“Keep away from Banter Bordering On Bullying, Racial Harassment”: Ex England Captain’s Message To Cricket World | Cricket Information

Former England captain Andrew Strauss has urged cricketers to keep away from dressing room banter bordering on racial harassment and bullying so as to avert controversies just like the Azeem Rafiq fiasco. The Pakistan-born cricketer, who performed for county aspect Yorkshire for nearly a decade, had advised UK’s Division for Digital, Tradition, Media & Sport (DCMS) in November 2021 that racist feedback and actions by fellow cricketers had left him “near taking his personal life”.

Strauss, the previous England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) director of cricket, mentioned throughout his Marylebone Cricket Membership Cowdrey Lecture at Lord’s on Wednesday that with gamers of various nationalities and races now sharing dressing rooms greater than ever, cricketers should be extra guarded in what they are saying and do.

“As we transfer ahead collectively as a sport with gamers of various genders, races, creeds and beliefs coming collectively, so the standard macho, hierarchical, maybe at instances verging on bullying dressing-room banter will have to be softened to a tradition that’s extra tolerant, understanding, welcoming and embracing of distinction,” Strauss, one of the profitable England captains, was quoted as saying by Sky Sports activities.

Strauss additionally highlighted the importance of the spirit of cricket, saying the occasions of the final year-and-a-half — when the Azeem Rafiq scandal unfolded and tarnished the picture of England cricket — had proven much more wanted to be accomplished to revive the picture of the sport.

“Maybe extra importantly the spirit of cricket must accompany fashionable gamers and I’m talking primarily in regards to the males’s sport now into an space that neither the prying eyes of the media or the feverish adulation of the followers penetrates; the dressing room,” Strauss mentioned.

“The occasions during the last 18 months, whether or not they come from Yorkshire or elsewhere have proven we’ve got a variety of work to do on this space, however the spirit of cricket calls for this.” With England profitable 9 of the ten Exams underneath coach Brendon McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes, Strauss mentioned the approaching collectively of the duo had caused an enormous tactical shift in the best way the longest format is being performed now.

England’s run of victories in Exams towards India, New Zealand, South Africa and Pakistan final 12 months noticed them erase the frustration of getting gained only one in 17 video games earlier than the pair was appointed.

“The approaching collectively of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes in Could final 12 months has shifted the sport of Check cricket from its foundations and has requested some basic questions of the centuries-old accepted truths of the Check format,” mentioned Strauss.

“What these two extraordinary leaders of males — aided in no small half by Rob Key as director of cricket — have accomplished, is redefine as soon as once more what the sport of cricket is definitely about.” With a variety of speak about Check cricket shedding its significance amid the onslaught of home T20 leagues the world over, Strauss indicated that the recognition of conventional rivalries just like the Ashes and collection between main Check-playing nations won’t ever exit of trend, although some debt-laden nationwide governing our bodies may very well be at an obstacle.

“It’s inevitable that some outdated establishments would possibly creak on the seams, together with some debt-laden nationwide governing our bodies {and professional} golf equipment,” mentioned Strauss.

“Additionally, bilateral cricket in the best way that we see it as we speak is prone to be squeezed in a method form or type. I firmly consider that the Check collection that seize our imaginations as we speak — those that we actually sit up for — aren’t going wherever.” PTI AM AM ATK ATK

(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)

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