Damning report finds racism ‘entrenched’ in English cricket.

Cricket must urgently reform to address deep rooted and widespread institutional, structural, and interpersonal discrimination across the game, finds a landmark report today published by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC).

More than 4,000 people responded to the ICEC’s Call for Evidence which was supplemented by primary research, literature reviews, written and oral evidence from hundreds of individuals, counties, women’s regional teams and wider organisations linked to cricket.

With one in two respondents experiencing discrimination in the game, the report, Holding Up a Mirror to Cricket, lays bare the extent of game-wide failings, to reveal:

• Racism is entrenched in cricket.The game’s structures lead to racial disparities and discrimination, and the ICEC heard many examples of stereotyping, exclusion, and racist behaviour.
• Women are marginalised and routinely experience sexism and misogyny. The women’s game is treated as subordinate to the men’s game, and women have little or no power, voice, or influence within cricket’s decision-making structures.
• There is little to no focus on addressing class barriers in cricket. Private schools dominate the talent pathway, there is scarce provision of cricket in state schools and there are substantial cost barriers faced by those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
• The complaints system is confusing, overly defensive, and not fit for purpose. There is profound mistrust, victims and those accused of discrimination are not properly supported and people are simply not reporting, for fear of victimisation and concern that no action will be taken. All too often people are suffering in silence.
• The systems in place to ensure equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) require significant improvement. There is game-wide confusion about how the regulatory system works, with a lack of rigorous EDI standards. The ECB’s dual role of promoter and regulator creates the potential for conflicts of interest.

One of the players surveyed, was of a Pakistani descent, playing for a state team, he is quoted in the report: “All the stories that Azeem Rafiq talks about, that all happened to me. All the abuse, the isolation, the hatred. [Teammates] poured alcohol on me. They threw bacon sandwiches at me. I have lived with all that and never spoke to anyone about it.”

The report quotes another anecdote from a professional player of a Pakistani heritage: “Three Asian players who were speaking to each other in Urdu when the coach walked in and said to us directly: ‘I don’t want any of that sh*t spoken in here’”.

Another player from an Indian heritage is quoted: “I overheard senior players talking about how they slept with a girl and then used a fellow Muslim player’s prayer mat to clean up the mess. I was sat with the players when they were sharing this as a joke!”

It is not just players who have received the brunt of racism. Volunteers and Umpires have also allegedly been made a target, as per the anecdotes mentioned in the report.

A Pakistani heritage, recreational player and volunteer said: “I could write a book about it: P***,’ ‘paedo,’ ‘nonce,’ ‘terrorist’: you name it.”

While an Indian heritage umpire, said: “I do feel if you speak with a British accent you are accepted. If you do not, then it is a lot harder to be accepted.”

Another recreational player from South Asian heritage is quoted: “Continued racism in the league and difficulty finding a club where I was treated equally despite being born and raised in the UK. I gave up after 15 years of playing. The final straw was being nicknamed ‘Joe’ (short for Joe Daki, which is cockney rhyming slang for ‘P***’). After that I stopped playing.”

Reacting to the report, cricketer Azeem Rafiq, who earlier had opened about racism he faced at Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC) said: “I welcome the report’s findings and acknowledge the extraordinary work that has been put into this inquiry.

“There is no doubt now that the game we all love has suffered from institutional discrimination, including racism.

“This report is an opportunity to fully reflect on what has happened and for the sport’s governing structures to work out a way forward to ensure that cricket is a game for everyone and that they feel supported, no matter their background.”

Azeem Rafiq, in September 2020, opened up about ‘institutional racism’ he had faced at YCCC alleging that he suffered consistent abuse and racist language about his Pakistani heritage.

His allegations set the ball rolling, forcing England cricket to look within. In August 2022, Gary Balance, another English cricket, formally apologised to Azeem for his use of racist language.

Reacting to the report YCCC, said in a statement:  

“Sport should be a driving force for good, bringing people together and uniting communities. We welcome the publication of the ICEC report which paints a complex picture of the issues which the sport faces, and which have been ignored for too long. In particular, the report highlights structural challenges and a problematic culture across the game that has excluded and discriminated against a range of groups.

“Yorkshire County Cricket Club has seen first-hand the damage that can be caused by a failure to tackle discrimination of all kinds, and the vital need to cut it off at source. The creation of an inclusive environment for all can only be achieved through collaboration at all levels of the game. Alongside others, we will digest the recommendations laid out by the ICEC and look forward to working with the ECB as it determines its plan of action over the next three months.

“As one of the largest county clubs in the country, we recognise the importance of working with stakeholders both within and outside the game to address this existential threat to cricket. The progress we have made over the past 18 months and the critical steps we have taken have already begun to help us build a better foundation for everyone associated with Yorkshire. There is still much to do, and we have faced difficult decisions along the way, but the progress we have made gives hope that the challenges facing the sport we love are not insurmountable.

“We have seen an increase in diverse cricketers on our Pathways programme and introduced measures to improve access for those from lower income households, including removal of match fees and the provision of free kit. We have also rolled out schemes to increase accessibility for spectators and players, underpinned by zero tolerance policies and robust and fair processes to encourage speaking up and addressing any concerns. We are optimistic that we can bring about real and lasting change, and hope to draw on our own experience to help support others on the journey to making cricket a game for everyone.”

Cindy Butts, Chair of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket said: “We had unprecedented access to cricket which provided us with a unique opportunity to hold a mirror up to the game. Our findings are unequivocal. Racism, class-based discrimination, elitism, and sexism are widespread and deep rooted. The game must face up to the fact that it is not banter or just a few bad apples. Discrimination is both overt and baked into the structures and processes within cricket.

“The stark reality is cricket is not a game for everyone.

“Whilst there has been commendable and significant progress in the women’s game, women continue to be treated as second-class citizens with unequal access, pay and treatment. The England Women’s team are yet to play a Test Match at Lord’s, the home of cricket!

“87% of Pakistani and Bangladeshi respondents, 82% of Indian respondents and 75% of Black respondents to our survey told us they have experienced discrimination, which is simply unacceptable.

Established by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to examine discrimination and inequity where it exists and identify opportunities to tackle the problems, the Holding Up a Mirror to Cricket report acknowledges there have been sizeable improvements in the ECB’s approach to EDI, particularly since 2018. The Inspiring Generations strategy, including the South Asian Action Plan (SAAP) and the Transforming Women’s and Girls’ Cricket Action Plan (TWGCP), deserve real credit, and have had a positive impact across the game.

The ICEC has set out forty-four recommendations to transform the game’s culture and, in some cases, to redesign the systems that govern and operate cricket. As an essential first step the ICEC recommends the ECB makes an unqualified public apology for its own failings and those of the game it governs.