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About us

The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) appointed four Commissioners to take forward its independent examination of equity in the sport. These Commissioners were carefully selected based on their demonstrable commitment to representing and promoting the diverse experiences from those currently underrepresented in the game of cricket.

The Commissioners act independently of the ECB to bring their expertise in cricket, equality and organisational change. The ICEC is led by the Chair of the Commission Cindy Butts, who was appointed by the ECB.

Commissioners

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Cindy Butts (Chair)

Cindy has over 20 years of experience improving access to justice, tackling inequality and complaints handling. She currently has a portfolio career which includes being a Lay Member of the House of Commons Speaker’s Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and a Lay Member of the House of Lords Conduct Committee.

Cindy previously held a Crown appointment as a Commissioner at the Criminal Cases Review Commission and formerly served as a Commissioner at the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Prior to this she was the Deputy Chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) where she had responsibility for setting the strategic direction of the Metropolitan Police Service. As the MPA Deputy Chair she led on organisational and culture reforms following the Stephen Lawrence (Macpherson) Inquiry and chaired a range of inquiries into equalities issues. Cindy previously served as a Trustee of the charity Kick it Out which is striving to eradicate all forms of discrimination in football.

Cindy has advised various international Governments on police oversight and citizen engagement.

She is a Visiting Fellow of BPP University.

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Sir Brendan Barber

Brendan Barber currently serves on the Joint Industry Board for the electrical contracting industry. He served as the Chair of the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service from 2014 to 2020 and as General Secretary of the TUC from 2003 to 2012.

He has also served on the Financial Services Culture Board, the Court of Directors of the Bank of England, and the boards of Transport for London, Openreach and Sport England. He was knighted in 2013 for services to employment relations.

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Zafar Ansari

Between 2010 and 2017, Zafar played professional cricket for Surrey County Cricket Club, having been involved with the Club’s age-group teams since the age of 8. He made 175 first-team appearances for Surrey across all formats. In 2015, Zafar made his debut for England in a one-day international against Ireland. The following year he was picked to tour Bangladesh and India, where he played three test matches.

After retiring from professional cricket, Zafar worked as a youth advocate for the charity Just for Kids Law, supporting young people in disputes relating to housing, immigration, school exclusions and the provision of social care. Between 2018 and 2020, alongside training to become a lawyer, Zafar also volunteered for the charity Inquest and the Refugee Council’s Refugee Cricket Project, and wrote a series of columns for Wisden Cricket Monthly Magazine. Since September 2021, Zafar has been practising as a barrister at Blackstone Chambers, specialising in public, employment and sports law.

Between 2010 and 2017, Zafar played professional cricket for Surrey County Cricket Club, having been involved with the Club’s age-group teams since the age of 8. He made 175 first-team appearances for Surrey across all formats. In 2015, Zafar made his debut for England in a one-day international against Ireland. The following year he was picked to tour Bangladesh and India, where he played three test matches.

After retiring from professional cricket, Zafar worked as a youth advocate for the charity Just...

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Michelle Moore

Michelle Moore is a multi-award-winning leadership coach, author, educator and international speaker with vast experience leading initiatives at the intersection of sport and social change. Voted as one of the 50 most influential women in sport in the UK, she is a globally recognised executive on leadership, strategic partnerships and race equity.

Based on a twenty year career in senior leadership roles across sport, government and education, her pioneering advocacy work and coaching and leadership programmes have transformed the lives of professionals, young people, athletes, and the culture of many organisations. Winner of four national changemaker awards, Michelle combines her campaigning roles with a senior honorary associate lecturer role at the University of Worcester.

Michelle Moore is a multi-award-winning leadership coach, author, educator and international speaker with vast experience leading initiatives at the intersection of sport and social change. Voted as one of the 50 most influential women in sport in the UK, she is a globally recognised executive on leadership, strategic partnerships and race equity.

Based on a twenty year career in senior leadership roles across sport, government and education, her pioneering advocacy work and coaching and leadership progra...

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Michael Collins

Dr Michael Collins is Associate Professor of Modern British History at University College London (UCL).

Since 2007, he has taught and published research on the history of the British Empire, decolonisation, national identity, immigration, race and racism in postwar Britain. From 2019-2022 he served as a vice dean in the Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences at UCL, working on a range of issues closely related to diversity and inclusion.

His current research project looks at the history of cricket in the context of Caribbean migration to England since 1948. His book – Windrush Cricket: Caribbean Migration and the Remaking of Postwar England – will be published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in 2024.

He has previously served on Middlesex County Cricket Club’s diversity & inclusion committee and coached junior cricket at Chesham Cricket Club, Buckinghamshire.

Dr Michael Collins is Associate Professor of Modern British History at University College London (UCL).

Since 2007, he has taught and published research on the history of the British Empire, decolonisation, national identity, immigration, race and racism in postwar Britain. From 2019-2022 he served as a vice dean in the Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences at UCL, working on a range of issues closely related to diversity and inclusion.

His current research project looks at the history of crick...

Secretariat

The Commission is supported by a small team of full time and part time staff.

Our Story

In the wake of global movements such as Black Lives Matter and with MeToo having gained momentum over the previous years, organisations across the globe were prompted to rethink their role in upholding equity. Both within the world of cricket and wider society, the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 was especially pivotal in sparking mass conversations and actions. Enduring discussions about elitism and gender bias in cricket were refreshed.

Against this backdrop, the ECB decided to create an independent Commission to assess the evidence of inequalities and discrimination in cricket and the actions needed to tackle these issues. The Commission set out its Terms of Reference in July 2021 and since then we have undertaken research and gathered  evidence from over 4,200 individuals and organisations connected with cricket. Our report provides practical evidence based recommendations to the ECB, Government and the MCC aimed at delivering a fair, inclusive and equitable experience for all current and aspiring cricketers in England and Wales.  See the full report here.

Terms of Reference

1.

Examine questions of equity in relation to race, gender and class within cricket - including access and barriers to the sport and progression towards professional level cricket.

2.

Examine the lived experiences of people who have experienced discrimination or prejudice based on race, gender and class in cricket.

3.

Review the strategic decision making and approach of the ECB in relation to its work on race, gender and class.

4.

Examine within cricket and in the context of race, gender and class: the historic and current culture, the governance and leadership, the processes of complaints and disciplinary processes and whistleblowing procedures.

5.

Highlight areas of good practice as they relate to issues of race, gender and class, whether within cricket or other sports.

6.

Provide recommendations on what further action the ECB and the wider game needs to take to make cricket a game for everyone.

Core values

The ICEC operates on the basis of the following core values:

  • Independent
  • Inclusive
  • Evidence Based
  • Transparent
  • Collaborative