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Cricket Scotland chairman quits after row over tackling racism Cricket Scotland chairman quits after row over tackling racism
(about 2 hours later)
Mr Luthra said he expected progress on racism to lead to the lifting of special measures by SportscotlandMr Luthra said he expected progress on racism to lead to the lifting of special measures by Sportscotland
The chairman of Cricket Scotland has stepped down, five months after taking up the role and promising to clean up the sport's problem with racism.The chairman of Cricket Scotland has stepped down, five months after taking up the role and promising to clean up the sport's problem with racism.
BBC Scotland understands Anjan Luthra has decided to quit following a row about how much progress is being made. Anjan Luthra has decided to quit following a row about how much progress has been made to tackle the issue.
A report last year said governance in the sport was institutionally racist.A report last year said governance in the sport was institutionally racist.
It led to the formation of an anti-racism working group, but four members resigned after Mr Luthra claimed "significant progress" was being made. It led to the formation of an anti-racism working group, but four members resigned after Mr Luthra claimed there had been "significant progress".
Anti-racism organisation Running out Racism said this claim was tone deaf and "unsubstantiated nonsense".Anti-racism organisation Running out Racism said this claim was tone deaf and "unsubstantiated nonsense".
Resignations at Cricket Scotland anti-racism groupResignations at Cricket Scotland anti-racism group
Cricket Scotland criticised over 'progress' claimsCricket Scotland criticised over 'progress' claims
Cricket Scotland said Mr Luthra had resigned as chair with immediate effect.Cricket Scotland said Mr Luthra had resigned as chair with immediate effect.
It said: "The organisation thanks Anjan for his hard work and input during his time as chair. Cricket Scotland will make no further comment at this stage."It said: "The organisation thanks Anjan for his hard work and input during his time as chair. Cricket Scotland will make no further comment at this stage."
Scottish cricket has been in crisis since an independent report on racism was highly critical of the governance of the organisation. National cricket has been in crisis in Scotland since an independent report on racism was highly critical of the governance of the organisation.
An anti-racism working group was formed at the end of last year following the publication of the report, which found 448 instances of racism in the sport.An anti-racism working group was formed at the end of last year following the publication of the report, which found 448 instances of racism in the sport.
Former player Majid Haq, who was among those to raise concerns, has also been critical over progressFormer player Majid Haq, who was among those to raise concerns, has also been critical over progress
In a six-month update, Mr Luthra said progress was being made and that he expected special measures imposed by funding body Sportscotland would be lifted.In a six-month update, Mr Luthra said progress was being made and that he expected special measures imposed by funding body Sportscotland would be lifted.
He said Cricket Scotland would deliver the recommendations "to a high standard and beyond".He said Cricket Scotland would deliver the recommendations "to a high standard and beyond".
However, Running Out Racism contested his claims that the organisation had significantly improved its approach to equality, diversion and inclusion.However, Running Out Racism contested his claims that the organisation had significantly improved its approach to equality, diversion and inclusion.
Four members then resigned from the working group - Scotland women's international Abtaha Maqsood; businessman Imran Khan; academic Khadija Mohammed; and Raza Sadiq, from Running Out Racism. Four members then resigned from the working group on 27 March - Scotland women's international Abtaha Maqsood; businessman Imran Khan; academic Khadija Mohammed, and Raza Sadiq, from Running Out Racism.
BBC Scotland also understands Cricket Scotland's anti-racism working group only met once.BBC Scotland also understands Cricket Scotland's anti-racism working group only met once.
Former players Majid Haq and Qasim Sheikh, who were among those to raise concerns about racism in the sport, have also been critical of what they see as a lack of progress.Former players Majid Haq and Qasim Sheikh, who were among those to raise concerns about racism in the sport, have also been critical of what they see as a lack of progress.
The resignation of Anjan Luthra leaves Cricket Scotland and funding body SportScotland in a very difficult place.
When he was announced as the new chair last year, he was hailed as the bright young businessman, with an understanding of the game and the desire to clean up the problems highlighted by the report into racism.
But his business-like approach to a membership organisation could be the key to what ultimately led to his downfall. The new chairman saw an organisation in desperate need of change, in terms of the racism issue and beyond.
But some of those who highlighted the racism issues wanted more focus on the recommendations that came from the report that painted such a damning picture of the problems.
They disagreed with the chairman's assessment that significant progress was being made and what followed was a situation where neither side would give way. The successful businessman wanted to do things his way but others wanted a different approach.
SportScotland appointed Anjan Luthra and can't escape criticism for what has transpired. They are now fighting desperately to shore up an organisation that's been thrashing around from one crisis to the next for the past year. The government will want answers as to why.
They will also want assurances that this latest episode won't damage the fight against racism in Scottish cricket. In the continuing hail of claim, counter-claim, finger-pointing and accusation, it's difficult to see how they'll manage to give any comfort on that.
In a letter outlining the reasons for his resignation, Mr Luthra said he "fundamentally disagreed" with the way SportScotland - the national agency for sport in Scotland - was operating Scottish cricket.
"I believe their priority is to meet the demands of a lobby group and a handful of individuals associated with them - even if that means the wider sport and community will be negatively impacted," he said.
Mr Luthra said his mission had been to "holistically rebuild the sport for all stakeholders" when it became clear the findings from the Changing the Boundaries report, published in July 2022, "were not the only issues" at Cricket Scotland.
He said it would have been "negligent" to ignore these other issues.
Mr Luthra said that in the last six months Cricket Scotland had been saved from potential insolvency.
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He listed other steps which had been taken since he took over as chairman, including the national women's team being offered paid contracts for the first time, the publication of a governance review, and signing new commercial deals.
Mr Luthra said recent events had made it clear that SportScotland and the lobby group had "little desire to holistically rebuild and improve Cricket Scotland" and he was "not prepared to stand by this".
He said the organisation would "likely cease to exist" if all its resources were dedicated to tackling the findings of the Changing the Boundaries report.
Mr Luthra said stepping down made him "sad", adding: "I care about the sport and genuinely worked tirelessly with the team to improve it."
'Fallen on deaf ears'
A spokesperson for SportScotland said it had been "an exceptionally challenging time" for everyone involved in Scottish cricket.
It thanked Mr Luthra for his contribution and said it would take "immediate steps to provide additional leadership and governance support to Cricket Scotland".
"We remain fully committed to helping rebuild Scottish cricket and have provided unprecedented levels of support to Cricket Scotland since publication of the Changing the Boundaries report in July 2022," it said.
A spokesperson for Running Out Racism said it was "disappointed" Mr Luthra had felt the need to resign, but that attempts to convince him to change his approach had "fallen on deaf ears".
"People make mistakes, but to blame others rather than owning them in any way is disappointing," said the group in a statement.
It said his failure to acknowledge the "significant lack of progress made" or the resignations of earlier this week showed that he "probably isn't the right person to lead our sport going forward".