A professional county cricket coach has been suspended for six months by the Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) for engaging in inappropriate conduct with a player under his care. The incidents occurred during a pre-season tour in March 2024, involving the men’s and women’s teams from an unnamed county.
The coach, referred to as “Coach A” in the CDC’s findings, was charged with breaching regulation 3.3 of the 2023 Professional Conduct Regulations, which prohibits improper conduct that may harm the interests of cricket or bring the game into disrepute. Coach A admitted the charge in writing on July 25, 2024.
The identities of Coach A, the player involved (“Player 1”), another player (“Player 2”), and a senior county employee who provided witness statements were anonymized to protect victims and vulnerable witnesses.
Evidence presented to the CDC included call logs, messages, and a transcript of Coach A’s interview with the Cricket Regulator. The CDC deemed it unnecessary to disclose the full details of the incidents as they had been admitted by the parties involved.
Coach A’s suspension includes three months already served since the last incident in March 2024, with the remaining three months suspended for two years, contingent on his future conduct. The CDC recommended that Coach A undergo appropriate training at his own expense and did not impose a fine, considering the financial impact on him and his family.
Interim director of The Cricket Regulator, Dave Lewis, emphasized the importance of protecting participants from inappropriate sexual behavior, especially by those in positions of power. The Regulator encourages reporting of such incidents and safeguards the identities of victims and vulnerable witnesses.
Mitigating factors considered by the CDC in sentencing Coach A included his acceptance of responsibility, apology, and expression of remorse. The panel also noted his unblemished record prior to the incidents and his completion of safeguarding courses and an up-to-date DBS check.
