ECB left red-faced as Leicestershire chair Mehmooda Duke resigns early ahead of the announcement of a fresh 12-point diversity plan to salvage cricket’s reputation
- The ECB are preparing to announce a new 12-point diversity action plan
- An upset has been caused after Leicestershire chair Mehmooda Duke resigned
- She is the only female chair amongst the 18 first-class counties
- Duke is also one of just two people of colour in such roles within the sport
The ECB have suffered an embarrassment as they prepare to announce a new 12-point diversity action plan with the sudden resignation of Leicestershire chair Mehmooda Duke.
The lawyer is the only female chair amongst the 18 first-class counties and one of just two people of colour in such roles, with her departure an untimely blow for the ECB as they seek to tackle the chronic lack of diversity in the sport.
Duke was due to step down next March, but has opted to go immediately and appeared to take aim at ECB chief executive Tom Harrison in her resignation statement.
The ECB have suffered an embarrassment as they prepare to announce a new 12-point diversity action plan with the news that Mehmooda Duke is resigning earlier than planned
‘Cricket has been torn apart by recent events and I am deeply saddened by the hurt felt by individuals within our game,’ she said.
‘With fresh leadership at national level and with a determination to learn from the recent past and move forward, I hope that racism and discrimination will be expunged from the dressing rooms, the fields, and the game as a whole, allowing us to celebrate the diversity which makes cricket and sport in this country so great.’