Even after all this, sorry still seems to be the hardest word
THE results are in. And they are not only shocking but also indicative of a culture that was allowed to fester within Cricket Scotland, with little or no accountability.
For years, the body governing the game in Scotland swept issues of racism and discrimination under the carpet. They left individuals like Majid Haq to rot.
The 39-year-old has been left with depression and low self-esteem, his career ruined by the institution he put his trust in and by the sport he loves. He still struggles with his mental health, a problem that potentially could have been helped many years ago had he had help from those within the governing body.
It’s not that Haq didn’t seek help — he did. He was told, however, that Cricket Scotland didn’t have the funding. The man who had given everything to play for his country, becoming Scotland’s leading all-time wicket-taker, was kicked aside. Even now, he remains excluded from Cricket Scotland’s Hall of Fame.
Just what kind of place was Cricket Scotland that these things were allowed to happen? And why did nobody speak out? Both current and former staff have told me they were fearful of having a voice. That was the culture. Being quiet was better than being silenced.
The propensity not to talk was highlighted through the revelation that in 2016, Haq signed a non-disclosure agreement with Cricket Scotland. It took six years for that to be lifted, despite repeated calls from Haq’s lawyer, Aamer Anwar. One can only imagine the terrible toll it took on him.
With change now on the horizon, the release of the report should bring about a modicum of positivity. The over-riding emotion, however, remains one of disappointment that the chief executive of sportscotland, Stewart Harris, did not publicly apologise to the two men who have been instrumental in bringing this report about.
While it is understandable that due processes must be followed, why was it so difficult to say ‘sorry’?
Sportscotland commissioned the review when concerns were raised to the agency last year and after Haq and Qasim Sheikh called Cricket Scotland ‘institutionally racist’.
Sportscotland has done a great job of moving this review forward and has played an instrumental role in seeking change through a thorough and independent process.
However, a simple ‘sorry’ on the day the findings were released would have added a great deal to the enormity of the day. No one is saying that Harris is personally to blame for the actions of Cricket Scotland but as the Head of Scotland’s national sport agency, it would have carried significant weight. How can we possibly start this new chapter for Cricket Scotland if the first obstacle comes, again, from the wall of silence?
It is heartening, however, to see the man in interim-charge of Cricket Scotland finally issuing a public apology to Haq and Sheikh.
Gordon Arthur has only been in the door five minutes and he has walked into a complete bomb-scare of a situation. For him, the rebuilding job begins. The future of the sport depends on it.
Cricket Scotland has now been placed in ‘special measures’ until October 2023, by which time it must develop an action plan and address immediate concerns. Should it fail to do so, it could have its funding pulled.
Harris said Cricket Scotland is now on a ‘cliff-edge’ with ‘no leadership’ and ‘no governance.’ He added: ‘If things don’t move on in the pace we want, we will withdraw funding and we will look at other ways of supporting cricket.
‘We won’t walk away from the sport but we will walk away from the governing body if that’s required. I hope it’s not. I hope they can work with us to create something they can be responsible for and sustain, which is an open and transparent sport that people want to be a part of.’
How that transparency and open-ness comes about is the big challenge facing those tasked with making changes. Within the sport, there are still those who continue to discriminate and belittle others. There are people who feel they don’t belong because they’ve been made to feel that way for years. There are players who have given up because they feel the hassle is just not worth it. There are young men and women coming through at grassroots level who feel they will never be given the same opportunities as others because of the colour of their skin.
The task that lies ahead now for Cricket Scotland is massive. It’s not only about governance and sorting out the problems within the governing body itself, it’s about rebuilding the confidence of a cricketing nation. Sport should be about having fun, enjoyment of the game, staying healthy and playing a part. Not about silence and fear.
More importantly, sport should always be inclusive.
Let’s hope now that there is a future for Cricket Scotland, because — let’s face it — the clock is already ticking.