Scotland’s national agency for sport, sportscotland, has today (Monday 23 January 2023) published a further interim update into the progress made by Cricket Scotland following an independent review into racism in Scottish cricket.
The Plan4Sport Changing The Boundaries report concluded that the governance and leadership practices of Cricket Scotland were institutionally racist. This followed an in-depth consultation process with close to 1,000 direct engagements from a broad cross-section of all levels of the sport in Scotland.
Changing The Boundaries contained three immediate high-level recommendations, with associated sub-recommendations. Today’s interim update provides an overview of progress against each of the key recommendations, with sportscotland also committing to three further public updates over the coming months. These updates will be published in April 2023, July 2023 and October 2023.
Recommendations
Special Measures
Cricket Scotland to be placed in special measures by sportscotland. Special measures be in place until October 2023 to provide a full year of oversight by sportscotland.
Status: Ongoing (No change)
Board recruitment:
Cricket Scotland to commence an immediate recruitment process for new Board members, with appointments made by 30 September 2022. (The diversity of the Board members should be a minimum of 40% men and 40% women, and ensuring that a minimum of 25% of the total Board makeup come from of Black, South-East Asian, or other mixed or multiple ethnic groups.)
- Board recruitment commenced on 15 August 2022, with an intentional approach to reach a diverse audience.
- New Chair appointed on 7 October 2022.
- Two new independent Non-Executive Directors appointed on 21 October 2022.
- New Board members are 75%male, 25% female and 50% from ethnically diverse communities.
- Priority is being given to further female appointments with additional Board member(s) to be recruited by 28 April 2023.
Status: In Progress (No change)
Action Plan:
Action Plan to be developed by Cricket Scotland which addresses the immediate actions and short-term KPIs contained within the Changing The Boundaries report. The Action Plan should be approved by sportscotland by 30 September 2022.
- Initial short-term Changing The Boundaries Action Plan approved by sportscotland. Implementation to be reviewed to ensure it delivers against all recommendations and significantly improves not only the systems and practices but also the culture within Cricket Scotland.
- Immediate priority to now be given to development of anti-racism and EDI Strategy and associated Delivery Plan.
- Draft anti-racism and EDI Strategy and Delivery Plan to be further developed by the newly established anti-racism and EDI Advisory Group and other partners including Running Out Racism.
Status: Complete (In progress to complete)
Special measures (WDCU):
Western District Cricket Union (WDCU) is placed in special measures by Cricket Scotland with immediate effect.
Status: Ongoing (No change)
WDCU disciplinary processes:
Temporary and immediate suspension of WDCU’s role in managing all disciplinary matters relating to its competitions and clubs. These are to be handed to an alternative organisation to manage.
Status: Complete (No change)
WDCU review:
An urgent, independent review into the overall effectiveness of WDCU’s Management Committee implementation of the disciplinary processes to be completed by 30 September 2022.
- New WDCU Executive Committee appointed 7 September 2022.
- 50% of newly Executive Committee positions filled by people from ethnically diverse communities.
- Independent review of disciplinary process now complete.
- Recommendations passed to new WDCU Executive Committee for further action.
Status: Complete (In progress to complete)
Referrals:
Cricket Scotland addresses the backlog in referrals generated from the review. All investigations resulting from referrals to be expedited by a third party with the appropriate expertise.
- Following publication of the Changing The Boundaries report in July this year, the number of referrals passed to Cricket Scotland has increased from 68 to 77, relating to 43 allegations of racism against 27 different people, two clubs and two Regional Associations.
- In total there are 52 unique complaints, with nine considered to be non-race related. All 52 complaints have now been reviewed as part of an independent process being led by leading sports law firm Harper MacLeod LLP, UK-wide race equality charity Sporting Equals, and where appropriate, anti-racism campaign group Running Out Racism.
- Following the high-level review Cricket Scotland has confirmed that of the 43 complaints that include allegations of racism, 22 require further formal investigation.
- All complainants have now been contacted in relation to the referral process and Harper Macleod and Sporting Equals have started investigating the initial cases from the 22 that involve potential rule breaches, as well as ingathering further information on 17 which require further clarity before decisions can be taken on the next steps.
Status: In progress (No change)