In a recent development, UK MPs urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to closely monitor Yorkshire amid concerns over potential regression in diversity following Colin Graves’s reappointment as chairman. As per a report published by the UK Parliament on April 5, the culture, media, and sport committee calls on the ECB to ensure “there is no return to the ‘business as usual’ that allowed a culture of discrimination to take root and thrive” at Yorkshire County Cricket Club. It also asked the ECB to provide updates on its initiatives for greater inclusivity within the sport.
Meanwhile, on the same day, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a £35m investment in grassroots cricket establishments, aimed at broadening access to the sport in state schools. Notably, this is part of the government’s goal of making one million more young people to be physically active by 2030.
Meanwhile, Graves appeared before the committee for the first time in February. In the report by the CMS committee, several inconsistencies and concerns arose from his testimony, particularly regarding his delayed apology for characterizing racist abuse in Yorkshire as “banter.” Notably, this apology was issued eight months later, just before Yorkshire’s membership ratified his return. They also denied a report by The Guardian, claiming he had submitted a bid for the club contingent upon its demutualisation, despite having documentary evidence supporting the same.
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“Mr Graves eventually remembered his bid. He nonetheless told us that he ‘had no ambition to own Yorkshire’ and that he did not believe the future of Yorkshire was best served being owned by him rather than the members. We agree,” they quoted in the report.
The CMS committee also received testimony from three members of the ECB’s Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, as well as from the ECB’s chair, chief executive, and deputy chief executive. Meanwhile, the ICEC had issued a report comprising 137 recommendations while the committee focused on areas of contention between these recommendations and the ECB’s response. The committee particularly noted a reluctance to enhance and broaden sanctions for breaches related to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in county cricket. As a result, they recommended that the ECB publish a progress report by September this year.
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