England cricket board partners with NGO to tackle discrimination against Muslim players

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has partnered with an NGO called Nujum Sports to improve the inclusion of Muslims in the sport, according to the BBC. 

Nujum Sports in an NGO that was founded in August 2020 with the aim of ensuring Muslim athletes have the chance to fulfil their potential. 

The organisation has advised the governing body over the past year, but has now agreed to a formal partnership. 

Nujum Sports and the ECB are today pleased to announce a formal partnership which will develop and guide Muslim inclusion in cricket, through training, education and practical guidance.

Nujum has spent the last year advising the ECB, providing guidance and direction on the pic.twitter.com/m4bx8eTGEG

— Nujum Sports (@NujumSports) June 14, 2022

In 2021, Nujum Sports came up with a 10-point Muslim athlete charter to help clubs assess how they could cater to Muslim players. 

The move comes at a time when the ECB is under scrutiny for failing to take action against racism, as alleged by former Yorkshire player Azeem Rafiq in September 2020.  

Last October, Rafiq told a parliamentary body that the governing body is "institutionally racist".

Cricket is an institution in Yorkshire which everyone should be able to enjoy.

As Yorkshire & Humber MPs, we're calling on @ECB_cricket to launch an immediate, comprehensive and independent inquiry into the racist abuse faced by Azeem Rafiq.https://t.co/BZQPHH0cAK pic.twitter.com/fVW4JKdy5c

— Dan Jarvis (@DanJarvisMP) November 3, 2021

Other players shared their experiences soon after Rafiq, with one claiming he was racially abused and another saying that other players had urinated on his head.

The ECB's chief diversity and communications officer Kate Miller was quoted by the BBC as saying that the board had been working with Nujum over the past year, "particularly in preparing for Ramadan, helping us to support many clubs and players with practical advice and guidance”.  

"Ensuring that cricket is open, inclusive and accessible for people of all faiths is critical to us.” Miller said.

“Working with organisations like Nujum will allow us to learn more, connect better and challenge ourselves to continually improve our work in equity, diversity and inclusion," she added.