A "devastating" review of Scottish cricket has found it to be institutionally racist, Sky Sports News understands; the findings of an independent investigation are due to be published on Monday
Monday 25 July 2022 11:05, UK
The board of Cricket Scotland has resigned ahead of the release of Monday's damning independent review into racism in Scottish cricket.
The review has found Scottish cricket to be institutionally racist, Sky Sports News understands.
The findings of an independent investigation are due to be published on Monday and it is expected to support allegations of significant and widespread racism within the Scottish game.
Investigators have made multiple referrals to a number of organisations, including Police Scotland, for alleged racist behaviour.
A spokesperson for Cricket Scotland said: "Cricket Scotland will work in partnership with sportscotland with immediate effect to ensure appropriate governance, leadership and support is in place for the organisation and the sport in the days ahead, and these arrangements will be reviewed after the publication of the report into racism in cricket in Scotland and updates given accordingly."
The review was initiated after Majid Haq, Scotland's all-time leading wicket-taker, alleged Cricket Scotland was "institutionally racist" in an interview with Sky Sports News last November. He and former team-mate Qasim Sheikh spoke of abuse that both had suffered throughout their careers.
Plan4Sport, an organisation that specialises in issues around equality, diversity and inclusion, was appointed to conduct a review.
Sky Sports News understands that, in their findings, the investigators support the claims of institutional racism within Scottish cricket.
In their resignation letter, the board of Cricket Scotland stated: "To deliver a thorough, fair and speedy resolution to the issues raised about racism, and the other [programme] to overhaul and modernise the governance of the sport are individually huge challenges for a small organisation like Cricket Scotland. We acknowledge the significant support received from sportscotland to date, and we know that they will continue to work in partnership to ensure speedy progress going forward.
"However, while the Board has not been given sight of the review report, it is now aware of the proposed timescales and of certain mandated actions proposed within the report that it believes make the delivery of these two programmes unachievable within the timetable proposed and the current governance framework. Consequently, we believe we must now step aside to enable the required progress to be made in the coming months."
They also wrote, "When the review into racism in Scottish cricket was announced last year, we were fully supportive of the review. The review has achieved an unparalleled level of engagement and we believe it will be truly transformative, not just for Cricket Scotland and the sport of cricket, but it will provide a watershed moment for Scottish sport and society in general.
"The Board have been totally committed to implementing the findings of this review in full to make the sport of cricket in Scotland a truly welcoming and inclusive place for all. We are all truly sorry and have apologised publicly to everyone who has experienced racism, or any other form of discrimination, in cricket in Scotland."
A spokesperson for sportscotland said, "This has been an exceptionally challenging time for everyone involved in Scottish cricket. We have been made aware of the Board's decision and as the national agency for sport, we will take immediate steps to provide significant additional governance and leadership support to Cricket Scotland."
Aamer Anwar, who represents Haq and Sheikh, has spoken to Sky ahead of the report's publication. He said: "Cricket Scotland is dysfunctional and institutionally racist - if that is confirmed by this review, it will be devastating for Cricket Scotland. There are those within the organisation who should be ashamed of their treatment of Majid and Qasim and so many other cricketers who gave their lives to cricket but saw their careers taken away from them."
24 November 2021 - Former players tell Sky Sports News about their experiences with Cricket Scotland, calling them 'institutionally racist' and ask for an independent investigation
Last November Scotland's all-time leading wicket taker Majid Haq and former player Qasim Sheikh told Sky Sports News they were treated differently due to colour of their skin, with Haq alleging Cricket Scotland was 'institutionally racist' and both called for an independent investigation.
8 December 2021 - sportscotland announce they will appoint independent investigators to carry out a review into Cricket Scotland
Following those allegations, funding body and Scotland's national agency for sport - sportscotland - announced they would appoint independent investigators to carry out a review into Scottish cricket and the allegations made. That announcement in December was welcomed by Cricket Scotland.
21 December 2021 - Cricket Scotland confirm NDA's to be relaxed
Later that month, Cricket Scotland revealed non-disclosure agreements were to be relaxed, meaning Majid Haq - who signed a NDA after being sent home from the 2015 Cricket World Cup - was able to speak about his experiences of alleged racism.
January 2022 - Plan4Sport begin review into racism within Scottish cricket
Equality and diversity experts Plan4Sport were then appointed to conduct the review which began in January with a "a confidential safe space" promised for those affected.
18 February 2022 - Cricket Scotland admit racism is an issue within the game
The following month Cricket Scotland accepted there was an issue with racism in the game in Scotland and apologised to those who had suffered, whilst calling on others to take part in the review.
28 April 2022 - Interim report on review into racism in Scottish cricket published
In April the interim findings of the review were published, revealing more than 200 people had engaged directly with the process. Concerns around racism, inequality and discrimination were identified while disclosures in relation to racism were passed to independent lawyers or Police Scotland.
10 June 2022 - Cricket Scotland pause search for new CEO
Following an extensive recruitment process, Cricket Scotland decided to delay plans to appoint a permanent Chief Executive Officer until the review was published in full to ensure the person taking over was best placed to lead change and act on the findings. Gordon Arthur was appointed on an interim basis the following month.
24 July 2022 - Cricket Scotland board resign
And yesterday, one day after we revealed this report will conclude Cricket Scotland is institutionally racist, the six remaining members of Cricket Scotland's board wrote to Gordon Arthur, resigning from their roles.
