Photo Credit: ECB
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has imposed a six-month ban on an unnamed county coach for “inappropriate sexual behaviour” involving a player on his team. The male coach admitted the charge when it was brought before the Cricket Regulator earlier this year.
The incident occurred in March 2024 during an overseas pre-season tour that involved both the men’s and women’s teams of the county. The coach was charged with inappropriate conduct with a player from the team he was coaching, and the case was heard by the Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) in July.
The identities of the coach, player, and county have been kept confidential to protect those involved. However, the CDC panel described the misconduct as “serious,” with evidence including call logs, messages between the coach and player, and witness statements from a teammate and a senior county employee.
Dave Lewis, Interim Director of the Cricket Regulator, emphasized that the Regulator aims to protect participants from inappropriate sexual behaviour, especially by those in positions of power or trust. He stressed the importance of creating a safe environment for reporting such incidents and protecting the identities of victims and vulnerable witnesses.
The coach has been banned from participating in cricket for six months, with three months already served and the remaining three months suspended for two years, contingent on good behaviour. Although the coach is now eligible to work in the game, the judgment noted that he is not currently employed in the sport.
The coach has reportedly apologized for his actions, shown remorse, and completed safeguarding training, including obtaining an up-to-date DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. No fine was imposed, as the coach had already suffered financial loss and the matter had impacted his mental health.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
