INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
England's apex cricket body vows to "reset" the game in the country after a damning report on racism and sexism
Following the release of an independent report on Tuesday, which highlighted the insufficient efforts made to address institutional racism
and sexism in cricket, England cricket chiefs have pledged to take action and initiate a comprehensive reset of the game.The Independent
Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) was established by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in 2021 to investigate issues of
diversity, inclusion and equity within the sport, prompted by a racism scandal
Azeem Rafiq, a bowler of Pakistani origin, publicly shared allegations of racism and bullying in September 2020, specifically relating to
his time at Yorkshire, an English county team.The ICEC report revealed that over 4,000 individuals were interviewed, with 50 percent
reporting instances of discrimination within the past five years
The figures were notably higher for individuals from ethnically diverse communities, indicating the existence of systemic
biases.Furthermore, the report found that women often faced discriminatory treatment, being regarded as "second-class citizens" within
It also emphasized that insufficient action had been taken to address socioeconomic barriers, as private schools dominated the pathway into
the sport.In response to the report's findings, England cricket authorities have committed to a comprehensive reset of the game,
acknowledging the need for immediate and substantial changes to address these long-standing issues."Our findings are unequivocal," said ICEC
"Racism, class-based discrimination, elitism and sexism are widespread and deep-rooted."The game must face up to the fact that it's not
banter or just a few bad apples
Discrimination is both overt and baked into the structures and processes within cricket."(AI image)The comprehensive report includes a total
of 44 recommendations, urging for equal pay between male and female international players to be achieved by 2030.The report highlights the
significant disparity in salaries, revealing that the average pay for England women players is slightly over one-fifth of that received by
their male counterparts for participating in white-ball cricket.Reacting to these findings, Richard Thompson, chairman of the ECB, expressed
the organization's commitment to utilize this pivotal moment as an opportunity to reset the sport of cricket
The ECB aims to address the issues raised in the report and implement necessary measures for meaningful change."On behalf of the ECB and
wider leadership of the game, I apologise unreservedly to anyone who has ever been excluded from cricket or made to feel like they don't
belong," he said."Cricket should be a game for everyone, and we know that this has not always been the case."Powerful conclusions within the
report also highlight that for too long women and black people were neglected
We are truly sorry for this."The Cricket Discipline Commission recently imposed fines on six former Yorkshire players who were found guilty
of using racist language in the Azeem Rafiq case
The players faced consequences for their actions related to this deeply concerning issue.Former England captain Michael Vaughan was cleared
of using racist language based on the balance of probabilities
Vaughan chose to defend himself during a hearing held in March, and the investigation concluded that there was insufficient evidence to
support the allegations of racist language against him.(With agency inputs)
