The ECB must closely monitor Yorkshire CCC to ensure there is no
return to the ‘business as usual' that allowed a culture of
discrimination to take root and thrive at the club, MPs say
today.
In its report on equity in cricket, published ahead of the start
of the county season this morning, the Culture,
Media and Sport Committee also calls on the
governing body to use the first anniversary of the Independent
Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) report into
discrimination in the game to set out the progress it has made on
each of the commission's findings. The Committee warns that that
the governing body's ambition may not be translated into action
on some of the most powerful recommendations.
Today's report comes after a session in
February following up on the Committee's work since
2021, when it first heard from former player Azeem Rafiq on his
experiences at Yorkshire. The latest session took evidence from
the ECB, ICEC and from Colin Graves, following his return as
Yorkshire Chair.
The Committee concludes that the future of Yorkshire is best
served by continued ownership by members and calls on the ECB and
its Cricket Regulator, newly established for this season, to pay
particular attention to the future performance of the club in
relation to inequality.
Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the CMS
Committee, said: “The ECB has made welcome progress on
fixing the problems facing cricket identified so powerfully in
the ICEC report. To achieve its ambition for cricket to be the
most inclusive sport in the country and truly welcoming to all it
must be open on how it is backing up its words with actions.
The start of the county cricket season is always a time for
optimism, and we hope that members at Headingley can look forward
to a successful future, with a board committed to a member-led
club and a continued focus on tackling discrimination. The ECB
should keep a close eye on progress to ensure Yorkshire continues
going down the road to reform.”
