Racism and discrimination is a blight on our recreation, we’re actually sorry: England cricket

England’s main cricketing our bodies collectively apologised on Friday to all those that have suffered racism and discrimination within the recreation following former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq’s revelations concerning the abuse he encountered.

Rafiq advised a British parliamentary committee on Tuesday that he had suffered “inhuman” remedy in his time at Yorkshire and described the game being riddled with racism in England.A gathering was held on Friday on the Oval between the England & Wales Cricket Board, Marylebone Cricket Club, the Professional Cricketers’ Association, the National Counties Cricket Association and the First Class and Recreational County Cricket community.The organisations launched a joint-statement wherein they mentioned they might take a look at methods to make English cricket extra open and inclusive earlier than finalising a plan of motion to be introduced subsequent week.”Racism and discrimination is a blight on our game. To Azeem and all those who have experienced any form of discrimination, we are truly sorry. Our sport did not welcome you, our game did not accept you as we should have done. We apologise unreservedly for your suffering,” the assertion mentioned.”We stand together against discrimination in all its forms, and are united as a sport to act…”Today, as a recreation, we mentioned a collection of tangible commitments to make cricket a sport the place everybody feels protected, and everybody feels included. We will now finalise the element and publish these actions subsequent week.”Our game must win back your trust.”ECB chief government Tom Harrison mentioned after the assembly that he is not going to step down from his function on the governing physique and is “very motivated” to sort out racism throughout the sport.Harrison, who has held the place since 2015, was quizzed by members of a British parliamentary committee on Tuesday shortly after Rafiq’s account of racial slurs on the membership.”I feel very determined to lead this change through the game and make sure this blight is addressed in the game,” Harrison advised reporters.”I feel passionately about this issue. It’s something I feel to my core. I’ve been trying to drive an inclusive and diverse sport from the moment I arrived as chief executive in 2015. I feel very motivated and very supported to make sure that change happens in the game.”I do wish to be sure that I depart a recreation that has the suitable protected form of atmosphere for everybody to really feel welcomed and really feel a way of belonging in.”Earlier on Friday, the ECB mentioned it will examine the matter of an previous picture revealed in The Sun newspaper displaying former England batsman Alex Hales in blackface at a flowery gown occasion.Rafiq himself apologised on Thursday for utilizing anti-Semitic language in 2011 throughout an alternate of messages on social media with one other cricketer.