Cricket

Richard Whittam KC has been appointed as the inaugural chair of the Cricket Discipline Panel (CDP), a newly established independent tribunal that will adjudicate on regulatory breaches in English professional cricket. Whittam's appointment, made by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) board for a four-year term, follows an open recruitment process.Whittam, a 64-year-old specialist regulatory and criminal barrister, brings a wealth of experience in sports discipline to the role. He served as a deputy high court judge from 2016 to 2022 and was appointed as the Rugby Football Union's Head of Independent Judiciary last year. Whittam has also chaired discipline, safeguarding, and appeal panels in rugby union since 2014 and is a member of the World Rugby and European Professional Club Rugby Judicial Panels.As chair of the CDP, Whittam will preside over specific disciplinary cases and appoint other panel members with appropriate skills and diversity. The panel will consider cases brought before it by the Cricket Regulator, the body responsible for monitoring compliance with and enforcing adherence to the game's regulations on behalf of the ECB.The CDP's primary function will be to adjudicate on breaches of the ECB's Professional Conduct Regulations, but it will also handle cases related to other regulations, including the Anti-Corruption code, Player and Match Officials' Minimum Standards, Cricket Playing Conditions, Bowling Review Regulations, Pitch Regulations, and Head Protector Regulations.Whittam expressed his delight at being appointed to the role, emphasizing the importance of upholding the integrity of cricket through the enforcement of rules and regulations. ECB chair Richard Thompson praised Whittam's background in law and sports discipline, describing him as the ideal person to lead the CDP.The establishment of the CDP is a key recommendation from the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC), which published a damning report in June 2023 detailing structural inequalities across race, gender, and class in cricket in England and Wales. The Cricket Regulator was formed in 2023 to monitor compliance with and enforce adherence to the game's regulations.

Shakib Al Hasan, the legendary Bangladesh all-rounder, has been requested by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to undergo an analysis of his bowling action. This request comes after umpires reported him during his solitary appearance for Surrey in the County Championship this season.Shakib, now 37, made a significant impact in his first County Championship appearance since 2011, claiming nine wickets for Surrey in a thrilling clash with Somerset at Taunton in September. As a left-arm spinner, he had agreed to a short-term deal to bolster Surrey's resources during their title push, with eight players absent on England duty.Despite his immediate impact, Shakib was unable to prevent Somerset from securing a remarkable 111-run victory that briefly halted Surrey's march towards their third consecutive Championship title. He bowled over 63 overs in the fixture, and while he was not no-balled for throwing at any stage, it has now emerged that the on-field umpires, Steve O'Shaughnessy and David Millns, subsequently deemed his bowling action to be suspect.Shakib is not currently suspended from playing, but negotiations are reportedly underway for him to undergo further tests in an approved location within the next couple of weeks. This is believed to be the first time that Shakib's bowling action has come under scrutiny in his illustrious career spanning two decades. He has taken a total of 712 wickets across 447 international matches, including 246 in 71 Tests.Shakib's international career is currently in limbo following protests that accompanied his withdrawal, on security grounds, from Bangladesh's Test squad to face South Africa at Mirpur last month. He had previously served as an MP for the longstanding Awami League-led government, which was toppled amid student protests in July.

