GEORGE DOBELL: The governing body have been asked to "closely monitor" the club and asked "to use the first anniversary of the ICEC report into discrimination in the game to set out their progress"
The ECB has been called upon to "closely monitor" Yorkshire to ensure the club does not return to "business as usual" under the stewardship of Colin Graves.
The call, from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee (CMS) of MPs, follows Graves’ appearance before them on February 20 as part of their investigation into equity in cricket when he faced tough questioning over both his plans for the club - and the possibility of demutualising- and his dismissal of racist behaviour as "banter".
While Graves, a former chair of the ECB and Yorkshire during the period from which several racism allegations stem, apologised for the ‘banter’ comment, he initially claimed he didn’t recognise a letter from him to the Yorkshire board sent in September 2023 which discussed the need for demutualising.
The CMS report from the session states that "Mr Graves eventually remembered his September bid."
Graves appeared in front of the CMS in February following his return to Yorkshire (CMS)
The committee have now concluded that "the future of Yorkshire is best served by continued ownership by members" and called upon the ECB and its new Cricket Regulator, to "pay particular attention to the future performance of the club in relation to inequality".
"The ECB must closely monitor Yorkshire CCC to ensure there is no return to the ‘business as usual’ that allowed a culture of discrimination to take root and thrive at the club," a statement read.
The committee also called on the ECB "to use the first anniversary of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) report into discrimination in the game to set out the progress it has made on each of the commission’s findings". And it warned that "the governing body’s ambition may not be translated into action on some of the most powerful recommendations".
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee are continuing to monitor the ECB's response to the ICEC report (ECB)
"The ECB has made welcome progress on fixing the problems facing cricket identified so powerfully in the ICEC report," Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, CMS Committee chair, added.
"To achieve its ambition for cricket to be the most inclusive sport in the country and truly welcoming to all it must be open on how it is backing up its words with actions.
"The start of the county cricket season is always a time for optimism, and we hope that members at Headingley can look forward to a successful future, with a board committed to a member-led club and a continued focus on tackling discrimination. The ECB should keep a close eye on progress to ensure Yorkshire continues going down the road to reform."
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