Cricket Scotland can today provide an update on the continued progress of the referrals process. Twelve further cases have been concluded and signed off by the Cricket Scotland board, bringing the total concluded to 33.
Beyond this, an additional number of cases are close to being completed by the independent investigating team and are expected to be handed over to the governing body shortly.
Across the twelve newly concluded cases, a total of 73 recommendations were made. All these actions have been included in agreed, and soon to be published, Cricket Scotland action plans.
Within these twelve cases, two key themes emerged as prevalent learnings for the governing body:
Improvements to selection policy and process across teams; specifically:
- Transparency of selection policy and criteria used,
- An appropriate appeals process,
- Accurate and timely record keeping,
- Timely and constructive feedback,
- Consistency of best practice across all age groups and performance levels
Ensuring disciplinary process are clear, consistent, expedient, and appropriate.
As part of these learnings, the investigating team have agreed to produce a separate, more detailed report specifically focused on selection issues raised within referrals cases. This will be handed to the governing body for examination in due course.
Complainants who asked to be advised about the process and decision to conclude the referrals in question are being notified accordingly.
The total number of recommended actions across all the referrals cases concluded to date stands at 155, with 133 of them unique when repeated recommendations are taken into account. Within these, the following learnings have been highlighted on multiple occasions:
- A need for EDI training across all levels of Scottish cricket.
- The embedding of equality and inclusion within all processes and policies.
- Universal acceptance of Cricket Scotland’s Code of Conduct within Scottish cricket.
- A clear process needed at all levels of cricket for players to raise complaints or concerns.
- An expedient and consistent disciplinary process to deal with complaints.
- A fair and transparent selection policy to be followed at all levels.
- Record keeping to be made a priority.
- Support and processes to be provided for players involved in any complaints and disciplinary processes.
- The individual circumstances of players, such as faith and diet, to be recognised and accommodated.
- Social media training to help all within cricket recognise the potential impact of their actions online.
The process of investigating the referrals has been conducted by an independent team made up of representatives from Harper Macleod LLP, Bishop Lloyd and Jackson Solicitors and Sporting Equals, with support for complainants where appropriate from Running Out Racism, and with overall oversight from sportscotland. Once investigation work around a referral is completed, the report and recommendations are passed on to Cricket Scotland.
Pete Fitzboydon, Cricket Scotland Chief Executive, said:
“I am pleased to confirm the conclusion of another twelve referrals. The continued work of the independent investigating team is to be commended, and we are extremely grateful for their diligence throughout this process.
“As with the cases previously concluded, there are a series of learnings around the processes of Cricket Scotland which have been highlighted, all of which are being worked upon. We are ready to receive more cases in the coming weeks when they are handed to us by the investigating team.
“Several of the most recent cases refer to issues around selection. There have already been significant changes and improvements made to the Cricket Scotland player selection processes, whilst the criteria and policies for selecting squads have been published.
“Today’s learnings underline the need for Cricket Scotland to continue to do everything possible to improve selection processes. We look forward to reviewing the more detailed report when the investigating team passes it on to us.”
A guide to the referrals process, as well as a chart detailing workflow around the disciplinary process, can be found via the Cricket Scotland website.
Cricket Scotland will provide further updates on the remaining cases currently with the investigating team as they are progressed and concluded.
