ECB set to launch independent Cricket Regulator

ECB set forth the launch of Cricket Regulator, an autonomous ‘body which will be responsible for tracking compliance with the game’s regulations, enforcement of adherence to those regulations and fetching relevant information and education’. A separate cricket regulatory board will supervise the Cricket Regulator and will be restricted from the rest of the ECB, the board stated. 

The Cricket Regulator will look into different areas of work that had formerly been in the ECB's sphere, including integrity (anti corruption, misconduct, antidoping), safeguarding and anti discrimination. 

The establishment of the Cricket Board was advised in the report issued by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC). "The launch of the Cricket Regulator seeks to bring further independence to the regulatory processes within cricket, to give greater assurance around the separation between this area and the remainder of the ECB," the ECB stated.

Set to be operative with immediate effect, the Cricket Regulator will handle investigations when a case is issued and will proceed to present the matter to the Cricket Discipline Commission if there is enough evidence. According to ECB’s response to the ICEC report, the Cricket Discipline Commission will be remodelled as the Cricket Disciple Panel in 2024. 

Dave Lewis has been trusted with the interim director role of the Cricket Regulator. The former police chief with nearly 30 years of experience as a police officer, with a wide variety of roles including Senior Investigating Officer, Head of Criminal Justice, Head of Local Policing, and Regional ACC leading serious organised crime and counter-terrorism policing in the South-West'.   

Lewis has been entrusted with setting up the Cricket Regulator and a permanent successor in 2024 will be appointed via an open recruitment process. Lewis will report to Nic Coward, the chair of the Cricket Regulatory Board. 

“It is important that the game has the best processes in place in order to enforce regulations. The ICEC Report recommended that we introduce further independence to the game's regulatory process and the Cricket Regulator overseen by an independent Cricket Regulatory Board will do that," said the ECB Chief Executive Officer Richard Gould. "The Cricket Regulator is ring-fenced from the ECB, and that separation will ensure that their work is distinct from our work as the game's promoter."

The Cricket Regulator’s interim director added- “The Cricket Regulator will cover a wide range of matters on which the game has set clear standards, including anti-discrimination. The team and I are clear about the importance of meeting high standards in ensuring people across the game know what is expected of them, and having the best procedures in place, to protect and promote the good of the game, and everyone involved."