Government will keep funding the ECB despite scathing criticism of ‘deep-seated’ racism and lack of diversity in cricket amid the Azeem Rafiq affair
- The ECB currently receive around £2.25million annually in Government funding
- Government advisors felt withdrawing money could hinder diversity drive
- ECB chief Tom Harrison will face further questions from MPs on Tuesday
The Government have no plans to cut the funding they provide to the ECB despite what MPs have described as the sport’s ‘endemic’ and ‘deep-seated’ racism.
A report from the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee published earlier this month called for financial aid to be made contingent upon achieving tangible progress in the battle against racism, but Government advisers have concluded that withdrawing funding would damage the cause of making cricket more diverse.
The ECB currently receive around £2.25million annually in Government funding, administered by Sport England, payments that MPs on the DCMS select committee have questioned in the light of the Azeem Rafiq affair and conclusive evidence of the sport’s lack of diversity.
A report by the DCMS Select Committee concluded that there is a ‘deep seated’ racism issue in the sport after revelations made by former Yorkshire star Azeem Rafiq
The money is paid in several tranches throughout the year and there are no plans to review it at present, not least as much of it is used to fund diversity projects such as the ECB’s South Asian Action Plan and the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, which was launched last year.
ECB chief executive Tom Harrison will face further questions from MPs in front of the DCMS select committee on Tuesday, when he will be asked to provide a detailed update on how the sport plans to tackle the racism crisis. The ECB responded to Harrison’s previous appearance at DCMS last November by producing a 12-point diversity action plan, but MPs are determined to keep the pressure on.
Despite expecting another grilling for Harrison, many at the ECB welcome the scrutiny. This is because it enables them to put pressure on a number of the counties who have been slow to respond to their demands for greater diversity in the dressing room and boardroom. The pace of change at some clubs has long been a frustration at Lord’s, which led Harrison to threaten to withdraw some of the funding the ECB provide to the counties in an interview with Sportsmail two years ago.
Yorkshire chairman Lord Patel will also appear today to provide updates on changing the culture at Headingley after the entire coaching staff were sacked last month.
Government advisors felt withdrawing money could hinder the diversity drive in cricket