Cricket must address racism: Former England international Roland Butcher fed up

Roland Butcher, the first black cricketer to represent England, believes the time for just talking about racial issues is over and has called for tangible change to take place.
Azeem Rafiq’s claims of institutional racism in his two spells at Yorkshire led to an explosive appearance before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) select committee in November and has prompted much soul-searching within cricket.
New Yorkshire chair Lord Patel has overseen a shake-up of the backroom staff following his appointment while the England and Wales Cricket Board two months ago announced a 12-point action plan to tackle all forms of discrimination.

Butcher, who played three Tests and three one-day internationals at the start of the 1980s, said: “I’m not interested in the words, I want to see action.
Azeem Rafiq criticises Mike O’Farrell’s comments on lack of diversity in cricket
“When I can look and say, ‘Yes, that has been done’ then for sure I will be comfortable. Talk is cheap and promises are a comfort to a fool. I want to see action.”
ECB chief executive Tom Harrison’s position has come under scrutiny in the last couple of months, with the governing body receiving criticism for its initial hands-off approach to Rafiq’s allegations.
But Harrison insisted he has received the backing of the game’s chief decision-makers to lead cricket through the scandal and Butcher has urged the ECB to correct course, which he feels could shape other sports’ attitudes towards diversity.
Speaking at a ‘Bat For A Chance’ event outside the Kensington Oval in Barbados to facilitate kit donations to projects in the country, Butcher added: “I would have liked the ECB to have stepped in earlier.

“I thought they took too long to get hold of the situation and deal with it, but the fact is they’ve got hold of it now, so I will wait and see how that pans out.
“They’ve got a lot of work to do, a lot of people are very much on their case because a lot of people feel that they really have had their head in the sand but they’ve got a great opportunity now to put things right.
“They can really set the tone for the future and not just send a message for cricket but lead some of the other sports who at this moment in time will be struggling with their own problems with diversity.
“You’re going to have persons from all walks of background involved in sport. If you can get a level playing field for everyone then everybody can benefit from that.”
Latest
-
News
Has ‘Bazball’ taken hold in county cricket? What the numbers tell us
Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes are keen to see their England side’s aggressive approach replicated in the domestic game.
-
News
Opening batter Ben Duckett backed to thrive long-term in second England chance
Since his recall late last year, Duckett has been the model opening batter for the regime under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
-
News
Alex Hartley: Taking indefinite break from cricket was ‘hardest decision’ ever
Hartley announced on her BBC No Balls Podcast on Friday that she had been “struggling mentally” for several months.
-
News
England will keep embracing risks during Ashes despite ‘blip’ – Daryl Mitchell
England have enjoyed some rousing successes since Ben Stokes and Kiwi favourite Brendon McCullum took over the Test team.
-
News
Australia captain Meg Lanning ruled out of women’s Ashes
Cricket Australia said the 31-year-old has been ‘withdrawn from the squad due to a medical issue’.
-
News
Sean Abbott equals Blast record with stunning century for Surrey
The Australian equalled his compatriot Andrew Symonds by scoring a century from just 34 deliveries.
-
News
Six former Yorkshire players sanctioned by CDC in Azeem Rafiq racism case
Gary Ballance, Matthew Hoggard, Tim Bresnan, Andrew Gale, John Blain and Richard Pyrah have been handed combined fines of £22,000.
-
News
Cricket Ireland defends decision to rest Josh Little for England Test
The 23-year-old left-armer is one of Irish cricket’s hottest properties.
-
England
On this day in 2015: England hire Trevor Bayliss as head coach
Bayliss led England to World Cup glory in 2019.
-
England
Jason Roy looks Los Angeles-bound but says ‘I never will walk away from England’
The batter has had to cancel the remainder of his current incremental contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board.