Ben Duckett's career took a dramatic turn in 2017-18 when he was sent home from the Ashes tour after an incident involving James Anderson. Now, seven years later, Duckett has revealed the full story behind the incident, shedding light on the events that led to his suspension.Duckett, then a promising young batsman, was part of the Lions tour at the time. The incident occurred at Perth's Avenue Bar, where England players were under intense scrutiny for their off-field behavior. Anderson, a senior member of the team, allegedly threw a drink on Duckett, who then retaliated by pouring a drink on Anderson's head.The incident was witnessed by an ECB security guard, who reported it to the management. Head coach Trevor Bayliss was furious, calling it "unacceptable" in the current climate. Anderson downplayed the incident in his Telegraph column, but the ECB took a hard stance, imposing a fine and suspension on Duckett.Duckett feared his England career was over. He was isolated in Australia, unable to train or play. The time difference and lack of support from home made it a difficult time for the 22-year-old. However, the incident also forced him to grow up quickly and develop resilience.Duckett's subsequent emergence as an England regular has allowed him to put a positive spin on that period of his career. He has become a mainstay across all three formats, with over 1980 Test runs since returning to the side in 2022. He is also set to play a vital role in the rejuvenation of England's limited overs set-up.While Duckett acknowledges that his actions were not ideal, he believes the experience made him a stronger and more determined player. He is grateful for the support he received from his teammates during that difficult time and is now focused on making the most of his opportunity to represent England.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has unveiled an ambitious plan to reinvigorate cricket participation in state-sector education, aiming to train secondary-school teachers as cricket coaches. This initiative is part of the ECB's Inspiring Generations strategy, which seeks to address the disparity in cricket participation between private and state-educated pupils.The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) report highlighted that privately educated pupils are 13 times more likely to play professional cricket than their state-educated counterparts. To address this, the ECB plans to support cricket provision in 500 state secondary schools by 2030, with up to £26 million earmarked for improving facilities in 16 towns and cities.The ECB also aims to provide free cricket for 3.5 million primary-school pupils over the next six years, reinforcing the link between primary and secondary education. Additionally, the talent pathway will be restructured to improve the flow of state-school players into county age-group programs.The ECB has pledged to support 70 players per year at the South Asian Cricket Academy and 21,000 young people over the next three years at the African Caribbean Engagement (ACE) program. These initiatives aim to increase diversity and inclusion in cricket.The strategy document covers planning up to the end of 2028, including the ECB's hosting of the Women's World Cup in 2026, men's and women's home Ashes series in 2027, and the return of cricket to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould emphasized the importance of the strategy, stating that it is the roadmap for the future of cricket. Deputy Chair Clare Connor highlighted that the aim of becoming the most inclusive sport in the country has been in train even before the ICEC report.The ECB has accelerated many of its measures in response to the ICEC report's criticisms of racism, classism, and sexism in English cricket. However, the board has pushed back on the ICEC's recommendation to equalize domestic pay across the sexes by 2029 and 2030 at international level.The ECB's plans could face a snag if they do not receive the £35 million investment into grassroots cricket promised by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The board remains hopeful that the prospect of the Women's World Cup will encourage the government to carry through with this investment.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has received bids from several Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises, including Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Lucknow Super Giants, for potential ownership stakes in the Hundred competition. Other notable bidders include the GMR Group, the new owner of Hampshire cricket, and Avram Glazer, co-owner of Manchester United Football Club.The ECB set an October 18 deadline for potential investors to express interest in buying stakes in the eight Hundred teams. The bids submitted last week represent a one-time sum to acquire a 49% stake in each team, currently held by the ECB.In the next stage, which begins in November, investors will meet with the host counties of each Hundred franchise. They will then need to narrow down their choices to four teams, followed by a final selection of two teams.While the ECB aims to announce the final set of investors by early 2025, it has emphasized that it will not rush the process and risk "underselling" the Hundred. ECB chairman Richard Thompson has suggested that a hybrid model could be adopted, with the ECB owning some teams and private investors owning others.However, not all IPL teams have submitted bids. Punjab Kings have opted out, while there is no confirmation on the participation of Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans. Pakistan Super League (PSL) winners Multan Sultans and global sports investors INEOS have also declined to bid.One of the concerns raised by IPL franchises is their potential role as passive investors. Additionally, former IPL architect Lalit Modi has criticized the ECB's financial projections for the Hundred's growth beyond 2026, calling them "overly optimistic."Despite these reservations, the ECB remains confident in the Hundred's potential. CEO Richard Gould has stated that over 100 potential investors from India and the USA have sought information on the privatization.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a new eligibility policy for transgender women in elite domestic cricket, aligning with the International Cricket Council's (ICC) stance. Transgender women who have gone through male puberty will be excluded from Tiers 1 and 2 of the ECB's new women's county competition, as well as the women's Hundred.The ECB's decision follows a nine-month consultation with stakeholders and a review of scientific and medical evidence. The board cited concerns about player safety at the elite level as the primary reason for the new policy."We want everyone to feel included and welcome in our sport, and believe the position reached strikes an appropriate balance by ensuring fairness in the elite game while ensuring inclusivity at a recreational level, with specific safeguards in place to manage disparities and ensure safety," the ECB said in a statement.The policy will not apply to the grassroots game or Tier 3 of the county competition, which will include teams from the ECB's national counties. However, Tier 3 teams will be subject to promotion and relegation from higher tiers from 2029 onwards.The ECB's previous policy allowed any player who identified as female to compete in professional club and England pathway teams with written clearance. However, the ICC tightened its eligibility policy in November 2023, prioritizing the protection of the integrity of the women's game, safety, fairness, and inclusion.The most notable player affected by the rule change was Canada's Danielle McGahey, who played in the ICC Women's T20 Americas Qualifier in 2023 but later acknowledged that her career was over.The ECB's detailed policy will be developed in consultation with stakeholders over the coming months and will be formally in place for the 2025 domestic season.

