For all the waffle, there is something stirring in English cricket... change may be on the way

GEORGE DOBELL - EXCLUSIVE: The Cricketer has learned details of the 12-point plan being compiled by cricket authorities in the wake of the racism crisis

No demonstration ever called: “What do we want? A working party to embark on further consultation!

“When do we want it? Oh, you know, in the fullness of time.”

So, the ECB’s statement following a day of talks on the issue of race and diversity was not perhaps, the rallying call we hoped for. Instead of tangible action and firm progress we had, at first glance anyway, more bluster and trite statements.

But, somewhere in the committee-approved statement, somewhere behind the vague soundbites and dull-sounding acronyms, there is something moving at the ECB. And while it’s not necessarily going to gain the headlines of the revelations we have heard in recent days, it is something worthy of encouragement and support. Governance can’t all be ‘I have a dream’ speeches; sometimes it has to be laborious, detailed and legalistic.

But this stuff matters. For too long, there has been waffle without action. Now, at last, we are on the verge of tangible plans demanding measurable results.

The meeting was not able to agree a statement to put out now. Instead, the ECB hope all involved can consult at a local level and report back at the start of next week. They hope to publish a 12-point action plan within a week.

^{ECB chief executive Tom Harrison}

But The Cricketer understands that the current hope is that action plan will include, in brief:

• A commitment to ensuring ethnic and gender diversity levels of at least 30% at board and leadership levels across the game.
• A commitment to ensuring a minimum of 20% ethnic diversity across coaching roles.
• An expansion of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) training to include stewards and casual workers at game.
• An expansion of EDI policies for officials and umpires at club and age-group level.
• The publication of an EDI strategy within months
• The establishment of procedures for encouraging and protecting whistle-blowers.
• A commitment to supporting the work of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) and a commitment to supporting the recommendations of the report they are expected to file in 2022.
• A commitment to publishing an EDI action plan within six-months.
• The further use of anonymised recruitment tools and a further commitment to the use of the Rooney rule in coaching recruitments.
• A commitment to removing barriers in the elite pathways; in particular, a concerted attempt to translate the impressive percentage of players from ethnic communities at age-group level graduating to the professional game.
• A review into dressing room culture and a commitment to providing more education to improve it.
• The inclusion of EDI criteria in tendering for major matches; ie: if a club has a poor inclusion record, it will count against it when the allocation of matches is made.
• A review into crowd behaviour, reporting abuse among spectators and a commitment to ensuring stadiums are welcoming to people of all faiths.

So, it’s easy to be cynical. It’s easy to say this is too little, too late. It’s easy – really, very easy – to say that Tom Harrison increasingly resembles an excellent salesman (he really did produce an impressive broadcast deal, but it really is starting to look a long time ago) promoted beyond his capability. There’s probably some truth in all that.

But this should mark a significant step in the right direction. And while you sense Harrison’s spell with the ECB is in its autumn time, he does look set to be given the chance to force through these changes before he goes. On a personal level, he really does seem committed to this agenda. He knows his reputation hangs on his performance on the issue.

^{Whistleblower Azeem Rafiq}

There are all sorts of legitimate areas of concern about the current management of our game. It will have escaped the attention of few that the 43 organisations attending Friday’s meeting were represented, to an overwhelming degree by white, middle-aged (and that is a generous appraisal in many cases) men with very little experience of the challenges faced by other demographics.

But if these action plans are approved, it will force the ECB, the counties, the MCC and the PCA to embrace far greater gender and ethnic diversity. It will force the game to appoint more non-white coaches and examine why so few non-white players graduate from the age-groups to the professional game. There will be alcohol-free stands and prayer rooms at grounds, too. There’s much more in there besides.

The apology to Azeem – and the many others who have been forced to suffer in silence – was important, too. It marked an acceptance that the general thrust of his complaints have been verified and that those who have wanted to turn a deaf ear to such concerns have at last acknowledged the extent of the problem. That is, in itself, hugely significant.

It remains disappointing, then, that some – including some in the media – seem more intent on discrediting Azeem than working on improving the game. Discrediting Azeem may ensure he doesn’t play any further role in cricket’s governance – a role he seems to be reluctant to embrace in any case – but it doesn’t diminish the power of his testimony or justify the abuse he suffered.

He may well have liked a gamble, a drink and a night out. He may well have said crass, awful things that could have hurt others, too. But his determination to have his voice heard, his commitment to ensuring the next generation won’t have to endure the same discrimination and bullying, remains admirable. He may well be as flawed and fragile and foolish as the rest of us. But our game owes him plenty.