London. A professional cricket coach has been suspended for six months following a Cricket Disciplinary Commission (CDC) ruling relating to inappropriate conduct during a preseason tour involving a men's and women's county team in March 2024.
The cricket regulator considered these actions to be serious misconduct, leading to the coach's removal from professional cricket duties.
Dave Lewis, the cricket regulator's interim director, stressed the importance of maintaining a safe environment for all cricket participants. Lewis said, “The regulator of cricket seeks to protect all participants from inappropriate behaviour, particularly when perpetrated by people in positions of power or trust. We recognize the importance of participants feeling empowered to report such matters. and will always strive to protect the identities of victims and vulnerable witnesses.”
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) issued a charge sheet to the coach, referred to as “Coach A”, on May 22, 2024. The charge cited a breach of Professional Conduct Regulation 3.3 of the 2023 Regulations, which stipulates that participants cannot engage in any act that is unfair, detrimental to the interests of cricket or capable of bringing the game, the ECB or its players into disrepute. Should not happen. Coach A admitted the allegations in a letter to the CDC dated July 25, 2024.
To protect the identities of all involved, including potentially vulnerable individuals, the CDC interviewed Coach A, “Player 1” (the primary player affected), “Player 2” (another player involved) and a senior county employee who testified. Maintained strict anonymity.
Evidence supporting the case included call logs, a schedule of messages exchanged between Coach A and Player 1, and the transcript of Coach A's interview with the regulator. The CDC decided not to reproduce the full facts of the case, as the parties involved had already admitted misconduct.
The sixmonth suspension imposed on Coach A has been partially completed, while three months are considered to have already been completed due to Coach A's absence from the professional game from March 2024. The remaining three months are suspended, dependent on Coach A's behavior over the next two years. The CDC recommended that Coach A undertake appropriate training at his own expense and opted against financial penalties considering the financial impact on him and his family.
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Image Credit: KhasKhabar.