After Yorkshire, Essex and Cricket Scotland in the midst of racism storm: Report

London, July 24

England county side Essex and Cricket Scotland are in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons with reports suggesting they could be implicated over racism allegations, and up to 10 people could face charges of racism at the club. A report in Daily Mail late on Saturday said Cricket Scotland is set to be found as "institutionally racist" while "up to 10 people are set to be implicated in an investigation into racism at Essex" on Monday.

Allegations of institutional racism have been plaguing England cricket since the time former Yorkshire cricketer of Pakistan origin Azeem Rafiq came out in the open last November claiming he had been treated differently during his nearly decade-long stay at the county side.

The serious allegations made by Rafiq forced Yorkshire to sack most of their management and coaching staff and make fresh appointments.

The report said that Scotland cricketers Majid Haq and Qasim Sheikh had decided to speak up after Rafiq's whistle-blowing and that the review had found cricket in Scotland to be "institutionally racist".

The report added that a former Essex coach and skipper are at the centre of allegations made by former players Maurice Chambers, Zoheb Sharif and Jahid Ahmed "that they suffered racist abuse while at the club".

While the independent report has got delayed and is not expected to be in public domain until September, the report added that "multiple individuals will be charged".

The report added that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had declined to comment on an "ongoing investigation". It may be recalled that Essex had been fined 50,000 pound sterling after the club pleaded guilty to two charges in relation to a racist comment made at a board meeting in Chelmsford in 2017.

In a statement Cricket Scotland said, "Cricket should be a welcoming place for everyone and not somewhere that racism or any other form of discrimination takes place. The Cricket Scotland board is truly sorry to everyone who has experienced racism in cricket in Scotland."

--IANS