After discovering 448 instances of institutional racism, an independent review has recommended that Sportscotland place Cricket Scotland under special measures. An investigation by Plan4Sport found that Cricket Scotland had failed in 29 of 31 indicators of institutional racism. The other two benchmarks were only partially met by the ruling body.
The findings of the Changing the Boundaries report have been dubbed a “wake-up call” for Scottish sport. After former Scotland players Majid Haq and Qasim Sheikh made allegations in November, staff interviewed hundreds of people and conducted an investigation. 68 individual concerns have been alluded to for further inquiry, including 31 allegations of racism against 15 people, two clubs, and a regional association, as a result of those conversations. There have been accusations of racism, using bad language, favouring white students from public schools, and not being clear about how the students are chosen.
Some incidents were reported to the police in April, and it has now surfaced that one person has been charged as a result. Sixty-two percent of those who took part in a survey said they had personally encountered, witnessed, or heard about acts of racism or discrimination. Diversity and anti-racism training was lacking; there was no consistent process for dealing with racist incidents, and those who raised concerns were “side-lined or ignored,” the review found.
Cricket Scotland’s governance and leadership practices have been institutionally racist,” according to Plan4Sport’s managing director, Louise Tideswell. Furthermore, “We have seen the courage of so many people coming forward to share their stories, which has clearly impacted them,” she said. When you see or hear racism or hostility but you keep coming back to play despite the many setbacks, these are the people who have persevered in the face of adversity in cricket. When the organization’s leaders failed to see these problems, they allowed a culture of racially-aggravated micro-aggressions to develop. “While the organization’s governance and leadership practices have been institutionally racist, I also want to point out that cricket in Scotland is not the same. Outstanding local programs are being delivered by many outstanding clubs and individuals in a wide variety of communities.
According to the report’s authors, Cricket Scotland, whose entire board resigned on Sunday, should be placed under special measures by the national agency for sport until at least October 2023, according to the report. There should be no more than a 60-40 split between men and women on the board, and at least a quarter of the members should come from black, Southeast Asian, or other ethnic groups. It’s also recommended that the Western District Cricket Union, one of Scotland’s five regional associations, be placed in special measures by Cricket Scotland and immediately suspended from managing all disciplinary measures in connection with its competitions. It needs an urgent investigation into its management.
Referral backlogs are also encouraged to be addressed by a third party who has the appropriate expertise, according to Cricket Scotland. According to the findings, Stewart Harris, the chief executive of Sportscotland, described the findings as “deeply concerning and, in some cases, shocking.” As the national agency for sport, we will work with and support Cricket Scotland to help change the culture of Scottish cricket and that must now be the focus, “he continued. There has been some progress in the last few months, but more steps must be taken to address the issues raised, including the referrals. As we hold Cricket Scotland to account for all of the recommendations contained in this report, we will keep all options open. Sport in Scotland should take note of today’s events as a call to action. “Scottish sports must now be actively anti-racist,” because racism is a social problem that can no longer be ignored.
Gordon Arthur, Cricket Scotland’s interim CEO, issued a “heartfelt apology” to the victims of racism and other discrimination earlier this month. It is our hope that the report will give them some reassurance that their voices have been heard, and we are sorry that this did not happen sooner, “he said. “This report is a turning point for Scottish cricket, and implementing its recommendations is our number one priority right now.” A significant cultural shift is clearly needed, and it must occur quickly. The independent referral process must be agreed upon and implemented as soon as possible so that investigations into the referrals can begin. We are steadfast in our commitment to creating and fostering a cricket culture free of racism and discrimination, where everyone is welcomed and afforded equal access to the game’s many benefits. To avoid a repeat of history, we must address the past, repair the sport, and ensure that no one is left behind.
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