In autumn 2021, shortly after the former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafik went public with revelations about the racism he experienced in the professional game, we took immediate action to investigate the issue here in Bristol.  The result of that investigation was our own report.  The ICEC was made aware of our findings and we have made our submissions to their call for evidence.

CoRE has taken the lead to support cricket leaders in our region to be open and honest about where it is and where it wants to go.

Since then we have worked with the cricket leaders in Bristol and region (GCCC/GCF/B&DCA/WEPL) to support Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation (GCF) set up the combined EDI working group and are at present acting as an informal conduit between the working group and the ECB in terms of support from CoRE.

Whilst at present the new EDI group focuses on the findings and recommendations/questions put to them by CoRE, this latest report from the ICEC will add further impetus to that work.

Bristol has not waited for the ICEC report to take action. We have collaborated with local administrators of the game who have gone on to take the initiative to ensure that cricket is anti-racist and truly inclusive. Our aim is to see the game help everyone interested in playing to reach their potential, irrespective of their social or ethnic/racial background.