‘Playing a part in significant change is bigger than any trophies we’ll win’
– ENGLAND CAPTAIN EOIN MORGAN
EOIN MORGAN says his team’s part in affecting positive change in the game on inclusion and diversity is more important than winning the T20 World Cup.
Morgan will attempt to guide England into the semi-finals with a win over South Africa today as the Azeem Rafiq affair rumbles on at home.
Even a defeat is unlikely to stop their progress and Morgan said: “Our culture has been built around inclusivity and diversity. It’s been a strong part of our game.
“We have spoken about being a part of the significant change that will lead to something that will be bigger than any of our careers or any of the trophies that we win.
“We are very serious about it. We firmly believe that there is no place in our sport for any type of discrimination.
“Yes, we want to see the sport in a great light but equally if there’s an issue as serious as this we want it dealt with as well.”
Leg-spinner Adil Rashid, who plays for Yorkshire, has been a
central part of that success and finds himself at the heart of the racism row after Michael Vaughan denied referring to him, Rafiq and others as “your lot”.
Morgan said: “I think given what’s happened so close to home for Adil, it’s great that he does have a great support network.”
The skipper admitted the win over Sri Lanka at Sharjah on Monday was as tough as any international game he had faced.
He revealed David Willey was pushing Mark Wood in the race to replace the injured Tymal Mills and added: “We’re not changing our mindset at all.
“Given some of the situations we’ve been through in the past we know how difficult it is to win a World Cup game without adding different permutations into that.
“In the group stage it’s so easy to get things wrong because every team has to fight tooth and nail to get through and then when and if you do get through there’s a release of any pressure.
“Our win in Sharjah was as tough a win as we’ve ever had as a group.”