Haq’s optimism for Scottish cricket
Former Scotland international Majid Haq feels rare optimism about the future of his sport after the appointment of Anjan Luthra as Cricket Scotland chair.
Luthra is the first person to be appointed to the board since the mass resignations that immediately preceded the publication of a damning report into racism in the organisation in July.
Public comments from Haq and former Scotland team-mate Qasim Sheikh had prompted the independent review, which discovered 448 instances of institutional racism.
The two former players met with interim chief executive Gordon Arthur on Friday to express concerns that progress into reforming the governing body had been too slow.
A positive meeting followed and both were especially pleased to hear of the new appointment.
Luthra is a former Scotland youth international at both tennis and cricket who qualified as a chartered account and worked in venture capital. He now runs London-based global media business RAMP, which he founded himself.
He is also a former Ferguslie team-mate of Haq, who said: “It’s one of the first days I have been quite positive about Scottish cricket for a long, long time. I hope he can carry the hope forward over the next couple of years and I’m pretty confident he can.
“He is young, very ambitious and has done a lot in his life already. He comes from a good family, has good morals, and is extremely competitive and will want the best.
“He will aim for the top and that’s what we need in Scottish cricket because there is a lot of potential there.”
Luthra earlier stated that he was honoured to be appointed.
He added on Twitter: “I have been deeply upset about what the victims have been through. It is unacceptable. There are huge
fundamental problems to tackle. I will be working tirelessly to rebuild the organisation. Excited for an ambitious future.”