Essex charged over alleged racism across 10 years

The Cricket Regulator, an independent body tasked with ensuring conformity with sporting regulations, has charged the Essex Cricket County Club with alleged racism across a decade within the organization. 

Katherine Newton KC, in a 38-page report submitted in December 2023, mentioned a series of historical allegations of racial abuse in Essex between 2001 and 2010. The allegations are based on the testimony of three former undisclosed players. One of them was nicknamed “Bomber” for his South Asian heritage. Another player was taunted with bananas for being Black.

The Cricket Regulator said in their statement, “The club has been charged with a breach of ECB Directive 3.3 following the investigation into allegations which covered a significant period of time.

ECB Directive 3.3 concerns conduct, acts or omissions which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket or which may bring the game of cricket or any cricketer or group of cricketers into disrepute.

It is alleged that there was systemic use of racist and/or discriminatory language and/or conduct at Essex, during the period between 2001 and 2010, which Essex failed to address.”

Essex has responded to the allegation in an understanding manner. 

“The Club has fully cooperated with the Cricket Regulator and will continue to do so throughout the process, and intends to participate willingly with the Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC),” Essex said in their response. "There will be no further comment from the club at this time,” they added. 

In another incident, the former club chairman, John Faragher was accused of using racist language during a board meeting in 2017. While the club accepted a fine against this charge in May 2022, Faragher who left the post in November 2021, denied the allegation. He claimed that paying the fine is a gimmick to avoid Yorkshire's mistakes in handling the allegations from Azeem Rafiq. Months later, those attempts, if any, have proven futile. 

For now, An independent panel CDC would hear the case in due court.No further comment will be made until the case is concluded.

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