Cricket Scotland action over discrimination claims against staff member was "too little, too late"

GEORGE DOBELL - EXCLUSIVE: While review body Plan4Sport had registered significant concerns about the ongoing involvement of the individual, CS insisted they should be free to continue in their role while an investigation took place

Cricket Scotland "still don't get it" on the issue of racism, according to former player Majid Haq.

Majid was one of the whistleblowers whose testimony led to the resignation of the entire CS board and resulted in a devastating enquiry which found the sport had overwhelmingly failed to tackle the issue of racism.

But his hopes that the sport was cleaning up its act have been damaged by the revelation that Scotland have been reluctant to suspend a person accused of racial discrimination from their coaching staff for the T20 World Cup.

But while Plan4Sport, the body charged with leading the review into racism within the sport, had registered significant concerns about the ongoing involvement of the individual, CS insisted they should be free to continue in their role while an investigation took place. As a result, CS initially concluded they could travel with the squad as the allegations are "historic" and are currently unproven. 

^{Majid Haq is unhappy with the Cricket Scotland response (Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images)}

At the last minute, however, they appear to have had a change of heart. The Cricketer understands that, hours before the tour party were due to fly on Wednesday (September 28), an agreement was reached meaning the coach would not travel; an action dubbed "too little, too late" by Majid's lawyer, Aamer Anwar.

"I think this proves they still don't get it," Majid told The Cricketer. 

"Of course, there has to be a process. But how can they think, after everything that's happened, that this is the sort of character around whom they can build a new dressing-room culture? It feels as if they’re still looking for excuses not to act.

"I feel, in particular, for any players of colour in the squad. They have been put in an invidious position. Speak out and they'll be seen as trouble-makers destabilising the squad but stay silent and they face an uncomfortable dressing room environment and being accused of turning a blind eye to racism. I've been where they are. It's horrible."

Majid was sent home from the 2015 World Cup after suggesting, via Twitter, that his omission from the team for a match against Sri Lanka may have been race related. At the time he was sent home, there had been no formal investigation.

"This recent knowledge of a person put up for multiple referrals being considered for a role with the World Cup squad after everything that has happened shows just how little CS and their lawyers are doing. We have a long way to go."

"Always tougher when you're in the minority! #colour #race" he wrote. He never played for Scotland again. 

Majid's words were endorsed by another former Scotland player, Qasim Sheikh, who also provided key evidence towards the enquiry that reached such damning conclusions against CS.

"My career was ended when I spoke out against unfair treatment in selection," Qasim said. "I never got to play for my country again I was 26 at the time.

"This recent knowledge of a person put up for multiple referrals being considered for a role with the World Cup squad after everything that has happened shows just how little CS and their lawyers are doing. We have a long way to go."

Aamer Anwar was also underwhelmed.

"It's too little and too late," he told The Cricketer. "CS is still having to be dragged into doing the right thing. They tick a few boxes but for them, it’s business as usual."