ECB threatened by the government if it fails to act appropriately on racism scandal: "We have the nuclear option"

Nigel Huddleston MP says an independent regulator will be appointed to oversee the crisis as the government consider intervening

The government have threatened the England and Wales Cricket Board with the "nuclear option" of appointing an independent regulator if they do not respond appropriately to the racism scandal engulfing the sport.

Speaking first in parliament and then in front of the DCMS committee on Thursday (November 18), sports minister Nigel Huddleston MP said the governing body would be strongly held to account and that intervention was an option.

Azeem Rafiq's experience of institutional racism at Yorkshire and his emotional testimony at a DCMS hearing on Tuesday (November 16) has led to more than 1,000 people contacting an inquiry into discrimination in cricket.

ECB chief executive Tom Harrison has admitted it had let cricket down and pledged to "transform" the sport.

"If they fail to act appropriately we will not hesitate to intervene further," said Mr Huddleston in response to a question from Julian Knight MP, who chairs the select committee.

He then attended a session in front of the DCMS committee where he outlined the options available to the government.

^{Tom Harrison has pledged to exact change at the ECB}

"I've had conversations with Tom, the secretary of state has spoken to Lord Patel (Yorkshire chairman) as well this week," he added.

"What we all want is for cricket to get its act together and sort this problem out.

"I have had assurances from Tom Harrison that he will do whatever it takes in order to correct the wrongs.

"I have had extensive conversations with the secretary of state Nadine Dorries and she has been very clear to me as well that if we do not see sufficient action being taken then we as a government will intervene in whatever way is necessary."

Following an investigation at Yorkshire which took more than a year to reach an outcome, the government have asked the ECB to respond to the current crisis in the coming "weeks and months".

Pressed by Julie Elliott MP whether the ECB were fit to carry out real change, Huddleston added: "I am not saying I have absolute confidence at the moment. I have heard positive noises but we will judge them by their deeds and actions. 

"The ECB does have quite significant and substantial resources. Cricket is not one of the poorer sports. I'll require that they get those resources together to take the appropriate action because they should do.

^{Nadine Dorries is the Secretary of State for digital, culture, media and sport}

"If they don't currently have the skills and resources, and I am not in a position to say yes or no on that at the moment, so I expect them to get them and pretty soon.

"If we won't think there is sufficient attention or sufficient resources then we have to think of alternatives."

Indeed, if the government are not satisfied by the level of change instigated by the ECB then the appointment of an independent regulator to take charge is among the options being floated.

"Sport in the UK is not nationalised," Mr Huddleston explained. "We don't have direct control.

"If they don't get their act together then we have the nuclear option of legislating in order to bring in potentially an independent regulator.

"That is probably if we have absolutely have to, we will have to go down. That is one of the key options.

"If we're in that position with cricket, and the clock is ticking on this, then we might well go down that route as well."

It is not clear whether a move of this nature would breach ICC rules on government interference.