ECB recommend changes to report into racism in cricket

The ECB have recommended changes to the much-delayed independent racism report amid fears of a massive legal bill.

Mail Sport can reveal the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket has uncovered shocking allegations of racism and discrimination suffered by former players, but some details have been taken out amid concern publication could lead to defamation claims.

The Commission was set up by the ECB in November 2020 with a brief to examine issues involving race, gender and social class in the sport.

Chair Cindy Butts provided an update in March 2022, when she warned cricket was ‘facing a reckoning’, and ECB chairman Richard Thompson conceded in the governing body’s annual report last year that the findings would be ‘challenging’ for the game.

The ECB are understood to have received a draft report weeks ago, but publication has been delayed by the governing body’s request for revisions due to potential legal problems.

The ECB have recommended removing elements of the much-delayed independent report into racism in cricket amidst fears of being hit with a huge legal bill due to defemation fears

While the testimony of the victims has been anonymised and the identities of their alleged abusers removed, ECB lawyers have expressed concerns that individuals could still be identified.

Although there has been no attempt to alter the tone of what is expected to be a damning report, the revision process has caused some frustration for the Commission.

A source with knowledge of the process told Mail Sport: ‘It’s ridiculous that this has dragged on so long. All the allegations are anonymous, but there’s still concern that details could lead to people being exposed. 

‘There’s been a lot of debate about what can be included in the final report, with the ECB lawyers trying to take things out to cover themselves.’

The Commission will have the final say on when the report is published, with the latest estimate being that it will be ready by the end of the month.

The ECB and the Commission declined to comment.

Butts has devoted more than two years to the report. The highly respected governance and equality expert also sits on the House of Lords Conduct Committee and is a member of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.

‘What is clear is that all is not well in cricket,’ Butts said in March last year. ‘Cricket is facing a reckoning. It has to grasp this opportunity to understand and diagnose what the problem is. And then recommend — in an evidence-based way — what the solutions are to its problems. That is abundantly clear.

‘Cricket needs to look in the mirror. It has to say, ‘This is what we look like and we are prepared to tackle the issues that are prevalent within the sport in a concerted, serious and considered way’.’

The ECB has also introduced a 12-point plan to tackle racism in the wake of Rafiq’s allegations