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The England Cricket Board has announced that to make cricket more inclusive after research uncovered rampant discrimination throughout the sport, it will create an independent regulator and increase spending in the women's game. The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC), which found evidence of prevalent racism, misogyny, classism, and elitism, made 44 recommendations in its report, and the ECB responded on Monday.
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The ECB pledged to spend at least 25 million pounds ($30.55 million) annually throughout the current broadcast cycle, which continues through 2028, to advance the development of women's and girls' sports at all levels. Any money made from the women's game won't affect the investment.
Within the next year, a new regulatory agency should be established that is not affiliated with the ECB, according to the paper. The Independent Cricket Regulatory Board would receive reports from the regulator, according to the ECB, and it would be functioning before the 2024 season began. ECB chair Richard Thompson stated after reading ICEC’s report, “There is no doubt that the ICEC highlighted to great effect the impact of discrimination on individuals and the extent of the systemic challenges to be addressed.”
The chairman also stated that he apologized to everyone without reservation on behalf of cricket’s wider leadership to anyone who has suffered discrimination or felt excluded from the sport, right after ICEC’s report was published. Additionally, the ECB will take a more open and accountable approach to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and publish a status of equity report every three years.
Restructuring the talent route to "make it more meritocratic, inclusive, accountable, transparent and consistent" and adding victimisation as an offence to the Anti-Discrimination Code are further actions that are planned in accordance with the recommendations of the ICEC.
