Essex have fallen “significantly short” of diversity targets for their board introduced by the ECB and have been told that they could face sanctions.
Two-thirds of the first-class counties have met targets or are in the final stages of recruitment and have committed to doing so, while five – Hampshire, Lancashire, Middlesex, Surrey and Warwickshire – have been granted “comply or explain” extensions.
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But the ECB said in a statement on Tuesday that Essex had been placed “in a non-compliance process as they have fallen significantly short of their targets and do not yet have a clear action plan to deliver change within an appropriate timescale”.
The statement added: “As part of this process, Essex CCC must provide an updated action plan for approval by the ECB and sanctions may be considered if sufficient progress is not made within agreed deadlines.”
Elsewhere in the latest update on the action plan, the ECB said it had made £2.5 million of funding available to support facility development to “improve provisions for families and under-served communities” at professional venues.
The ECB ha also started recruiting for a new ‘head of discipline’ to manage discrimination allegations, assist counties and oversee investigations processes.
Matt Roller is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @mroller98
Source: ESPN Crickinfo