1. Follow this link for all definitions in these General Conduct Regulations 

2. These regulations come into full force and effect on the 1st January 2026. 

3. From the effective Date: 

(a) all Relevant Cricket Organisations are bound by and must familiarise themselves with the requirements of these Regulations; 

(b) all Participants must comply with the disciplinary process set out in these Regulations; 

(c) all Relevant Cricket Organisations must adopt these Regulations and implement the requirements of these Regulations in respect of the disciplinary processes they carry out in relation to those under their jurisdiction . All Relevant Cricket Organisations must adopt these Regulations in their entirety, except that where a specific Regulation is underlined a Relevant Cricket Organisation may amend and/or supplement that Regulation, provided that any amendments: 

(i) are not inconsistent with the mandatory provisions or overall purpose of these Regulations; 

(ii) are not inconsistent with the guidance in Appendix 4; 

(iii) are clearly reflected in the version of these Regulations that the Relevant Cricket Organisation adopts; and 

5(iv) are clearly communicated to the Participants under their jurisdiction , and where any amendment goes beyond what is permitted by this Regulation 3(c), that provision will be deemed deleted and automatically replaced with the equivalent provision in these Regulations. 

(d) all Relevant Cricket Organisations must decide who has responsibility for conducting the disciplinary process (and that entity will be the Relevant Disciplinary Body under these Regulations) and dealing with appeals (and that entity will be the Appeal Body under these Regulations). A Relevant Cricket Organisation may delegate responsibility to an appropriate Club, League or Recreational Cricket Board in relation to some, or all, categories of cases arising under these Regulations. However, in each case the Relevant Cricket Organisation must ensure that the Relevant Disciplinary Body and the Appeal Body has agreed toaccept that responsibility and complies with therequirements in relation to the disciplinary and/or appeals process as set out in these Regulations; 

(e) all Relevant Cricket Organisations must appoint a Disciplinary Officer, and ensure appropriate contact details for the Disciplinary Officer are made available to allow other Disciplinary Officers to contact them . Where resources allow, a disciplinary secretary should be appointed to deal with the administration of any Disciplinary Panel or Appeal 

Panel ; and 

(f) all Relevant Cricket Organisations must provide the ECB with any details requested in relationto any disciplinarymattersit has carriedout in accordancewiththese Regulations. 

See Appendix 4, guidance notes 2 & 4 for further information. 

4. Any disciplinary sanctions imposed under these Regulations will be separate to any sanctions imposed under a Participant’s employment contract or any action taken in accordance with a Club, League or Recreational Cricket Board’s terms of membership. 

On and around the field of play 

5. Any cricketer will be in breach of these Regulations, at the relevant level of offence detailed below, if they do not conduct themselves fairly and properly on and around the field of play and otherwise in accordance with the Laws of Cricket or the Spirit of Cricket. Such conduct which will result in a breach of these Regulations will include any misconduct of a cricketer on any match day as specified in Law 42 of the Laws of Cricket, namely: 

(a) wilfully mistreating any part of the cricket ground or any equipment or implements used in the match; 

(b) showing dissent at an umpire’s decision by word or action; 

(c) using language that, in the circumstances, is obscene, offensive or insulting; 

(d) making an obscene gesture; 

(e) appealing excessively; 

(f) advancing towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing; and/or 

(g) any other misconduct, the nature of which is, in the opinion of the umpires, equivalent to a Level 1 offence; or 

(a) showing serious dissent at an umpire’s decision by word or action; 

(b) making inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with another cricketer; 

(c) throwing the ball at or near a cricketer, umpire or another person in an inappropriate and dangerous manner; 

(d) using language or gesture to another cricketer, umpire, team official or spectator that, in the circumstances, is obscene or of a seriously insulting nature; and/or 

(e) any other misconduct, the nature of which is, in the opinion of the umpires, equivalent to a Level 2 offence; or 

(a) intimidating an umpire by language or gesture; and/or 

(b) threatening to assault a cricketer or any other person except an umpire; or 

(a) threatening to assault an umpire; 

(b) making inappropriate and deliberate and/or dangerous physical contact with an umpire; 

(c) physically assaulting a cricketer or any other person; and/or 

(d) committing any other act of violence. 

 

6. A cricketer will also be in breach of these Regulations on and around the field of play if they: 

(a) commit any breach of Law 41 of the Laws of Cricket (Unfair Play); or 

(b) act in a manner contrary to the ECB’s Anti-Discrimination Regulations; or 

(c) conduct themselves in a manner or act in a manner which is improper, or which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket, or which may bring the ECB the game of cricket or any cricketer or group of cricketers into disrepute. 

