Racism in the game? Yes but not at Derbys, says Anuj
ANUJ Dal has spoken out about his experiences of racism in cricket – while stressing that they pre-date his time with Derbyshire.
The all-rounder, who has also been coaching with Ashbourne CC during his winters, has spoken after the results of a survey put to Professional Cricketers’ Association members revealed that 23 members had experienced racism in the game, half of them citing a fellow professional as its source.
Dal admits he would deal with such a situation differently and with more confidence now than he might have done when he was a teenager making his way in the game.
“It’s so difficult as a younger player, especially if it’s coming from players of importance,” he said in an interview with The Cricketer magazine.
“As an 18 or 19-year-old you don’t want to be bringing up those issues or challenge it. You had to brush it off, especially when you are just starting off and have no credibility in the game.
“You just want to be the quiet individual that goes about his business. But it is there. I’ve received it at a lot of different levels, whether it be references like ‘you lot’ and or hand gestures that would be made to indicate a BAME player.
“In the past I wouldn’t have felt comfortable opening up about it. But now, seeing how relevant it is and seeing the likes of Azeem Rafiq and lots of other players going through something very similar, it’s clear that the issue is there. It’s heartbreaking to see what players have to go through.”
Dal says the survey was an eyeopener in the Derbyshire dressing room, for all that he has had no problems as a member of it.
“I know in our dressing room it was an eye-opener and the results were a shock to a lot of people at the PCA,” he said.
“I’m very glad it has come to light, as it enabled them to realise just how important this topic is and how necessary it is to stamp it out.
“I really feel for players having to go through it. I am comforted by the fact that the PCA have taken such a strong stance. So from one point of view the survey was very disappointing but from another it is exciting to see how involved the PCA and the clubs are.”
Most respondents said the abuse they had received was dressed up as “banter.”
“I don’t think anything said to me was intended maliciously,” said Dal.
“Maybe the players were not educated enough to understand where the boundary is and I had the ability to brush it off and try to put it to the side as a joke, as ‘banter.’
“Deep down, I knew it wasn’t what you wanted as a player. I didn’t want to engage with it and never felt comfortable opening up on it.
“I looked back to three or four years ago and wish and I was in the position I am now because it would have been very different.”
Dal is reflecting on past experiences, having previously been released by Nottinghamshire, and is happy with Derbyshire, who he joined in 2018.
“We’ve got such a great group that you wouldn’t really see that sort of thing happen in the first place,” he said.
“It’s so refreshing to be part of a side whether you don’t even have to worry about that. It’s a non-negotiable for the club. It makes you feel at ease knowing that it (racism) is not something you have to deal with.”
The PCA, of which Dal was recently elected one of two vice-chairs, alongside England
women’s captain Heather Knight, has established an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion group.
“Moving forward there are a lot of issues that we want to target. Racism is a big one and is something that hasn’t been covered to the extent it should have been in the past,” explained Dal.
“We want to reach a position where there is equality and inclusion for all players but we also have to make sure we get things done properly rather than rushing to do everything at once.
“We have targeted racism as the one to start with and want to reach a position where we have a) good understanding of the issue and b) good education around it and support for the players going into that.”
There will be educational workshops for all professionals in England and Wales and Dal recently took part in Derbyshire’s first session, held online.
“Ours was outstanding. Fantastic. Really well run and very easy to interact with. We had such engaging conversations both as a big group and also when we split into minigroups. It was great to hear people’s thoughts and they spoke up about how they interpret things,” he said.
“The aim is firstly to allow players to feel able to challenge comments that make them feel uncomfortable and we have reporting procedures in place now that mean it can be escalated in the right way. Ultimately, we want to have environments where these things don’t happen in the first place.
“Derbyshire are making sure not only the players but all the coaches are involved so that players right the way through the system don’t have to worry about it (experiencing racism).
“If the other counties are having similar conversations, I am hopeful that a few years down the line it can be completely eradicated from within the playing side. That is what we want moving forward.”