A Welsh MP has put accusations that children from Asian backgrounds don't get the same chances in Wales as other children to the head of the nation's only county, Glamorgan Cricket Club.
Cardiff West MP Keven Brennan made the allegation as a committee of MPs grilled the leaders of county cricket clubs about allegations of racism in the sport made by Yorkshire off-spin bowler Asim Rafiq.
Chair of Glamorgan County Cricket Club, Gareth Williams, was one of the witnesses, along with Rod Bransgrove, chair of Hampshire Country Cricket Club; Mike O'Farrell, chair of Middlesex County Cricket Club; Lord Patel of Bradford, chair of Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
Read the story of a player who wanted to play for Glamorgan but couldn't get a professional contract.
Mr Williams was asked by Cardiff West MP Kevin Brennan on the Digital, culture, media and sport committee about allegations of racism, and the numbers of players from ethnically diverse backgrounds.
Mr Brennan said the club's headquarters was "a stone's throw from Wales' most diverse area, with south Riverside and Grangetown just a stone's throw away".
Mr Williams said around 10% of the Glamorgan squad were from Wales and an ethnically diverse background who have played at the top level, naming two players, Kiran Carlson and Prem Sisodiya.
Mr Brennan said it had been put to him they were the only first team players, to which Mr Williams said he "doubted" that was the case.
Mr Brennan asked: "Do you think there has been a problem historically, that players from ethnic minority backgrounds from Wales are not coming through to some level because you only have to look around the playing fields of Cardiff to see how many cricket mad South Asian people there are?"
Mr Williams replied: "You're quite right, historically, there has been a big issue, but this is a project for us. It's been ongoing. Mark Frost has been with us, in particular, for eight years. He's done a huge amount of work, and I really would welcome the opportunity to invite you to Cardiff to speak to him. I think you would be hugely impressed by the efforts which he, Cricket Wales and Glamorgan have made and it is a priority for us.
"We know that historically, there have been significant issues. We're working extraordinarily hard and I would not wish to leave those volunteers who are working at this to be hugely dispirited and perhaps getting a wrong impression of a club which is trying its very best."
Mr Brennan asked why players have not come through at the top level "when there is such enthusiasm so many places you've rightly said, playing the game".
"I have absolutely no doubt historically, there have been issues of racism in the sport, generally and no doubt in Glamorgan in particular, that must be the case because the figures simply demonstrate that to be the case. I'm satisfied it's not the position now. As I said Mark Frost has been in place for about eight years. It is like turning a ship slowly. Glamorgan itself, as you may well be aware, have suffered from huge financial crises for a long period of time.
"Thanks, actually to the work of the acting chairman of the ECB, who was my immediate predecessor as chair of Glamorgan, we have put ourselves in a position where we are now financially sound. And that's been a trigger for us to be to be able to make an investment into the diversity programme which is so critical.
"So yes, of course, we've been slow having our foot on the accelerator, but I would not wish you to think that it's not a critical priority and this may be an opportunity for me to mention, lest I don't get the opportunity elsewhere, that so far as our board is concerned, there are 11 directors, six of whom are independent directors, three of them are female, two of the directors are from the British Asian community, they're terrific directors make a huge contribution and they are helping to drive our response to the EDI issue generally.
Mr Brennan continued; "It has been put to me by some people within the Cricket World in Wales that children from South Asian backgrounds who show talent don't always get treated the same way as you know, kids from perhaps better backgrounds, who have more opportunities in life should we say it what would what would you say to that accusation within Welsh cricket?"
Mr Williams said: "Whether that's true, I can't honestly comment, but what I can say is that there is a resource issue here with which we are grappling with at the lower level."
He said there had been issues with scouting, coaching and resources. They have five full-time coaches, none of whom are from an ethnically diverse background, and between 10 and 15 part-time coaches, of whom four are from an ethnically diverse background.
Mr Brennan then asked: "It's been put to me that they have too many people on their books, who are salaried staff rather than investing that money into supporting young players from disadvantaged backgrounds into getting the kind of coaching and development that they need. Is that a fair accusation?"
Mr Williams responded: "I am bound to say from my discussions with Cricket Wales prior to this meeting that that would not be a fair representation. And all I would say is since that currently is not necessarily within my level of expertise, it is an invitation to extend you to talk to Chris to the Chair of Cricket Wales and to the chief executive, both of whom are formidable ladies and are absolutely committed to work in this area. They can tell you a lot more together with Mark Frost about what's going on. I think that that's a criticism I suspect they would say is wholly unjustified."
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