Recently, an independent report commissioned by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has revealed the presence of racism and sexism in English cricket. The report, which was released on July 9th, 2020, found that there is a “culture of casual racism and sexism” in the sport.
The report was compiled by an independent panel that was appointed by the ECB in October 2019. The panel conducted interviews with over 200 people, including current and former players, coaches, administrators, and other stakeholders. The report found that there is a “culture of casual racism and sexism” in the sport, with some players and coaches making racist and sexist comments.
The report also found that there is a lack of diversity in the sport, with only 4% of players being from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. This is despite the fact that BAME people make up 14% of the population in England and Wales. The report also found that there is a lack of representation of women in the sport, with only 7% of players being female.
The report has highlighted the need for urgent action to be taken to address the issues of racism and sexism in English cricket. The ECB has already announced a number of initiatives to tackle these issues, including the creation of a new diversity and inclusion strategy, which will focus on increasing representation of BAME people and women in the sport. The ECB has also committed to creating a new anti-discrimination policy and introducing mandatory equality and diversity training for all players and staff.
It is clear that racism and sexism are still present in English cricket, and it is encouraging to see the ECB taking steps to address these issues. However, it is important that these initiatives are implemented effectively, and that they lead to real change in the sport. Only then can English cricket become a truly inclusive environment for all players and fans.
