Gloucestershire County Cricket Club (CCC) has issued an “unreserved apology to anyone who has ever been excluded from cricket or made to feel like they don’t belong” in the wake of a damning report that found “widespread” racism, sexism, elitism and classism in the sport.
Gloucestershire CCC chair David Jones has branded the results of a two-year inquiry as 'distressing'. He has now called for drastic change.
The Independent Commission on Equity in Cricket’s (ICEC’s) long-awaited findings were published on Tuesday (June 27). As reported this week, Bristol’s Commission on Racial Equality (CoRE) launched its own investigation into the region’s grassroots game and sent its shocking conclusions to the ICEC as part of its call for evidence. CoRE began its probe in November 2021 after former Yorkshire spin bowler Azeem Rafiq told a House of Commons select committee that English cricket was “institutionally racist”.
Read more: Cricket players forced to show passports amid Bristol's 'rotten culture' of racism
The city mayoral commission concluded that there was a “rotten culture” and that local amateur league cricketers “face constant abuse and racism on the field and have done for many years by officials, the opposition teams and their supporters”. Black, Asian and ethnic minority players have been asked to show their passports at a match to prove residency while umpires have told some to stop talking in their first language because they might be “communicating (illegal) tactics”.
They were also advised to “create their own leagues” because “English teams don’t like playing with them”. The ICEC’s report made 44 recommendations, including that the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) should make an unreserved public apology for its failings, which it did swiftly, and called on those in leadership positions in the sport to help drive drastic changes.
Now Gloucestershire CCC chair David Jones has written an open letter in response to the findings and says the time has come to “reset cricket”. He said: “Having taken time to read the ICEC’s report and on behalf of everyone at Gloucestershire Cricket, I would like to start by echoing the ECB’s unreserved apology to anyone who has ever been excluded from cricket or made to feel like they don’t belong.
“It’s clear from analysing the report’s evidence and local testimonies that we have heard that sadly cricket has historically not been a game for everyone, and we must all work together to ensure the sport can be unequivocally equitable to all regardless of race, religion, gender or upbringing. Discrimination of any kind has no place in society and cricket is no different – whether that’s at recreational, amateur or professional level – and we must use this moment to bring the game together to deliver meaningful change and to reset cricket.
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“Those who lead cricket have a responsibility to do whatever it takes to create a culture that eliminates discrimination and inequity in the game and we at Gloucestershire, as one of the 18 First Class Counties, understand fully our role in that. We will spend the next three months listening to and working with the ECB, who will lead on behalf of the game on developing an action plan that delivers real and lasting change.
“These necessary changes may translate to structural reform that specifically tackles class-based discrimination.” He said there were “significant barriers” that prevented children from some backgrounds accessing the same opportunities as private school students.
Mr Jones wrote: “While this does make for distressing reading, we have been and are actively working to ensure that state school pupils have a greater opportunity now and in the future to engage with our Emerging Player Programme and Talent Pathway. Institutional change certainly doesn’t happen overnight and we know we have a long road ahead to achieve the desired level of diversity and inclusion within all facets of Gloucestershire Cricket.”
He said that since the club published its equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan “Gloucestershire 4 All” in 2021, it had made “encouraging progress towards being a welcoming and inclusive venue to individuals from all backgrounds”. Mr Jones said this included a multi-faith room at the Seat Unique Stadium, the formation of a LGBTQ+ supporters group, recent partnerships with the South Asian Cricket Academy and the Her Game Too campaign against sexism in sport.
“I remain confident that Gloucestershire is striving to create an environment that’s welcoming and safe for all within society,” he wrote. Bristol & District Cricket Association (BDCA) chair John Peplow said: “BCDA are working in partnership with the Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation, Gloucestershire CCC, West of England Premier League and Gloucestershire Association of Cricket Officials as part of a combined EDI working group.
“This group works collaboratively with CoRE. We look forward to continuing this work in the light of the ICEC report, ensuring cricket in the Bristol area is inclusive for all.”
West of England Premier League has also been approached for comment.
