The Independent Cricket Regulator is introduced by the ECB to address racial, gender, and class imbalances.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has launched the Cricket Regulator, an independent organization tasked with supervising compliance and enforcing regulations inside the sport, in a significant move intended to eliminate structural disparities in cricket.

This event happens in response to the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket’s (ICEC) important report, “Holding Up a Mirror to Cricket,” which highlighted racial, gender, and class imbalances in the sport.

The 317-page report, which was made public in June, criticized the ECB for acting in tandem as the game’s regulator and promoter, noting “irreconcilable” conflicts of interest. The report made a point of highlighting the inadequacies in handling the racism controversy that Azeem Rafiq’s disclosures regarding his upbringing in Yorkshire had sparked.

In response to the ICEC’s request, the European Central Bank (ECB) declared in September that it would create an impartial committee to look into regulatory violations and decide whether to press charges. A distinct Cricket Regulatory Board will oversee the Monday-introduced Cricket Regulator, which will operate independently of the ECB.

Investigating reported instances and deciding whether there is enough evidence to bring them before the Cricket Discipline Panel are among the Cricket Regulator’s primary duties.

Protecting, integrity (including anti-corruption, anti-misconduct, and anti-doping), and anti-discrimination are now included in the regulator’s jurisdiction; these were formerly under the ECB’s jurisdiction.

Dave Lewis, a retired chief of police with more than thirty years of expertise in law enforcement, has been named the Cricket Regulator’s acting director. His job is to set up the organization until a long-term replacement steps in in 2024. Lewis emphasized the significance of upholding strict guidelines in areas like anti-discrimination, saying,

“The Cricket Regulator, for which the sport has established clear guidelines, will cover a wide range of issues, including anti-discrimination. The team and I are unambiguous about the significance of upholding high standards to guarantee that players throughout the game understand what is expected of them and that the appropriate policies are in place to safeguard and advance the interests of players and all parties concerned,” as stated by ESPN Cricinfo.

In expressing support for the Cricket Regulator’s formation, ECB CEO Richard Gould emphasized the body’s independence from the ECB.

It is imperative that the game implements optimal procedures to uphold rules. The Cricket Regulator, which is supervised by an independent Cricket Regulatory Board, will implement the recommendations made in the ICEC study to further independent the game’s regulatory framework.

“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,” Gould stated.