The Hundred, England's new 100-ball cricket competition, has attracted a wider range of potential investors than anticipated ahead of Friday's first-round deadline for bids. The ECB's senior leadership team expressed confidence in the Hundred's projected valuations, particularly the overseas broadcast rights, which are expected to jump from £2 million per year to £33 million by 2030.The ECB sent investment prospectuses to around 100 interested parties last month, who were given until October 18 to register their initial interest in buying a stake in one of the eight Hundred teams. The teams are currently owned by the ECB but will become franchises run as joint-ventures with host counties once the sale process is complete.ECB chief executive Richard Gould and chair Richard Thompson defended the projected increase in revenue from Indian broadcast rights, despite concerns raised by some prospective investors. Gould emphasized that the ECB is not assuming that Indian men's players will be released to participate in the Hundred, but remains confident in the product's appeal."We are confident in our product, in terms of the window we occupy and the players we've got available," Gould said. "There are loads of T20 and short-format franchise competitions out there at the moment, and I don't think they are all going to last, in truth."Gould revealed that "about 100 or so" interested parties had requested access to the ECB's "data room," including significant interest from India, America, and other sports and investment houses. He added that the ECB is aiming to maximize the value of the franchises while ensuring that the game's interests are protected."We're getting towards the end of stage one this week… at the moment, they can express an interest in all eight clubs," Gould said. "We'll have a better indication over the next week or two. Thereafter, we'll spend a month or so going through those. At the end of that process, they will be able to go and meet the county clubs and see where their relationships work best."Thompson emphasized that the investment base for the Hundred is "way broader and bigger" than expected, with Raine Group initially estimating three to four bidders per team. However, the ECB is not rushing the sale process and may consider a "hybrid" model in 2025, with some teams still owned by the ECB and others by private investors.

The Champions Trophy, scheduled for 2024 in Pakistan, faces uncertainty over India's participation due to political tensions between the two nations. However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has emphasized the importance of protecting broadcast rights, indicating that the tournament will proceed with or without India's involvement.ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould and Chair Richard Thompson acknowledged that alternative arrangements are being considered in case India declines to travel to Pakistan. They stressed that the Champions Trophy is a significant event for Pakistan, which has not hosted a major ICC tournament since 1996.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not sent a team to Pakistan since 2008 due to strained relations. Last year, the Asia Cup was shifted to a hybrid model with India's matches played in Sri Lanka. Pakistan, however, participated fully in the 2023 World Cup in India.The PCB remains committed to hosting a "world-class" event in Pakistan. The final decision on India's participation rests with the Indian government. ECB officials believe that the ICC, led by former BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, will play a crucial role in finding a solution.Gould emphasized the financial implications of India's absence, stating that broadcast rights would be compromised. He also acknowledged the security concerns that arise when India and Pakistan face each other. However, he expressed optimism that the two countries' relations are currently amicable.Thompson predicted that India's participation would "go to the wire." He believes that India and Pakistan will find a way to ensure India's involvement. The PCB has submitted a draft schedule to the ICC, with India's matches scheduled to be played in Lahore.The Champions Trophy will feature eight teams divided into two groups of four. The competing teams include Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa. The tournament is set to run from February 19 to March 9, 2024.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is considering a major overhaul of the Hundred tournament's draft system and player compensation structure. The proposed changes aim to attract top international players and boost the league's competitiveness.Under the new plans, franchises could make direct offers of multi-year contracts worth up to £300,000 per season to players. This would represent a significant increase from the current salary cap of £125,000 for men and £50,000 for women.The ECB is also considering lobbying the UK's Home Office to allow each team to field a fourth overseas player in the XI, up from the current limit of three. This move would bring the Hundred in line with other major T20 leagues worldwide.The proposed changes are part of a broader effort to increase the Hundred's appeal to top players and fans. The ECB has fallen behind other short-form leagues in attracting men's stars, and the new salary structure aims to address this issue.The plans would also see each team able to sign one designated 'England star' on a multi-year deal, worth around £100,000 in the women's competition and £250,000 in the men's.The ECB is confident that the proposed changes will make the Hundred more competitive and attractive to players and fans alike. The league's 2025 season will start in early August, immediately after England's men complete a Test series against India.