MPs challenge ECB on anti-discrimination plan and Mehmooda Duke resignation

Chief executive Tom Harrison defends the modest targets and says the board will decide whether to launch a formal investigation into the exit of the former Leicestershire chair

The England and Wales Cricket Board are under pressure to launch an investigation into the circumstances around Mehmooda Duke's departure as Leicestershire chair while the sport was battling allegations of institutional racism.

Duke, who was the only female chair in the first-class system and one of only two people of colour, departed as the national governing body prepared to unveil its 12-point anti-discrimination plan in November.

It followed an all-game meeting between cricket's main stakeholders at The Kia Oval.

She had been due to stand down from the position in March 2022 but brought that forward.

Speaking to a DCMS committee hearing into racism in cricket, ECB independent non-executive director Baroness Valerie Amos revealed to have had a personal conversation with Duke regarding her exit and concerns relating to the sport.

But Amos did not disclose what those reservations were, though they will be put to the ECB Board for further consideration. They will then decide if a formal investigation is required.

DCMS committee chair Julian Knight MP was unconvinced by the ECB's position to "look at" the episode and demanded clarity and transparency on their stance.

"It is a huge pity," said Amos. "I hope Mehmooda will stay connected with the game. There are a number of issues that she and I have talked through that I feel are important to bring to the attention of the board."

Upon confirmation of her resignation, Duke said the game needed "fresh leadership at national level" in what was interpreted as a swipe at chief executive Tom Harrison.

^{Baroness Amos will submit Duke's concerns to the ECB board (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)}

Harrison expressed his regret at Duke's decision and said she was a candidate to succeed Ian Watmore as ECB chair. Barry O'Brien, who also attended the hearing, is currently the interim chair.

The ECB were asked about their target to improve the number of ethnic minorities entering their talent pathways as part of their equity, diversity and inclusion plan.

That figure for boys currently stands at 28 per cent, an increase of 17 per cent since the South Asian Action plan was launched in 2018.

But the aim is to raise that figure to just 30 per cent by the end of 2022, an ambition that was given short shift by MPs.

Harrison said: "We want to take that 30 per cent as a low, minimum target across the game as an average to take into dressing rooms around the country.

"What we aim to do is make sure we have a flood of talent. Thirty per cent is the low target."

Knight responded: "This highlights an issue we do have. We're really concerned the game is not going to come up with key performance indicators across the piece that can be clearly seen by the public. 

"That doesn't fill me with confidence when one of your key indicators is a two per cent increase when you've done 17 per cent in the previous three years.

"These are targets that you're set up to achieve."

^{Will international cricket be back at Yorkshire this summer? (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)}

The ECB also confirmed that an investigation into dressing room culture would be led by Clare Connor. Harrison described the managing director of England Women's Cricket, the MCC president, chair of the ICC Women's Cricket Committee and ex-England captain as "ideally placed" to lead the review.

Martin Darlow, ECB deputy chair, says the decision whether to lift the ban of international cricket and major matches at Yorkshire will be made over the next week.

The ECB will assess Yorkshire's own 10-point anti-discrimination plan before the club present to the governing body on February 1.

At an Extraordinary General Meeting, the following evening (February 2) club members will get the chance to vote on the changes.

Only after the outcome of the vote will the ECB decide whether major matches can be played at Headingley from this summer.

Lord Kamlesh Patel says Yorkshire are not financially viable without being able to host international cricket.

Darlow would not be drawn directly on the influence of the Colin Graves Family Trust on decision-making at Yorkshire in relation to the final decision, with chair Patel confirming the observer on the board and veto over key decisions was in the process of being removed.

But after being pressed, he admitted: "My view is it would be a much better run organisation if they didn't have the vetos in place."