Counties that do not meet certain expectations within the 12-point plan run the risk of reduced funding from the ECB; Azeem Rafiq told Sky Sports News that the ‘floodgates’ are about to open on the crisis of racism in cricket following his damning account during a DCMS committee hearing.
Azeem Rafiq testified to MPs on Tuesday
The Presidents of the 18 first-class counties together with representatives from the Cricket Board of England and Wales and the Association of Professional Cricketers will meet to discuss a single-point agenda on equality, diversity and inclusion in English cricket.
First-class counties are asked to sign a 12-point action plan to improve the in-game situation after Azeem Rafiq’s evidence Tuesday at the DCMS (Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) committee .
There is a sense that certain counties are still far behind in terms of action plans for young children and the continuing lack of diversity within coaching teams and boardrooms that needs to be improved quickly.
Counties that do not meet certain expectations within the 12-point plan run the risk of reduced funding from the ECB.
It is understood that the role of the ECB President and CEO Tom Harrison will not be discussed during the meeting at the Oval, and this is not the right time to make such decisions, as the game is accused of not seeing the big picture. if that becomes one of the main priorities.
In his remarks to MPs on Tuesday, former Yorkshire spinner Rafiq delivered damning allegations of alleged discriminatory incidents during his time at Headingley that involved several high-profile former teammates, including Michael Vaughan, Gary Ballance and Matthew Hoggard.
Talking to Sky Sports News a day after the hearing, Rafiq said the “floodgates” are about to open for other cricketers to reveal their tales of racism in the game.
Rafiq’s former teammate in Yorkshire, Jack Brooks, has been reprimanded by Somerset and will be asked to undergo diversity training via historical tweets that included racist language.
Alex Hales has denied that he named his own dog after a racial slur and said he will “cooperate with any investigation” after the DCMS hearing.
Former England captain Vaughan denies “completely and categorically” Rafiq’s accusation that he made a racist comment towards him and other Asian players before Yorkshire’s game against Nottinghamshire in 2009.
Sky sports Expert David Lloyd apologized to Rafiq after he was accused of making a racist comment towards him, and Sky launched an investigation into the allegations.
Cricket would benefit from a Kick It Out-style organization in the wake of the Rafiq racism scandal, according to DCMS committee chairman Julian Knight, MP.
“I feel like I was complacent. I didn’t think that [cricket] it was systematically racist, “Knight said. Sky Sports News On Wednesday.
“Clearly there was a serious problem in Yorkshire, and there may be cases elsewhere, but we cannot leave anything off the table.
“We need a ‘Kick It Out’ for cricket, just like football. The idea that we can make people use these phrases, harassing, intimidating, excluding people like Rafiq. It is almost incomprehensible.
“But we have to understand it and make sure that in the future we have a sport that is transparent and clean. That means, in my opinion, a complete reform of governance.”
“It is not a quick fix, it is more ingrained than I thought when I started this research a few months ago.
“We need to make sure the ECB has the powers to take over the counties so that what we have seen in Yorkshire is not repeated.
“Racism has been exacerbated by the report and the way Yorkshire carried out the investigation, which in my opinion appeared to be a means of keeping Mr Rafiq quiet and out of the public domain. A parliamentary session was needed to guarantee that the absolute horrors after several years, Mr. Rafiq was able to tell the truth. “
