An Oxfordshire cricketer has only been given a six-week ban for using a racist word in a match against Berkshire – just weeks before a landmark report on racism in the sport

The news follows a shocking report by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket which found the sport still featured “structural and institutional racism”.

The unnamed player had written a racist word during a men’s first 11 National Counties Cricket Association (NCCA) T20 match between Berkshire County Cricket Club and Oxfordshire Cricket Club on May 1st.

The ban on June 2nd ruled that an Oxfordshire-based player could not take part in any England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) matches until July 14th. Normally the offence would carry a season-long sanction, but was mitigated due to the player’s ‘early admission of guilt’.

A spokesman from Oxfordshire Cricket said: “The offence carries a season long sanction, which was mitigated through the player’s early admission of guilt, unreserved apology to those engaged in the match, mandatory training and lack of intent to cause offence.

The player acknowledged that despite the lack of any intent, the harm caused was significant – bringing himself, his club and the wider game of cricket into disrepute.”

They added: “The panel recognised that the player involved plays in leagues beyond the NCCA and that the imposed sanction has effect upon those additional leagues also, as such the sanction was subject to a proportionate reduction.

Taking into account matches already served on suspension, the player is banned from all ECB affiliated cricket until July 14, 2023.”

The incident came just weeks before the long-awaited release of a damning report by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) yesterday (27/6) which concluded that racism, sexism and elitism are widespread within the sport.