7. Any coach, match official or Club Official will be in breach of these Regulations if they fail to conduct themselves fairly and properly at any part of the cricket ground on any match day. Conduct which is not fair and proper and will therefore result in a breach of these Regulations will include, but not be limited to: 

(a) making inappropriate and deliberate and/or dangerous physical contact with, threatening to assault, physically assaulting or committing any act of violence towards any other Participant (including an umpire) or any member of the public; 

(b) showing dissent at an umpire’s decision by language or gesture, advancing towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing or intimidating an umpire by language or gesture; 

(c) using language that, in the circumstances, is obscene, offensive, insulting or seriously insulting; 

(d) making an obscene or seriously insulting gesture; 

(e) conducting themselves in a manner or acting in a manner which is improper, or which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket, or which may bring the ECB, the game of cricket or any cricketer or group of cricketers into disrepute; and/or 

(f) acting in a manner contrary to the ECB’s Anti-Discrimination Regulations. 

8. If an umpire considers that there has been an On-Field Breach, they must (i) make reasonable efforts to inform the individual (or their captain or a Club Official) before they leave the ground and (ii) make a Disciplinary Report to the Disciplinary Officer of the Relevant Disciplinary Body. This Disciplinary Report will be made irrespective of any action the umpire may have taken on the field of play. Other individuals can also report On-Field Breaches either to the umpire, in which case the umpire will make a Disciplinary Report, or to the Disciplinary Officer directly by way of Written Complaint (for example, if the On-Field Breach relates to a match official). If there is no umpire appointed to a particular match, individuals can report On-Field Breaches to a captain or Club Official who can then make a Disciplinary Report on their behalf. 

9. If any cricketer commits two or more breaches of Regulation 5 or 6 (Conduct obligations on and around the field of play), which take place during or immediately before or after a match, when playing for the same Club in a season it will automatically be a separate offence of failing to ensure that the relevant cricketers have complied with their obligations for each of: 

(a) any person who captained the team in all of the relevant match(es); and 

(b) the Club the cricketer was playing for. 

 

10. Clubs will also be held responsible for disorderly behaviour at any part of the cricket ground on any match day by their members and spectators, unless they can show that: 

(a) they took adequate steps to ensure that their members and spectators behaved in an orderly fashion; and/or 

(b) they did not or could not control entry to that part of the cricket ground by the relevant spectators and it would therefore not be fair for them to be held responsible. 

11. A Participant will be in breach of these Regulations if they commit any misconduct as set out below which either relates to their participation in Relevant Recreational Cricket and/or is of a sufficiently serious nature to justify disciplinary action being taken in relation to their participation in Relevant Recreational Cricket: 

(a) making an abusive, obscene, offensive or otherwise insulting comment or gesture (in any form) in relation to any other Participant or any other person; 

(b) any act of violence towards another person; 

(c) engaging in behaviour that constitutes any form of abuse or harassment, whether physical, sexual, emotional, neglectful or bullying in nature; 

(d) any breach of the ECB’s Anti-Discrimination Regulations; 

(e)making any adverse public statement or comment in any form and by any means about the performance and/or decision(s) of any match official(s); 

(f) failing to report to their Club, any Relevant Criminal Offence for which they have been subject to investigation and/or charged with; 

(g) conducting themselves in a manner, or doing or omitting to do anything which is or may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket, or which may bring or does bring the game of cricket or the ECB into disrepute; 

(h) engaging in any corrupt conduct in relation to cricket, in particular: 

(i) failing to comply with any decisions or sanctions validly imposed on them following due process as prescribed by these Regulations. 

12. A Club will be in breach of these Regulations if, at any time: 

(a) it fails to take reasonable steps to ensure the good behaviour and conduct of their Participants for any breach of these Regulations; 

(b) it knowingly permits a cricketer who is suspended as a result of a previous breach of these Regulations to play in any match or competition; 

(c) any of its Participants commit any serious, collective or repeated breaches of these Regulations; 

(d) it commits any breach of its obligations under the ECB’s Anti-Discrimination Regulations; and/or 

(e) it fails to comply with any decision(s) and/or sanction(s) validly imposed on it or on any person within the organisation, which has arisen following due process as prescribed by these Regulations. 

