Institutional Racism in Cricket Scotland

As a sportscotland commissioned report is expected to find institutional racism at Cricket Scotland, leading to the resignation of the board on the eve of publication.
 
Cricketers Majid Haq and Qasim Sheikh have raised claims of being subjected to racist and Islamophobic abuse over several years, with Sheikh stating he was racially abused from the age of 15. Both players believe racism led to the end of their international careers.
 
As with the case of Azeem Rafiq, the sport and its authorities failed to protect Haq and Sheikh against discrimination and later against victimisation in accordance with the 2010 Equality Act. These cases underline the culture that exists within the grounds of some clubs and the persisting abuse that leads to careers destroyed, players belittled and, as a result, deters future members of ethnic minority communities against pursuing careers within professional sport.
 
MEND supports the players’ lawyer, Aamer Anwar, in seeking a public apology from Cricket Scotland.

We also call for all sports clubs and associations in Scotland to tackle racism effectively at all levels of the sport. Part of the action that is needed to achieve this is the promotion of diversity by ensuring BAME representation at board and all other levels. Sports clubs must have a zero-tolerance to all forms of racism across all levels of sports. The time has come for sportscotland to oversee and lead this change.