Reports claim the ECB ‘declined to pursue racism allegations that occurred before 1997’

The ECB have been accused of a ‘dereliction of duty’ after declining to pursue claims that a former player called a teammate a ‘smelly P***’.

A witness statement alleges that the former player used the term on a daily basis to denigrate a colleague in the Yorkshire Academy – but the ECB have refused to charge the individual in question.

The ECB’s Legal and Integrity department told the complainant in an email: ‘In terms of the allegations you have raised in relation to [redacted] and [redacted], they pre-date the ECB’s formation on 1 January 1997 and therefore the ECB will not have regulatory jurisdiction over those acts.

‘Another body, the TCCB, was the governing body of English cricket at the time of your allegations and it ceased to exist when the ECB was formed.’

The ECB’s email comes shortly after a witness came forward to testify of racial abuse that he and others suffered during their time at Yorkshire Academy. 

A witness statement suggests that a number of players suffered racial abuse at Yorkshire

The statement read: ‘I experienced casual racism whilst I was at the Yorkshire Academy. The word “P***” was often used towards me, alongside other derogatory comments. In addition, black players would be referred to using the racial slur “Spook”.

‘This racist language was used on a very regular basis throughout my three years at the Yorkshire Academy by a wide range of people, including Yorkshire players and coaches as well as parents and spectators.

‘However, the experiences that I had were not as bad as those faced by [redacted], some of which I personally witnessed. The way he was treated was disgraceful. He was living away from home to attend the Yorkshire Academy so was effectively there on his own. I witnessed him regularly being referred to as “Smelly P***” whilst at the Yorkshire Academy or “SP” or “S” for short.

‘Two people who I recall used these phrases were [redacted]… and [redacted]. I think they were threatened by [redacted’s] potential and that motivated their behaviour towards him.

‘They would use these names towards him in person on a daily basis at the Bradford Park Avenue ground where the Yorkshire Academy team was based.’

The statement said ‘racist language was used on a very regular basis throughout’ the academy

MPs have gotten involved in the issue and claim that the ECB are showing a ‘dereliction of duty’

The ECB’s decision did not resonate well with Navendu Mishra, MP for Stockport, who said the organisation are searching for a ‘bureaucratic hiding place on this matter.’ 

Speaking to the Cricketer, Mishra said: ‘I am appalled that the ECB is trying to find a bureaucratic hiding place on this matter, when the evidence of repeated, systemic racism is so clear. The future of the sport we love demands action, not denial.

‘Cricket is for everyone. To ensure a positive future for our sport, the ECB must take responsibility – to do otherwise is a dereliction of duty. For my part, I will continue to press the government on this matter and I know my colleagues – of all political hues – will do the same.’

Former Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton criticised the ECB for neglecting Azeem Rafiq’s case

The ECB failed to assist with Yorkshire’s inquiry into Rafiq’s (pictured above) complaints

The ECB said: ‘We are unable to investigate until we have ascertained if we have any jurisdiction over the matter. We are currently looking into the documents entered into by the TCCB and the ECB. 

‘This includes what rights were assigned to the ECB when it was formed. If we can determine that the ECB has jurisdiction as a result of an assignment from the TCCB, we will investigate further. This would include establishing what TCCB rules applied to individuals during that time period.’

The entire ordeal comes shortly after former Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton criticised the ECB for refusing to investigate the organisation’s own conduct in the Azeem Rafiq racism affair.

The ECB’s Cricket Disciplinary Commission last week issued charges against seven former Yorkshire players and the club for a variety of alleged offences related to an allegedly racist culture that went unchallenged over almost two decades at Headingley, but has not made any attempt to scrutinise the actions of the governing body itself. 

Hutton resigned as chairman last November with an attack on the ECB for their failure to assist with Yorkshire’s inquiry into Rafiq’s complaints of suffering racist abuse at the club, and has been further angered by the ECB’s subsequent investigation.

‘They did not offer to help Yorkshire investigate despite the obvious difficulties it faced in doing so and when Yorkshire asked them to help they refused to do so. I believe this should be questioned.

‘I also believe that the ECB investigation itself has been poor and carried out by those with a lack of independence. I have raised these concerns with the ECB and they have dismissed them.’