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 assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of representation of African, Caribbean and Asian coaches, umpires and match officials at all levels of cricket in England and Wales.


Answered by
Nigel Huddleston Portrait
Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
This question was answered on 19th November 2021

The national governing body for cricket, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) assesses trends in representation in the sport. This includes the level of representation of African, Caribbean and Asian coaches, umpires and match officials. The Government and Sport England is committed to increasing diversity and inclusion across all sport and physical activity.

The ECB developed the African-Caribbean Engagement Programme (ACE) in 2020 to address a 75% decline in cricket participation by members of the Black community in cricket. It has now been established as an independent charity and received £540,000 in funding from Sport England and a grant from the ECB that has allowed a programme to be launched in Birmingham in 2021.

The ECB launched its South Asian Action Plan in 2018, also funded by Sport England. This focuses on increasing racial diversity and opening up access to cricket, including facilities and delivery of bespoke formats of the sport for the community’s needs. After the success of the first investment of £1 million, this has recently been awarded an additional £1 million for the next 2 years.

The report on ‘Racial equality in cricket’ identified a range of actions for the ECB. Sport England provides support, guidance and funding to help national governing bodies, including the ECB, to help them increase diversity and inclusion in their organisations.

There is still more to do, however, and we will continue to liaise with the ECB to ensure this issue is tackled effectively, and that recommendations from the newly established Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, are implemented.

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