Stand-in Cricket Scotland chief Gordon Arthur meets Majid Haq and Qasim Sheikh

Stand-in Cricket Scotland chief executive Gordon Arthur has had “very constructive” meetings with racism whistleblowers Majid Haq and Qasim Sheikh.

Former Scotland players Haq and Sheikh have raised far-reaching racism grievances against Cricket Scotland, leading to widespread resignations amid a damning independent review.

Arthur met Haq and Sheikh at Scotland’s Twenty20 with New Zealand in Edinburgh on Wednesday and apologised to the duo.

Cricket Scotland has been placed into special measures after an independent review published on Monday identified 448 instances of institutional racism, while Haq and Shiekh’s lawyer has branded players’ refusal to speak out in response as “deeply shameful”.

Arthur has now moved to address the scandal in person however, with Cricket Scotland confirming a meeting at Wednesday’s match.

“Gordon Arthur has met with Majid Haq and Qasim Sheikh today at the Scotland vs New Zealand T20 international,” said a Cricket Scotland spokesperson.

“He has had a very constructive discussion about resolving the issues that have come out of the review into racism, and has apologised for the time it has taken to get to this stage and the impact it has had on them and their families.

“They have agreed to meet within the next week and have a shared commitment to ensure cricket in Scotland is a truly welcoming sport with equal opportunities for everyone.”

Arthur’s intervention came in the wake of Aamer Anwar, the lawyer representing Haq and Sheikh, releasing a damning statement earlier on Wednesday.

“Since the board resigned and the publication of the devastating indictment of Cricket Scotland, the white players in the Scotland team have yet to provide any real solidarity to the victims of racism, including