A NATIONAL EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STRATEGY FOR CRICKET

6 November 2024: Cricket Ireland has launched an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy for the game. It serves as a national roadmap and will further support Cricket Leinster’s existing EDI efforts and initiatives. Clubs and communities will have access to helpful resources and guidance, helping them to implement best practices to ensure cricket is a welcoming environment for everyone

The strategy has been developed with input from across the cricketing community, drawing on a game-wide consultation and the support of Cricket Leinster members Meena Baskarasubramanian (CL President Elect) and Judith Neuman Jones (CL Inclusion Committee) who are both part of the national EDI Working Group for cricket.

Focus areas include:

• Promoting gender equality in women's and girls’ cricket
• Building Diversity and Inclusion awareness and understanding across the sport
• Improving inclusive practices through enhanced processes and policies.

Speaking about the strategy, Philip Smith, General Manager of Cricket Leinster said:

“We welcome this national EDI strategy. Cricket Leinster takes pride in the diversity of our clubs and players. In recent years, we have seen significant growth in women’s cricket, along with the establishment of several new clubs that are thriving in their communities. Our focus is on building inclusive practices so that cricket in our province reflects the diverse society we serve, ensuring that everyone feels welcome and valued.”

Meena Baskarasubramanian, CL President Elect and member of Adamstown CC added: “I am glad to see the launch of this national EDI strategy for cricket and to have played a role in its development. This strategy won’t just sit on a shelf; we have collaborated with Cricket Ireland to establish clear actions with deadlines and ensure resources are accessible to every club. While there’s work ahead, we have the right approach in place. I encourage everyone to get involved, starting with the e-learning course launching in November. We need to work together to ensure our game welcomes and respects everyone equally.”

Judith Neuman Jones, CL Inclusion Committee and member of North Kildare CC concluded: “This EDI strategy represents a significant step forward for cricket nationally, with actions and resources that will enhance inclusion across all clubs. I urge everyone to get involved and participate in the upcoming e-learning course. Together we can create a welcoming environment for all.”

Key Actions from the EDI Strategy in the short to medium term include:

1. Education, Training, and Communication:

• E-Learning Course: Set to launch in November 2024, this course will be available to all clubs, aiming to engage a significant number of club officials and adult members by February 2025.
• Anti-Discrimination Campaign: This campaign will be rolled out at all levels, with dedicated resources and collateral to promote awareness and action across clubs in advance of 2025 cricket season.

2. Inclusive and Diverse Cricket Communities:

• Inclusive Practice Toolkit (IPT): This toolkit, offering practical guidance and best practices for promoting inclusion at all levels of the game, will be piloted in clubs by early 2025.

3. Policy, Practice, Reporting, and Accountability:

• Anti-Discrimination Practicing Guide: We are creating a guide that will strengthen the tools, guidelines, and support available to disciplinary committees to ensure processes are fair, transparent, and consistent across all levels of cricket.
• Reporting progress: Cricket Ireland will regularly share updates on progress, with annual ‘Activation Workshops’ in each region to gather insights and feedback from members.

For more information and to read the EDI Strategy or a summary document please visit the Cricket Ireland website here.

Cricket EDI Working Group Members

• Elaine Nolan, Director of Growth and Strategy, CI
• Isreal Ibeanu, Safeguarding Diversity and Inclusion Officer
• Meena Baskarasubramanian, Cricket Leinster
• Judith Neuman Jones, Cricket Leinster
• Ciara Hanley, North West Cricket Union
• Sukhi Byrne, Munster Cricket
• Dr. Darshan Kumar, Northern Cricket Union