The process of rooting out racism and discrimination in the English cricket is well on track with the England and Wales Cricket Board announcing three new comprehensive measures under the flagship Inspiring Generations strategic plan.
The three new policy measures such as structuring of a new commission for equality in cricket, a forum for the race in cricket, a new equality code of conduct were approved by the board on 24 November and these will set precedent for the better and new equality, diversity and inclusion plan over the course of next few months to tackle and weed out any form of racism and inequality in the English Cricket.
This commission will be headed by an independent chairman and will comprise of independent members who will help the ECB in the evaluation of inequalities and discrimination of all forms in English cricket.
The ECB has decided to set up a forum for discussion on race in cricket in order to facilitate itself in listening to people across the game who have had a variety of living and learning experiences.
The forum will provide the board with a confidential, safe space to listen and learn from those lived experiences in order to foresee challenges and chart out a plan of action for better development of the game.
The ECB has mandated this new Equality of conduct for all cricket organisations under its jurisdictions and has asked all of them to implement it before the 2021 season.
The board has asked its member organisations to treat discriminatory behaviours in their jurisdictions through disciplinary processes set out by this new code of conduct.
Shedding light on the Inspiring Generations strategic plan, ECB Chairman, Ian Watmore said that the board aspires to make the game more inclusive and that there are many more efforts underway to achieve that broader goal. He reaffirmed the stance of ECB that all discriminatory behaviour is unacceptable, and that it is fully committed to driving it out of the game.
“The primary aim of the ECB’s Inspiring Generations strategy is to make cricket a game for everyone and many actions are well underway and helping to make cricket more diverse and inclusive. While continuing with this work and increasing its impact, we are equally clear that all discriminatory behaviour is unacceptable, and are committed to driving it out of the game through better governance, education, training, role modelling and behavioural change, but also through disciplinary action when necessary. Continuing to listen to the experiences of people, whether positive or negative and engaging with independent expertise will help to inform, strengthen and challenge our thinking and plans as we move forward. Taken together, these steps will ensure that the ECB achieves lasting change,” Watmore said.
On the other hand, the ECB CEO, Tom Harrison said that the board has tried to listen to as many people as possible who have had the experience of facing and dealing inequalities and exclusivity and it will carry on the path to make the game even more inclusive and diverse.
“This year we have listened to many people from across the game and beyond, to understand where we must be better in making our sport inclusive and diverse, and tackling discrimination. The measures we have announced today, and the broader Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Plan we will launch, build on and accelerate the work we have already done in recent years. We will continue to learn how, as a game, we become more representative of the communities we strive to serve,” Harrison said.
Moreover, the ECB will launch its full Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Plan for 2021-24 next year with the objective of making cricket a game for everyone irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, sexuality, social background or disability.
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