Explained: How England Cricket Board plans to tackle racism and sexism in sport

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), which has been rocked with allegations of racism, sexism, classism and elitism in the sport, has started taking some concrete steps to tackle the grave issues. The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) published its findings in June, revealing “widespread” discrimination in the game and making 44 recommendations. The ICEC was established in 2021 following a racism scandal centred around the treatment of Pakistan-born bowler Azeem Rafiq at Yorkshire County Cricket Club. One of the findings of ICEC’s report was that “50% of respondents described experiencing discrimination in the previous five years” and “the figures were substantially higher for people from ethnically diverse communities: 87% of people with Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage, 82% of people with Indian heritage and 75% of all Black respondents” It also stated that: “The evidence is unequivocal: racism is a serious issue in cricket.” “Racism, in all its forms, continues to shape the experience of, and opportunities for, many in the game.” ECB’s response The ECB in September this year accepted “most” of the ICEC report’s 44 recommendations. “The ICEC report was a massive moment for the sport and a responsibility we take extremely seriously, to bring about the changes we all want to see,” ECB chief executive Richard Gould said back then. “We think we are on a journey to try to change history in terms of what cricket looks like and will look like.” What’s the latest? The ECB on Monday announced it had set up an independent cricket regulator after the damning ICEC report. The new regulator will be responsible for monitoring compliance with the game’s regulations, safeguarding, anti-corruption, anti-doping and anti-discrimination. The body will be headed by former police officer Dave Lewis, taking the role of interim director, and will be overseen by an independent cricket regulatory board. ECB head Gould welcomed the changes, stating: “It is important that the game has the best processes in place in order to enforce regulations. “The ICEC report recommended that we introduce further independence to the game’s regulatory process and the cricket regulator overseen by an independent cricket regulatory board will do that. “The cricket regulator is ring-fenced from the ECB, and that separation will ensure that their work is distinct from our work as the game’s promoter.” With AFP inputs