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Sportscotland launches independent review of racism in Scottish cricket

Majid Haq and Qasim Sheikh say they were treated differently by Cricket Scotland because of their skin colour; Sportscotland's Stewart Harris: "There can be no place for racism or discrimination of any kind in sport and it is vital all complaints of this nature are robustly investigated"

Image: Cricket Scotland has been accused of being "institutionally racist"

Scotland's national agency for sport has announced it is appointing a team of independent experts to carry out a full review of racism within Scottish cricket.

The Sportscotland announcement comes after the country's all-time leading wicket-taker Majid Haq - in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News - claimed Cricket Scotland is "institutionally racist".

Haq and former team-mate Qasim Sheikh alleged they were treated differently to team-mates due to the colour of their skin and called for an independent inquiry into the organisation.

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Scotland's all-time leading wicket-taker Majid Haq says he was treated differently to his team-mates due to the colour of his skin

A statement from Sportscotland read: "Central to this independent review will be in-depth consultation and engagement with the cricket community, providing individuals with lived experience of racism with a safe space in which to share their experiences, with guaranteed anonymity.

"Follow-up support, signposting and referral to the relevant authorities, as and where appropriate, will also be provided as part of this process.

"Existing Cricket Scotland policies and procedures will also be reviewed in line with equality, diversity and inclusion best practice, to ensure that lessons are learned, and that action is taken to address the issues facing the sport.

"On completion of the review process, a report and action plan will be published by the independent experts, with Sportscotland responsible for holding Cricket Scotland and its associations to account, to ensure that real change is delivered on the recommendations."

Cricket has been engulfed in a racism scandal initially prompted by allegations made by Azeem Rafiq, who spoke about his experiences of racism at former county Yorkshire.

Rafiq told a parliament select committee that English cricket is "institutionally" racist.

Qasim Sheikh says he has been accused of ‘jumping on the bandwagon’ when making claims of racism
Image: Qasim Sheikh says he has been accused of 'jumping on the bandwagon' when making claims of racism

Cricket Scotland told Sky Sports News last month it would thoroughly investigate and deal with any allegations of racism or harassment but would not discuss individual cases.

Sportscotland aims to publish the full scope of the independent review within the next seven days.

Chief executive of Sportscotland Stewart Harris said: "There can be no place for racism or discrimination of any kind in sport and it is vital that all complaints of this nature are robustly investigated. That must always be the starting point when we are talking about racism and racial inequalities.

Majid Haq
Image: Off-spinner Majid Haq took 88 wickets in a total of 75 ODI and T20I appearances for Scotland

"It is clear that steps must be taken to address the problem of racism within cricket in Scotland. We must listen to the very real concerns that have and will continue to be raised as part of this wholly independent process. But more than that, we must also act on these and start to rebuild trust.

"This will not be easy and it will take time. However, as the national agency for sport we will do what is required to effect positive change wherever it is needed in Scottish cricket."

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Cricket Scotland president, Sue Strachan says trust will be vital after the country's national agency for sport announced it is appointing a team of independent experts to carry out a full review of racism within Scottish cricket.

President of Cricket Scotland Sue Strachan said: "We have reached out to Sportscotland for their help and support to investigate any evidence of racism in cricket in Scotland. We are grateful to Sportscotland for commissioning this wide-ranging independent review of racism within the sport that we love.

"The Boards of Cricket Scotland, in association with the regional associations, the Scottish Cricketers Association and the Cricket Scotland Match Officials Association, will engage fully with the independent review and have committed to acting upon any recommendations made as a result of its findings. We want to ensure that going forward there is no place for racism within cricket in Scotland."

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