Discrimination in cricket: The sport is ‘moving in the right direction’ on equality

As part of its 2023 report, the Independent Cricket Equality Commission (ICEC) made 44 recommendations to the ECB for improvements. Later that year, the European Central Bank agreed with the “majority” when it began implementing the change.

One of these commitments was to publish a “full State of Equity Report every three years.” This is what the European Central Bank is doing a year early.

Highlighting improvements in less important positions, Sports Structures said diversity in leadership in the county game “has not fully extended to senior executive and operational roles”.

There has been no change in the number of women’s chairs in the 18 counties since 2019, with Dame Sarah Storey, who is currently Lancashire’s interim chair, the only incumbent. The ECB described this as a “key focus for the coming years.”

The amount of ethnic diversity among county chairs and chief executives also remained at 6%. There was a slight increase before Anu Mohindroo, president of the University of Essex, resigned in September after it emerged that he had lied about studying at Oxford.

“Diversity in leadership and representation is improving but remains uneven,” the sports structures said.

The professionalization of women’s football has been praised – the number of professional players has increased this year with the new domestic structure – but it has emerged that investment is “not yet consistent” and expectations “often exceed available resources”.

There is also a lack of diversity in coaches in the professional game while Sport Structures said disability cricket “still needs deeper integration within the county and club systems”.

The introduction of a cricket regulator, introduced following the ICC report, was also lauded.

ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould said: “The State of Fairness in Cricket report holds us accountable to our ambitions to become the most inclusive team sport.

“It shows us some areas of excellent work and progress, as well as areas where we need to move forward.

“The extensive work to open up the talent pipeline for young people from all backgrounds is a great example of the changes that can be made when cricket organizations come together to break down barriers and create systemic change.

“We know there is still a lot of work to be done, and a number of areas that need further work to address structural issues.

“We have said from the beginning that there can be no quick fix, but we are committed to creating meaningful and lasting change, and that will remain our absolute focus in the months and years ahead as we build on the progress we are making today.”

“It’s encouraging to see progress — and it’s also a reminder that true justice in sports requires perseverance, honesty and the will to persist long after the headlines have faded,” Cindy Potts, chair of the initial committee, said Thursday.

He said, “Since the committee’s report was issued, I have been following the progress remotely.”

“I am regularly contacted by journalists and people inside and outside the game, some encouraged by what is changing, others desperate for deeper, faster progress.

“This combination of hope and impatience is healthy. It keeps the pressure at bay. Today’s report reflects this dual truth: steps forward, and a long way to go.”