Cricket: Racial Discrimination

(asked on 9th November 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he plans to take to tackle racism within cricket.


Answered by
Nigel Huddleston Portrait
Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
This question was answered on 16th November 2021

There is no place for racism in sport or anywhere in society. I am extremely concerned by the recent reports of racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club and welcome the steps taken by the ECB to launch an investigation into the matter. This must be transparent and swift, for the benefit of cricket. The ECB must carry out their investigation unhindered, but the Government will be monitoring the situation at Yorkshire County Cricket Club and the ECB closely.

The ECB has also launched the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, chaired by Cindy Butts, building on the work they have done across the game to increase diversity. The Azeem Rafiq case shows how much more needs to be done to stamp out racism in the game and the Government would urge anyone who has experienced discrimination to come forward with this.

The forthcoming update of UK Sport and Sport England’s Code for Sports Governance will place an increased focus on diversity in decision making and ensuring that sports organisations reflect the community they serve. Sports receiving the most public funding will be required to agree a diversity and inclusion action plan with Sport England and UK Sport, which will be published and updated annually.

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