Institutional racism, sexism and class-based discrimination continue to infect English cricket, an independent commission has found.
A long-awaited report into the state of the sport was published on Tuesday by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, known as the ICEC. Among its findings, racism was 바카라entrenched바카라 in the English game, women were treated as 바카라second-class citizens,바카라 and cricket was a rare option in state schools.
Then, if anybody wanted to complain about the problems, the ICEC says the system was confusing and not fit for purpose.
England and Wales Cricket Board chair Richard Thompson issued a public apology and described the report as a 바카라wake up call.바카라
바카라I apologize unreservedly to anyone who has ever been excluded from cricket or made to feel like they don바카라t belong,바카라 Thompson said. 바카라Powerful conclusions within the report also highlight that for too long women and Black people were neglected. We are truly sorry for this.바카라
English cricket was rocked in 2020 when former Yorkshire player Azeem Rafiq said he was a victim of racial harassment and bullying through two spells at the nation바카라s most successful club from 2008-18.
During a tearful testimony at a parliamentary hearing in 2021, he spoke of the Islamophobia and bullying he was subjected to.
바카라Do I believe I lost my career to racism? Yes, I do,바카라 Rafiq said at the hearing.
The ICEC was commissioned in November 2020 as part of the ECB바카라s wide-ranging effort to address allegations of discrimination and improve equality, diversity and inclusion in cricket. The findings were initially scheduled to be reported last year.
The report calls for 바카라decisive action,바카라 makes 44 recommendations and a number of sub-recommendations. The ECB said some reforms could be 바카라implemented swiftly바카라 but others would require 바카라fundamental, longer-term changes to cricket in England and Wales, and its funding model.바카라
Thompson said the ruling body would take three months to consult with affected communities and form a plan of action, on timelines set out by the ICEC.
바카라We 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,바카라 Thompson said. 바카라My absolute commitment is for cricket to strive to be the most inclusive sport in England and Wales.바카라
The commission was chaired by Cindy Butts, who, among many roles, has held positions with the Independent Police Complaints Commission and anti-discrimination soccer charity Kick it Out.
The ICEC received more than 4,000 submissions from people at all levels. Half said they experienced discrimination in the previous five years. But the figures were higher when separated by ethnicity: 87% of people with Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage, 82% of people with Indian heritage, and 75% of all Black contributors.
바카라We apologize unreservedly for these experiences, and are thankful for the courage of those who have shared them with the ICEC, whilst recognizing there will be many more who felt unable to give their accounts,바카라 Thompson said.
The ECB said it had already made 바카라significant improvements바카라 since 2018, but added 바카라the report makes clear that much more needs to be done.바카라
Chief executive officer Richard Gould added, 바카라Making cricket more inclusive and reflective of the communities it serves is my No. 1 priority. This cannot and will not be a quick fix. We should view this as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore trust in the game we love.바카라
