ECB issues an apology for discrimination in England cricket after ICEC report

ECB issues an apology for discrimination in England cricket after ICEC report

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Monday, June 26, issued an apology to the ones who faced racial discrimination in the game. The England board released a statement after the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) put forth a report showing evidence of misconduct in the sport.

As per the report, the cricket boards were unable to get rid of “structural and institutional racism, sexism and class-based discrimination”. The ECB agreed to the report and said that a change needs to be brought forth.

The ECB mentioned that it will try and form a strong plan over the next three months going by the 44 recommendations by the ICEC.

“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,” ECB chair Richard Thompson was quoted as saying in a statement.

“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,” he stated.

The ECB chair also stated that Deputy CEO Clare Connor will lead the consultation process with support of a sub-group of the board, including Pete Ackerley, Zahida Manzoor, Ron Kalifa, Richard Gould, and Ebony Rainford-Brent.

The Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee was also of the opinion that there is a high level of corruption in cricket. It also said that the ECB needs to act at the earliest to eradicate the wrongdoings and live up to the expectations.

“The volume of evidence, not only of racial discrimination, but also of sexism and elitism, is unacceptable in a sport that should be for all, and must now be a catalyst for change,” CMS Committee Chair Caroline Dinenage mentioned in a statement.

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