The Board of Cricket Scotland has the utmost sympathy for anyone who has experienced discrimination whilst involved in our sport.
Hamza Tahir has been a tremendous servant to the Scotland men’s national team, and while the news of his international retirement is disappointing, we thank him for his service. Hamza has outlined some of the performance-based reasons for his contract not being renewed, and Cricket Scotland’s Performance department remains satisfied with its decision.
Cricket Scotland has a grievance procedure in place which provides means for issues of concern to be raised. We are currently carrying out an independent investigation into the matters raised and will respond accordingly to Hamza and his advisors.
Cricket Scotland is a small governing body that has endured a tremendous strain on its resources while handling the very serious allegations brought forward by the Changing the Boundaries report and the subsequent independent investigative process.
This process was agreed and created with the involvement of multiple stakeholders, including Running Out Racism, and with ultimate oversight from sportscotland. The process is now concluded, and the new Board and leadership team of Cricket Scotland is committed to implementing the many recommendations given to the governing body. It takes any and all accusations extremely seriously.
Wilf Walsh, Chair of Cricket Scotland, said: “It is clear that as part of our Cricket Scotland strategy and vision, culture must be at the heart of our sport’s redemptive and unifying journey.
“I share the frustrations of those who feel that the independent investigation’s findings do not provide adequate closure after more than two years. I repeat that this has been an unedifying episode from which there are no winners.
“We cannot simply undo historical failings, but we can ensure the future of our sport is drastically improved by our actions moving forward.”
Trudy Lindblade, Cricket Scotland CEO, said: “I sympathise with those who harbour a feeling of injustice, and we will continue to engage respectfully throughout the mediation process.
“The only viable route to common ground is through independent mediation in order to achieve reconciliation. Only then can we speak openly and work together to provide an inclusive sport that we can all be proud of.
“We can only do this with a collective will to make positive change and to separate the quest for personal justice – either as report complainants or respondents – and the essential need to move forward together to ensure a sustainable future for cricket in Scotland.
“There is a huge opportunity to create a fantastic long-term future for our game, but this requires reflection, understanding, hard work and it will take time.
“Ongoing instability and recrimination, played out in front of the media, will only cause further damage to relationships and reputations, and deepen the wounds that need to heal.”
Name of Author: Cricket Scotland
Cricket Scotland, formerly the Scottish Cricket Union, is the governing body for cricket in Scotland, based at the National Cricket Academy in Edinburgh. Established in 1908 and restructured in 2001, it became an ICC Associate Member in 1994. The organization includes three sub-associations: the East of Scotland Cricket Association, Western District Cricket Union, and Aberdeenshire Cricket Association.