13. A League will be in breach of these Regulations if, at any time, it: 

(a) commits any breach of its obligations under the ECB’s Anti-Discrimination Regulations; or 

(b) fails to comply with any decision(s) and/or sanction(s) validly imposed on it or on any person within the organisation, which has arisen following due process as prescribed by these Regulations. 

14. Participants are considered responsible for any relevant posts on their social media accounts and may be in breach of Regulations 11 to 13 for posting, repeating, commenting or supporting posts or comments by others (e.g. ‘retweeting’ or ‘liking’) on social media that amount to a conduct breach under Regulations 11 to 13. 

15. If an umpire considers that there has been an Off-Field Breach which occurs on or around the field of play at a match, they will (i) make reasonable efforts to inform the individual (or their captain or a Club Official) before they leave the ground and (ii) make a Disciplinary Report to the Disciplinary Officer of the Relevant Disciplinary Body. Other individuals can also report an Off-Field Breach which occurs on or around the field of play at a match to the umpire, in which case the umpire will make a Disciplinary Report, or to the Disciplinary Officer directly (wherever the Off-Field Breach may have occurred) by way of a Written Complaint. 

16. If the Relevant Disciplinary Body is aware that the Referral relates to a cricketer who is registered with a Professional County Club or a Hundred Team, the Disciplinary Officer must inform the Cricket Regulator by email to Integrity@cricketregulator.co.uk mailto:that the Referral has been received and provide any further information in respect of the disciplinary process that is requested by the Cricket Regulator. 

17. If the Referral is of sufficient complexity, in accordance with Regulation 18 below, the Disciplinary Officer may request the Cricket Regulator to investigate and prosecute the case on behalf of the Relevant Disciplinary Body. The Disciplinary Officer must share the Referral with the Cricket Regulator by email to RecreationalDiscipline@cricketregulator.co.uk and the Cricket Regulator will confirm within 7 days whether it will accept the Referral. The Cricket Regulator is under no obligation to accept the Referral, whether on the basis that the Referral does not meet the applicable threshold, has not been submitted by a Relevant Disciplinary Body which falls under the jurisdiction of the ECB or otherwise. If the Cricket Regulator does not accept the Referral, the Disciplinary Officer must adopt the process set out in these Regulations. 

18. For the purposes of Regulation 17, the following cases will be considered to be of sufficient complexity for the Disciplinary Officer to share the Referral with the Cricket Regulator: 

 

In determining whether to accept a Referral, the Cricket Regulator will consider whether it has jurisdiction to act in terms of whether the alleged misconduct took place on or around the field of play, or relates to a Participant’s participation in Relevant Recreational Cricket or is of a sufficiently serious nature to justify disciplinary action being taken in relation to their participation in Relevant Recreational Cricket. 

19. Following receipt of a Referral, a Disciplinary Officer must consider whether there is sufficient information and/or grounds to charge the relevant Participant with a breach of these Regulations. If further information is required, the Disciplinary Officer will conduct any further investigation that is necessary. All Participants must co-operate fully with, and must in no way obstruct or delay, any investigation conducted by the Disciplinary Officer under these Regulations; as part of this obligation, Participants must provide any relevant documents, 

footage or recordings in their possession or control that are reasonably requested by the Disciplinary Officer. An Adjudicator or Disciplinary Panel is entitled to draw an adverse inference from any breach of this duty to co-operate. 

20. If there is sufficient information and/or grounds, the Disciplinary Officer will issue a Charge Letter to the Respondent or the Respondent’s Club to share with the Respondent. If there is not, the Disciplinary Officer will inform the individual who submitted the Referral that no further action will be taken. 

21. If the Disciplinary Officer decides that the matter does not require a Hearing, the Disciplinary Officer may refer the matter to be considered under the Summary Procedure and the process in Regulations 22-28 will apply. If the Disciplinary Officer decides that the matter does require a Hearing, the process in Regulations 29-39 will apply. 

22. The Disciplinary Officer must provide the Charge Letter to the Adjudicator. If the Adjudicator considers that the matter is not appropriate for the Summary Procedure, the Adjudicator can refer the matter for a Hearing, in which case the process in Regulations 29-39 will apply but the Adjudicator will not form part of the Disciplinary Panel. 

23. The Disciplinary Officer must then confirm to the Respondent (either in the Charge Letter or separately) the identity of the Adjudicator. 

