Cricket

A former county cricket coach has been handed a nine-month suspension after admitting to multiple instances of sexual misconduct. The punishment, issued by the Cricket Discipline Panel, stems from a series of inappropriate actions involving junior female staff members during the 2023 and 2024 cricket seasons.

The coach, whose identity has not been disclosed due to health-related concerns and risk of harm, admitted to five breaches of the sport’s conduct regulations. Among the most troubling details was an attempt to kiss one of the victims inside a club dressing room. The panel noted that one of the women was significantly younger and in a subordinate role.

Cricket Coach Apologises, Faces Ban and Education Mandate

Following the misconduct, the coach was immediately relieved of his duties and has not participated in any cricket-related role since. The nine-month ban includes six months of retrospective suspension and three months suspended, contingent upon future conduct. He is also required to complete an educational program focusing on workplace ethics, digital boundaries, and sexual harassment awareness.

In his submission, the coach expressed remorse:

β€œπ‘° π’…π’†π’†π’‘π’π’š π’“π’†π’ˆπ’“π’†π’• π’Žπ’š π’‚π’„π’•π’Šπ’π’π’” 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 π’•π’‚π’Œπ’†π’ 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒑𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅,” 𝒉𝒆 π’”π’‚π’Šπ’…, 𝒂𝒔 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕.

He also worked with a former professional sportswoman and engaged in training to improve awareness of appropriate workplace behaviour.

Meanwhile, Cricket Regulator Managing Director Chris Haward strongly condemned the actions:

β€œπ‘»π’‰π’Šπ’” π’Œπ’Šπ’π’… 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕 π’Šπ’” 𝒖𝒏𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆. π‘Ήπ’†π’Žπ’π’—π’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝒔𝒆𝒙𝒖𝒂𝒍 π’Žπ’Šπ’”π’„π’π’π’…π’–π’„π’• π’‡π’“π’π’Ž 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’ˆπ’‚π’Žπ’† π’Šπ’” 𝒂 π’‘π’“π’Šπ’π’“π’Šπ’•π’š,” 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝑩𝑩π‘ͺ 𝑺𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕. β€œπ‘Ύπ’† π’˜π’Šπ’π’ π’„π’π’π’•π’Šπ’π’–π’† 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 π’Šπ’π’…π’Šπ’—π’Šπ’…π’–π’‚π’π’” 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 π’˜π’‰π’ π’ƒπ’“π’‚π’—π’†π’π’š π’„π’π’Žπ’† π’‡π’π’“π’˜π’‚π’“π’….”

The case underscores the sport’s ongoing efforts to promote safe and respectful environments within professional cricket.

Also Read: Why Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Are Missing Upcoming India Matches

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