Cricket chiefs in England and Wales say racism and discrimination is a “bad thing” for our game and they “sincerely apologize”.
A full-game meeting was held on Friday following Azeem Rafiq’s testimony about the racism he experienced in Yorkshire.
Rafiq told a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport selection committee on Tuesday that Cricket in English is “a racist institution”.
“Our game has to earn your trust back,” said ECB CEO Tom Harrison.
Representatives from the ECB, the Professional Cricket Association, the Marylebone Cricket Club, the National County Cricket Association and the First Class and Recreational Cricket network attended Friday’s meeting at The Oval in London.
“Azeem Rafiq has illuminated our game, leaving us all shocked, embarrassed and saddened,” a joint statement read.
“To Azeem and all those who have experienced any form of discrimination, we are truly sorry.
“Our sport did not welcome you, our game did not accept you as we should have. We are deeply sorry for the suffering you have faced.”
The statement said the group was committed to taking “visible action” to make cricket “more open, inclusive and ensuring effective governance”.
The ECB has been heavily criticized for its handling of the Yorkshire racism scandal.
Speaking on Friday, Harrison said he feels “very determined” to lead the change in the game.
“As a father of two girls, I wanted to make sure that I left a game with the right safe environment for everyone to feel welcome and for everyone to feel at home. “, he added.
“I got the game’s favor today.”
Harrison said a 12-point plan, which will address issues raised by Rafiq and others, will be published on Wednesday.
BBC Sport understands that the plans include moves to tackle chanting of discrimination at matches, a possible partnership with football’s anti-racism organization Kick It Out and new efforts. when it comes to addressing underrepresentation in cricket’s professional ranks and administrative roles.
Kick it Out has held initial talks with the ECB to come up with a way forward.
Cricket has no equivalent to football’s equality and inclusion body, which provides guidance to clubs and governing bodies on discrimination.
Lincolnshire chairman Rob Bradley told BBC Sport there were “a lot of thrills” in the room about the racism crisis.
“I think the ECB will try to capture everything. This game has to stand up and represent everyone equally,” he said.
When asked if he wanted Harrison to stay, Bradley replied: “Yes, certainly. I think we have a lot to learn from this.”
Harrison also appeared before the DCMS committee on Tuesday and told MPs that English cricket is approaching an “emergency” for failing to tackle racism.
He also said the ECB was “struggling” to wake up the first-class game.
Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston on Thursday said the government could exercise a “nuclear option” of creating an independent regulator to oversee cricket.
Rafiq has also called on the ECB to make tangible change.
Former Yorkshire cameraman Rafiq first spoke out in September 2020, with the club starting an investigation the following month.
The handling and outcome of the investigation – which concluded that Rafiq was the victim of “racial harassment and bullying”, in favor of seven of the player’s 43 allegations – was widely criticized. Yorkshire then announced that no one would be punished at the club.
Yorkshire has since been suspended by the ECB from hosting international matches.
Former Yorkshire academy players Irfan Amjad and Tabassum Bhatti appeared after Rafiq’s testimony to talk about allegations of racist abuse they received at the club.
Former player Zoheb Sharif and Maurice Chambers both allege they suffered racist abuse in Essex.
Rafiq sorry for the historic anti-Semitic Facebook messages he sent in 2011, while Nottinghamshire beat Alex Hales sorry for a photo showing him wearing black makeup.
