KEY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT?

In November of last year, former Scotland bowler Majid Haq and team-mate Qasim Sheikh called for an inquiry into Scottish cricket amid claims of racism. Haq had been sent home from the World Cup in 2015, Tweeting: ‘Always tough when you’re in the minority’. He insisted he was victimised on the grounds of race. The then chief executive of Cricket Scotland, Gus Mackay, was advised to stay away from work amid claims that he presided over a culture of ‘bullying’ at the organisation. Sportscotland then commissioned an independent investigation, while Cricket Scotland vowed to relax all Non-Disclosure Agreements to enable and empower the review. Haq had been asked to sign one in 2016. Meanwhile, Sheikh reveals that he had suffered abuse and from depression after speaking out. In February this year, Cricket Scotland released Haq from the terms of his NDA. Haq’s lawyer revealed that he was set to speak publicly about his ordeal, even if the NDA hadn’t been lifted.

WHAT DID THE REPORT SAY?

The report, carried out independently by Plan4Sport, was utterly damning in its findings. The review process included almost 1,000 direct engagements from a broad cross-section of all levels of Scottish cricket. The report found the governance and leadership practices of Cricket Scotland to be institutionally racist. It confirmed 448 examples that demonstrated institutional racism. Recurring themes were mapped against 31 indicators of institutional racism, with 29 failing to meet the standard required and only two partially meeting the standard. As part of the review, 68 individual concerns have been referred for further investigation. These relate to 31 allegations of racism against 15 different people, two clubs and one Regional Association. In some instances, multiple concerns have been raised against individuals. Some of these alleged incidents are recent while others were non-recent. These investigations will be concluded in due course.

WILL MAJID HAQ AND QASIM SHEIKH LOOK TO SUE?

Speaking on his clients’ behalf yesterday, lawyer Aamer Anwar made it clear that they have no intention of doing so. ‘This was never about the money’, he said. ‘It was about clearing their name and forcing change within an organisation that has now been shown to be rotten to the core.’

÷WHAT HAPPENS TO CRICKET SCOTLAND?

Well, that’s anyone’s guess. The entire board resigned en masse at the weekend because they did not feel that the timeframe to meet the report’s recommendations was deliverable. Nevertheless, the organisation will have to appoint a new board who can satisfy the demands being put on them. The appointment of a new board must be made no later than September 30 this year. The diversity of board members should be a minimum of 40 per cent men and 40 per cent women, ensuring that a minimum of 25 per cent of the total board make-up come from black, south-east Asian, or other mixed or multiple ethnic groups. Western District Cricket Union is also now under review. This includes 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. An urgent, independent review into the overall effectiveness of WDCU’s governance, and its culture of inclusion, as a Regional Association of Cricket Scotland, is to be completed by the end of September. This does not include the Western District Junior Cricket Union.

÷WHAT COMES NEXT?

The full extent of the report isn’t yet known. There is still a backlog of referrals which are now being worked on as a matter of urgency. But what we do know is that Cricket Scotland has now been placed into special measures by sportscotland. What this effectively means is that the governing body for sport in Scotland will be watching their every move until at least October 2023. If sportscotland don’t feel as though there has been sufficient change and reform at Cricket Scotland, then they will pull the plug on funding.