ICEC Report: The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) has given a detailed 317-page report, and racism hogs the majority of the limelight. Despite measures taken to curb racism in sports, the reports state it is not confined to ‘pockets’ or a few bad apples’ and neither it is restricted to individual incidents of misconduct.
The evidence is strong and unequivocal – ‘Racism is a serious issue in cricket.’ Worst, Indians have encountered racism the most in England.
Not only that, but the report also states about 50% of respondents have described experiencing discrimination in the last five years, and that the figures soared higher for people from ethically diverse communities.
87% of people with Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage, 82% of people with Indian heritage, and 75% of all black respondents.
During one of India vs England Test match at Edgbaston in 2021, a section of Indian fans were racially abused. Several allegations were by on social media, following which a detailed investigation was underway. Not only Indians but Pakistani fans also have faced a lot of racism from English fans.
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ICEC Report: Lack of representation and structural barriers main reason for racism
In cricket’s most senior leadership, South Asian representation is limited to only 2.8%, despite the community making up 26-29% of the game’s adult recreational population and 6.9% of the population of England and Wales. Lack of representation and structural barriers are one of the main reasons for racism in cricket.
“The ethnicity of male and female players at the professional level does not reflect the ethnicity of the adult recreational playing base, nor the wider population of England and Wales.” According to a report in Guardian.
There has also been a decline in “Black British male professional players of around 75%. The report also states that female cricketers playing at the domestic professional level are overwhelmingly white, In 2021, there were only two Black British, four mixed/multiple ethnicity, and eight South Asian female players out of a total of 161. What is not helping the cause is ECB’s response is also slow.
“The ECB’s efforts to address the challenges of equity, diversity, and inclusion in cricket only gained real momentum in 2018, nearly 19 years after the 1999 ‘Clean Bowl Racism’ report concluded that racism existed in cricket.”
Steps to be taken by ECB to curb racism
The ECB is to publish an updated State of Equity in Cricket report every three years.
Within six months, the ECB should put in place mandatory specialist training for racial literacy among its leadership and establish an executive-level chief equity diversity and inclusion office role with sufficient resources.
Over the next 12 months, commission a study into the decline of cricket in Black communities, increase funding for the ACE Programme, and identify and support Black-led cricket clubs across England and Wales.
