GEORGE DOBELL AT LORD'S: The ECB's first officially organised Iftar - the breaking of fast at the end of a day of Ramadan - hosted at the self-styled, ‘home of cricket’, offered a welcome glance at what the future might look like
It felt significant. As the call to prayer echoed across the Long Room at Lord’s it felt, for a moment at least, as if the sport was making progress.
The event was the ECB’s first officially organised Iftar (the breaking of fast at the end of a day of Ramadan) and the location was the, admittedly self-styled, ‘home of cricket’. A venue which, for all the wonderful history, has sometimes appeared exclusive and anchored to a past where diversity and change was not especially welcome.
Perhaps more pertinently, it came amid the game’s inclusion crisis. At a time when it has become apparent that people of colour have struggled to gain the same opportunities as others and as we await the ECB’s Cricket Disciplinary Committee (CDC) decision on which players, coaches and administrators are to be charged as a result of recent revelations.
But as the 189 guests listened to the call of prayer, delivered with some style by Hassen Rasool, heard a number of speeches about the significance of the evening (not least by Tom Harrison, the ECB chief executive, who fasted for the day in an attempt to better understand the Muslim experience) and watched a panel discussion sensitively hosted by the comedian Aatif Nawaz, it was, just about, possible to believe the game was learning from the past and forging a future fit for the modern world.
The Iftar was the idea of Tameena Hussain, who works as service desk manager (the technology department, basically) at the ECB. She decided in 2019, that it would be helpful to share such an event with ECB colleagues as both an educational and bonding experience.
The emergence of Covid-19 clearly delayed the event, however, and, by the time it became feasible the Azeem Rafiq scandal had rocked the sport.
The evening was the brainchild of Tameena Hussain (left-middle) (ECB)
She had always intended the event, organised through many late nights after the day job was completed and with the support of three Muslim colleagues at the ECB, would be held in the Long Room but once the enormity of the issue within the sport became clear, you suspect she was pushing at an open door. You also suspect she has a future well beyond the technology department.
"My original idea was just to get people at the ECB together and help them learn about Islam," she told The Cricketer.
"But then it developed and we thought it would be good to include people of all faiths and people of none as well as people involved in cricket and those who aren’t. We’ve had the full support the ECB management team and Kate Miller (head of communications and inclusion), in particular.
"To have the event in such an iconic venue – a symbol of the traditions and history of the sport – made it extra special.
"The evening couldn't have been possible without the help of Sabah Hamed, Sifaya Ikbal, Ikra Farooq, Amal Salaad, Karen Sadouki, who I'd like to thank."
Among the 189 guests were various county chairs, Tim Hollingsworth, the CEO of Sport England, the MP Naz Shah, Ebba Quershi, the CEO of FemGames and Zara Mohammed, the Secretary-General, Muslim Council of Britain.
"Just as we awaited the supposedly independent enquiry into events at Yorkshire for month after month, so the work of the CDC has dragged on far longer than anticipated. For all the strong talk from the ECB, there has currently been very little justice."
Azeem Rafiq was there, too, and later admitted that as the call to prayer rang out over the room, he felt the enormity of the progress made since he spoke to Wisden.com and The Cricket Badger about his experiences in 2020.
Tameena pinpointed the involvement of Moazzam Rashid, the England disability player who spoke through a sign language interpreter, as a highlight. And it was true that his involvement, alongside England men’s limited-overs captain, Eoin Morgan, and the female Scotland leg-spinner Abtaha Maqsood, who made such an impression bowling in a hajib for Birmingham Phoenix last year, demonstrated that inclusion is far from a one-issue subject.
Among the issues discussed were sporting heroes and highlights, the challenges of playing while fasting and hopes for the future. And cricket, of course. Beautiful cricket. The sport has had a tough few months, of course, but it remains a vehicle for inclusion and equality. It’s just a vehicle with a long journey ahead of it right now.
The evidence of recent days would suggest there is some progress, though. Such events are, increasingly, happening throughout the game. The MCC held Iftar in the Nursery Pavilion a couple of weeks ago, while Warwickshire had one on Tuesday (April 19).
The ECB are also planning similar events to celebrate key dates in other religions. A Diwali event seems probable. Across the country, there are attempts being made to reach out and learn.
Azeem Rafiq was among the 189 in attendance (ECB)
Nobody should fall into the trap of thinking this issue is anywhere near resolved, though. Azeem has reluctantly concluded he needs to sell the fish and chip business he launched a few months ago as the regular threats made against him – including bomb threats – have rendered it impossible to guarantee the security of his staff.
Meanwhile, his sister, Amna, has also been advised not to return to work for several more months for her own safety. We’re not only battling unconscious bias here. Sometimes the bias is very conscious indeed.
At the same time, there is a sense of deja-vu descending as we await the CDC's charges. Just as we awaited the supposedly independent enquiry into events at Yorkshire for month after month, so the work of the CDC has dragged on far longer than anticipated. For all the strong talk from the ECB, there has currently been very little justice.
But events like this offer hope for the future. They provide an opportunity to ask questions and start conversations we sometimes fail to do for fear of causing offence or looking foolish. They provide an opportunity for building bridges and learning.
On Thursday (April 21) night at Lord’s it was possible, even just for a few minutes, to imagine a better, more inclusive sport.
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