‘Absolutely disgraceful’: English cricket facing ‘existential’ crisis over damning report

An impartial report into English cricket has discovered it to be “deep-rooted” in racism, sexism, and classism.

Greater than 4,000 individuals gave proof to the Impartial Fee for Fairness in Cricket, which revealed its damning findings on Monday.

In response, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) issued an apology for its failings, and to victims of discrimination inside the sport, Sky Sports reported.

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In keeping with the report, the ECB should inside the subsequent six months introduce obligatory coaching to enhance racial literacy amongst its leaders, whereas the organisation should decide to being towards all types of discrimination.

It should additionally inside the subsequent 12 months examine the decline of cricket in English and Welsh black communities, and enhance funding in ladies’s and ladies’ cricket.

“We actually apologise to anyone that has felt excluded or discriminated towards,” ECB chairman Richard Thompson advised Sky Information.

“Studying these lived experiences clearly was very stunning to learn what individuals have skilled in a manner that they need to by no means have needed to have carried out.”

The ICEC discovered the next after talking to 4,000 individuals:

— Half of respondents expertise discrimination;

— Racism is entrenched in cricket;

— Girls are marginalised and routinely expertise sexism;

— Little to no concentrate on addressing class boundaries;

— Complaints methods are complicated and never match for objective;

— Fairness, range and inclusion requires important enchancment.

The ECB commissioned the report across the identical time that Azeem Rafiq got here ahead together with his claims of systemic racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Membership.

One participant of Pakistani heritage advised investigators that he endured comparable experiences to Rafiq whereas enjoying in England.

“All of the abuse, the isolation, the hatred. (Crew-mates) poured alcohol on me. They threw bacon sandwiches at me. I’ve lived with all that and by no means spoke to anybody about it,” the participant stated.

Talking of the report’s findings, ICEC chair Cindy Butts advised Sky Information: “I believe it’s completely disgraceful.

“It was actually tough to seek out proof to point out that has been correctly handled. That’s actually disappointing. And it must be handled now.”

The report says that the proof reveals that “elitism alongside deeply rooted and widespread types of structural and institutional racism, sexism and class-based discrimination live on throughout the sport.”

ECB chief Richard Gould referred to as it an “existential problem for the game”.

He added: “This report is a seminal second for us. It helps us to totally perceive the scope of the problems inside the sport, it permits us to grasp the apologies that we fairly rightly make to these those who suffered discrimination.

“We’re decided to have the ability to act on this report and ship on its intent within the coming months.”