An ‘all-game’ meeting was held today at The Oval between several cricketing boards in order to discuss the recent revelations about racism in the English game.

The ECB, MCC, the PCA, NCCA and the First Class and Recreational County Cricket network met in order to form a strategy of how to “stamp out” discrimination from the game.

Following the meeting the groups released a joint statement that read: “Azeem Rafiq has shone a light on our game that has shocked, shamed and saddened us all.

“Racism and discrimination is a blight on our game. To Azeem and all those who have experienced any form of discrimination, we are truly sorry. Our sport did not welcome you, our game did not accept you as we should have done. We apologise unreservedly for your suffering.

“We stand together against discrimination in all its forms, and are united as a sport to act. We will continue to listen, and make swift, positive changes to the culture of the game. We will embrace and celebrate differences everywhere, knowing that with diversity, we are stronger.

“Today, as a game, we discussed a series of tangible commitments to make cricket a sport where everyone feels safe, and everyone feels included. We will now finalise the detail and publish these actions next week.

“Our game must win back your trust.”

The response to the statement has been overwhelmingly negative, with many claiming that it fails to come to any substantial conclusions.

I am afraid this is another terrible statement that says nothing and doesn’t answer anything specific and certainly doesn’t read the room. Platitudes. https://t.co/zvVYaVsmjj

— Elizabeth Ammon (@legsidelizzy) November 19, 2021

This 286-word statement promises much but gives no actual detail whatsoever. Vague platitudes not a great response to what’s happened this week https://t.co/YEvb0bYfVt

— Chris Stocks (@StocksC_cricket) November 19, 2021

There's no getting around it. This is just waffle. https://t.co/suY6Ff3lDW

— Rory Dollard (@thervd) November 19, 2021

Some others felt that the statement amounted to little more than corporate speak.

https://t.co/kv6CjlBeiX pic.twitter.com/UKzIIeYj9W

— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) November 19, 2021

I've drafted enough statements in my time to recognise this as meaningless. Urgently needs external and independent intervention. https://t.co/KDpxzfqEbo

— Stephen Waddington (@wadds) November 19, 2021

This is most certainly a statement…but while nobody was asking for Magna Carta, it's hard to see what the point of this was without some actual pledges. https://t.co/SF8glgrsKH

— Nakul Pande (@NakulMPande) November 19, 2021

What a gallumphing pile of hogwash. The ECB's DCMS appearance in statement form https://t.co/gi3g0fgxbd

— Andrew Miller (@miller_cricket) November 19, 2021

Others had a more reserved approach, noting that it was always likely that producing a statement that so many parties would put their name too was unlikely to be ground-breaking and also to withhold judgement until the “tangible” steps will be announced next week.

292 word statement with no meaningful steps moving forward – just that actions will be published 'next week'.

🤔🤔 https://t.co/Jivz63PVQm

— Tell MAMA UK (@TellMamaUK) November 19, 2021

Not easy to coordinate a joint statement from 43 different institutions but feels like this is one of those 'probs best to have said nothing' moments

— Sam Morshead (@SamMorshead_) November 19, 2021

Tepid statement after game-wide meeting at the Oval today between ECB, PCA, MCC, the counties etc.

Says “tangible commitments” were discussed, details being finalised https://t.co/V8Gvsf9yl5

— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) November 19, 2021