KIDDERMINSTER Cricket Club has issued a statement condemning all kinds of discrimination in the wake of the racism scandal which has rocked the game nationally.

The leading Birmingham league club, which also has teams in the Worcestershire league and a local midweek league, has a strong junior section and a women’s softball squad, said inclusivity was a “cornerstone of its ethos”.

Chairman John Hilliard said: “This most despicable disgrace has hit hard at the heart of our game and we believe we have a duty to our members and to our town to publicly state that racism – and discrimination of any sort – has no place anywhere and certainly not in cricket.

“At Kidderminster CC we pride ourselves on being inclusive, it is a cornerstone of our ethos. Diversity is something to be encouraged and admired and we are a strong community and family-orientated club.

“We work hard to uphold the “spirit of cricket” as set down by the ECB, through our playing of the game and our training sessions, supported by our policies, procedures and codes of conduct concerning equity, anti-bullying and safeguarding.”

Mr Hilliard said the club was “as keen as ever” to attract players from diverse communities.

The club supports the county’s local Wicketz programme aimed at disadvantaged Kidderminster teenagers, has a growing girls’ section and a thriving women’s softball squad.

Mr Hilliard added: “We keep membership fees to a minimum so as not to prevent people from joining us as junior and adult players, and spectators are welcome, free of charge, to watch cricket from the highest level of semi-professionalism every Saturday throughout the playing season.

“KCC also delivers the annual ECB All Stars and Dynamos programmes to encourage boys and girls form the ages of five to 11 to take up cricket and Worcestershire county coaches go into our local schools to deliver cricket sessions and encourage children to participate in the game.

“We have always been pro-active in encouraging inclusivity. Nevertheless, these latest outpourings have made us look inward again.

“In any organisation there is always room for improvement to ensure all works well, that there is fairness and equity and that there are absolutely no barriers and no discrimination, perceived or otherwise.

“To that end, I’m delighted to welcome Jill Kaur, mother of one of our u11 players, who is taking on the role of equity officer for KCC. I believe Jill is one of the first in the country to hold such a position and I know she will be a most valued member of our management team.”

Miss Kaur added: “I think Kidderminster sails way above many other clubs but there is always more that can be done in terms of inclusivity. I am delighted, as a woman of colour, to take on this role and if I can help bring about improvements and a different perspective then I would feel honoured to be in such a position.”

Previously, Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said UK sporting bodies have not taken accusations of racism seriously.

He said that racial slurs used at Yorkshire County Cricket Club were not “banter” as had been suggested, and called for the organisation to change.