Cricket

Cricket Scotland's CEO, Trudy Lindblade, has expressed disappointment over public comments made by former Scotland and Yorkshire bowler John Blain following the conclusion of independent investigations into allegations of racist behavior.Blain claimed he had been "exonerated" of racism allegations based on a letter he received from Lindblade's predecessor, Peter Fitzboydon, in January. However, Cricket Scotland clarified that the allegations against Blain were not progressed due to insufficient evidence, lack of applicable rules, or jurisdictional limitations.Blain accused Cricket Scotland of attempting to "rewrite history" and alleged that Lindblade had confirmed the claims against him were "unfounded" in a phone call. Lindblade confirmed the call but declined to provide specific details, stating that the matter would be addressed with Blain and his representatives.Lindblade emphasized that Cricket Scotland has implemented robust processes to address future allegations of racist behavior. She expressed hope for a reconciliation process, including mediation, to move forward from the challenging period.However, Lindblade acknowledged that the outcomes of the investigations and any future mediation may not satisfy everyone involved. She stressed that the process is emotive and will take time to heal the divisions within Scottish cricket.

Cricket Scotland's ongoing efforts to address allegations of racism have been marred by a deepening dispute with former fast bowler John Blain. Blain, who initially declared himself "exonerated" of racism allegations dating back to 2007, has now threatened legal action against the board.In January, Cricket Scotland sent Blain a letter stating that allegations against him were "unfounded." Based on this letter, Blain went public last week, claiming he had been cleared of the allegations. However, a subsequent letter sent by Cricket Scotland to one of the complainants against Blain clarified that the board's decision not to initiate disciplinary proceedings did not constitute exoneration.Blain has vehemently denied the allegations and accused Cricket Scotland of attempting to "rewrite history." He claims that not only the former CEO, Peter Fitzboydon, but also his successor, Trudy Lindblade, confirmed that the allegations were unfounded.Cricket Scotland has maintained that the allegations against Blain were thoroughly investigated and that the decision not to pursue disciplinary action was based on procedural limitations. However, the board's handling of the matter has drawn criticism from anti-racism advocacy groups, who argue that it has failed to adequately address the concerns raised by complainants.The escalating row between Blain and Cricket Scotland has cast a shadow over the board's attempts to conclude independent investigations into allegations of racist behavior. The outcome of the legal action threatened by Blain remains uncertain, and it is unclear how the dispute will impact Cricket Scotland's ongoing efforts to address racism within the sport.

John Blain, the former Scotland and Yorkshire fast bowler, has called for a "full and transparent inquiry" into the country's cricket authorities after being cleared of racist behavior allegations. Blain was accused by former teammates Majid Haq and Qasim Sheikh of using a racist slur during a tour of Kenya in 2007.Following a year-long investigation, the allegations against Blain were dismissed. However, Cricket Scotland and sportscotland failed to make the findings public. Blain has now criticized the process and his accusers, questioning the legitimacy of the ECB sanction imposed on him based on the same allegations.Blain expressed disbelief that Haq and Sheikh would make such accusations, given his support for them throughout their careers. He also highlighted the contradictory evidence of four other witnesses that contradicted Haq's account.Blain's case is one of several that stemmed from an independent review in July 2022 that found Cricket Scotland to be institutionally racist. The review led to the resignation of the board. However, the vast majority of incidents cited in the review have also been dismissed.Blain has called for a full inquiry to address the "kangaroo court" handling of his case and the broader issues of racism in Scottish cricket. He believes that Cricket Scotland is "running scared" of the "anti-racist" cabal that has influenced the sport.An ECB spokesperson defended the CDC process, stating that Blain had been given every opportunity to defend himself. However, Blain maintains that the process was flawed and that the ECB's verdict against him is now unsafe.