- DCMS cautions on inclusion following Graves’ return.
- The PM declares a £35 million commitment to local cricket.
Members of Parliament have requested that the England & Wales Cricket Board keep a tight eye on Yorkshire, ostensibly due to worries that the county may abandon its commitment to inclusion and diversity following Colin Graves’s reappointment as chairman.
The Culture, Media, and Sport Committee requested that the ECB guarantee that “there is no return to the ‘business as usual’ that allowed a culture of discrimination to take root and thrive” at Yorkshire in a report that was released on Friday. The committee also requested that the ECB provide an update on its own efforts to promote inclusivity in sport.
In a different development, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated on Friday that, as part of his newest effort to make one million more youth physically active by 2030, he would be investing £35 million in grassroots cricket facilities and expanding access to the sport within public schools.
The CMS committee’s report identifies some inconsistencies and concerns that surfaced during Graves’ February testimony to the committee. Graves initially explained his decision to withhold an apology for eight months after referring to racist abuse at the club as “banter,” but he later withdrew those remarks just before Yorkshire’s membership voted to approve his return.
They further point out that he denied a Guardian report that said he had first offered the club a proposal contingent on its demutualization, a claim for which they had documented proof. They say that “Mr. Graves eventually remembered his bid.” Nevertheless, he stated to us that he “had no ambition to own Yorkshire” and that he didn’t think he or the members would be better suited to run Yorkshire in the future. We concur.
The ECB’s chair, chief executive, and deputy chief executive, as well as three members of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, testified before the committee. The CMS committee concentrated on areas where “there was disagreement between the recommendations and the ECB’s response” and found “a reluctance to strengthen and widen sanctions for EDI [equity, diversity and inclusion] breaches in county cricket” after the ICEC delivered a report with 137 recommendations. They came to the conclusion that the ECB ought to release a progress report in September; the organisation had previously promised to release an annual progress report, the first of which is scheduled later this year.
The CMS committee’s head, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, stated: “The ECB has made welcome progress on fixing the problems facing cricket that were so compellingly identified in the ICEC report.” Cricket needs to be transparent about how it is supporting its statements with deeds if it is to realise its goal of becoming the most inclusive and inviting sport in the nation.
“We hope that Headingley members can look forward to a successful future, with a board committed to a member-led club and a continued focus on tackling discrimination. The beginning of the county cricket season is always a time for optimism.” The European Central Bank ought to closely monitor developments to guarantee that Yorkshire keeps moving towards reform.