a test match at Lord's. She also criticized the natural benefits for cricketers in private schools. “If you attend a public school, you are less likely to have access to cricket and have the same opportunity to progress in the game as your private school peers,” she added. “For those who have been 'successful', we have been saddened to learn that they are sometimes subject to class discrimination. Cricket urgently needs to level the playing field.”
The report adds that he admits that «some people may roll their eyes at the seeming 'wakefulness' of this work.» “However, despite the fact that in recent years this word could be used as a weapon, taking on a pejorative meaning, we believe — and it is often defined that way — to be «awake» or to do «awake work» simply means to be susceptible to injustice. . ', the authors add. “This awareness of injustice is good because it reflects the way we want society to function and our children to behave.”
The authors of the discrimination report that rocked cricket,
Butts stressed that the report found «encouraging examples of good practice» and congratulated the ECB for being «brave enough» to order the report in the first place.
Butts added: «We are confident in the ECB's new leadership and his ability to take our advice forward — the evidence will be provable changes.»
Dr Seema Patel, who served on the CDC panel that heard the case brought by the ECB on Rafik's behalf, welcomed the findings from her perspective as a senior law professor and expert on discrimination in sports at Nottingham Law School.
She told the Telegraph Sport: «In my academic opinion, if the report contributes to greater equity, improved diversity and wider inclusive practice across all areas of cricket, it will be a welcome and valuable resource for the sport.»
Dame Caroline DineNage, Chairman of the Committee on Culture, Media and Sports, said: “The volume of evidence not only of racial discrimination but also of sexism and elitism is unacceptable in a sport that should be accessible to all and should now be a catalyst for change.
“Now the ECB's new leadership must ensure that all sport is a desirable and inclusive place for all. We applaud their recognition of the need for a reset, and hope they live up to their commitment.”
After surveying thousands of respondents and 126 organizations, the key findings are:
Women are treated as “second-class citizens”
In cricket, women are «obeyed» by men, while in the game they are treated as «second-class citizens». A «shockingly low amount» is paid to women compared to men, with the ICEC saying it has «reliable evidence» that the average salary for English women is 20.6% of that of their male counterparts in white ball cricket. The ECB believes that this figure could reach 30%. The report recommends equal pay on average nationally by 2029 and internationally by 2030.
Three out of four players of ethnic origin have experienced discrimination
While 50 percent of the more than 4,000 individual respondents reported experiencing discrimination in the previous five years, the numbers were significantly higher for people from ethnically diverse communities: 87 percent of people with Pakistani and Bangladeshi roots, 82 percent of people with Indian roots. heritage and 75 percent of all black respondents. The ECB should also develop an action plan to «revitalize» black cricket through financial support and targeted public programs, the report says.
«The annual Eton v Harrow match should be rescheduled from 2024»
The MCC is to reschedule the annual matches between Eton and Harrow, Oxford and Cambridge from Lorde after this year to replace them with days of national finals for public schools. The report adds that private schools dominate the road to cricket and little action is being taken to remove class barriers in the sport. Cricket is lacking in public schools, and people from lower socioeconomic groups face «significant financial barriers» to participating in the sport.
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