Middlesex Cricket can today announce that Ankit Shah, who has been an active member on Middlesex’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee for the past eighteen months has accepted the Club’s offer to stand alongside Edward Lord OBE as Co-Chair of the Club’s D&I Committee.
Shah worked closely with the Club throughout the consultation period ahead of the Club’s launch of its Diversity and Inclusion Activation plan last year and is passionate about making the Club inclusive for all, helping Middlesex to champion change and make improvement in all areas of accessibility, and is committed to making Middlesex a club that is welcoming and inspiring to all.
Shah is a Management Consultant by profession, specialising in organisational change. Since 2015 he has been the Chairman of Kenton Cricket Club, giving him extensive knowledge of the recreational cricket structure within Middlesex and a sound understanding of the challenges faced by players from diverse backgrounds.
Middlesex Cricket issued a statement last week, to underline the Club’s zero tolerance policy on discrimination of any kind, in which it made a continued and firm commitment to delivering on all elements outlined within the Club’s D&I Activation Plan – Shah will play a key role in ensuring this promise if fulfilled.
On accepting the Co-Chair role of the Club’s D&I Committee, Shah commented:
“I’m extremely excited and honoured to be asked to Co-Chair Middlesex’s D&I committee.
“Recent events have shone a light on cricket, and we must all accept that the sport can do better. We have an opportunity to reflect on where we are as a club and ensure we continue to improve and provide the right environment for all cricketers to want to represent Middlesex.
“Middlesex took on the D&I initiative over a year ago with clear objectives and we have been able to make progress in many areas; with the pandemic restrictions easing we are currently planning our community roadshow events for 2022 as well as looking at initiatives to enhance our internal policies and awareness around D&I.
“It’s not often you can be involved in something so important that will have a lasting impact, but I truly believe that with the support of the leadership at the club, members and the wider cricketing network within the county we can lead the way on inspiring the future generations of cricketers.”