24. If the Respondent objects to the Adjudicator on the basis of a conflict of interest, the Disciplinary Officer must consider whether to appoint an alternative Adjudicator to consider the conflict of interest and/or as the Adjudicator in relation to the case. 

25. The Adjudicator will set the Respondent a reasonable timeframe to respond to the Charge Letter in writing, if they wish to, and provide any further information which may be relevant. 

26. The Adjudicator will consider the charge and determine whether, on the balance of probabilities, there has been a breach of these Regulations. 

27. If the Adjudicator decides that there has been a breach of these Regulations, they will impose a sanction in accordance with the sanction guidelines in Appendix 3. 

28. The Adjudicator’s decision will be communicated to the Respondent (and, where applicable, the Respondent’s Club) in writing. 

29. The Disciplinary Officer will appoint a Disciplinary Panel Chair, who in turn will appoint a Disciplinary Panel, and the Disciplinary Officer will arrange a Hearing. The Disciplinary Officer will confirm to the Respondent (either in the Charge Letter or separately) the identity of the Disciplinary Panel members, where and when the Hearing will take place and, if the Hearing will take place virtually rather than in person, by what means. If the Respondent is unable to attend a Hearing at that date or time, the Disciplinary Officer will attempt to reschedule the Hearing. 

30. In appropriate circumstances, including if the Respondent is not contesting the charge or does not wish to attend a Hearing, the Disciplinary Panel Chair may direct that the charge be considered by the Disciplinary Panel by way of written submissions only (i.e. without a Hearing) provided that a Hearing must be arranged if this is requested by the Respondent. 

31. If the Respondent objects to any member of the Disciplinary Panel on the basis of a conflict of interest, it will be resolved by the Disciplinary Panel Chair unless the potential conflict has been raised in respect of the Disciplinary Panel Chair in which case the Disciplinary Officer will consider whether to appoint an alternative Disciplinary Panel Chair to consider the conflict of interest and/or be appointed to the Disciplinary Panel. 

32. The Disciplinary Panel Chair will set the Respondent a reasonable timeframe to respond to the Charge Letter in writing and set any other directions for the exchange of information and/or evidence (which may include witness statements) that the Disciplinary Panel Chair considers appropriate. The Disciplinary Panel will not be bound by rules governing the admissibility of evidence in judicial or other proceedings. Instead, facts may be established by any reliable means, including admissions, circumstantial evidence and hearsay (to the extent appropriate). Findings in criminal and civil proceedings are admissible and assumed to be correct, unless it is shown by clear and compelling evidence that this is not the case. 

33. In exceptional circumstances, the Disciplinary Panel Chair may suspend a Respondent from participating in cricket until the Hearing has concluded. If so, the Disciplinary Panel Chair will give the Respondent the opportunity to give written submissions on why it would not be appropriate to suspend the Respondent and consider those submissions before making any decision. Any suspension which has been ordered by the Disciplinary Panel Chair (or otherwise issued) will be taken into account by the Disciplinary Panel when considering what sanctions to impose in accordance with Regulation 36. 

34. At the outset of any Hearing, the Disciplinary Panel Chair will confirm how the Disciplinary Panel would like the Hearing to proceed, and in particular how the case should be presented (and by whom). The Respondent (or their representative) will be entitled to provide oral submissions at the Hearing if they wish to do so. 

35. At the end of any Hearing, the Disciplinary Panel will consider the charge (in private) and determine whether, on the balance of probabilities, there has been a breach of these Regulations. Any decision of the Disciplinary Panel will be taken by majority vote, with the Disciplinary Panel Chair having a casting vote in the event of a tie. 

36. If the Disciplinary Panel decides that there has been a breach of these Regulations, it will impose a sanction in accordance with the sanction guidelines in Appendix 3. 

37. Unless otherwise stipulated in the Disciplinary Panel’s decision, any ban which is imposed by a Disciplinary Panel will apply to the Respondent’s next match (or matches) following receipt of the decision by the Respondent or Respondent’s Club, whichever is sooner, regardless of whether the match is in an ECB Competition. 

38. Unless the Disciplinary Panel directs otherwise, the parties will bear their own costs of preparing for and attending a Hearing. 

39. Wherever possible, the Disciplinary Panel Chair will communicate the decision and any sanction to the parties verbally at the end of the Hearing. The Disciplinary Panel’s decision will also be confirmed to the parties (and, where applicable, the Respondent’s Club) in writing following the Hearing. 

40. Any decision made by an Adjudicator or a Disciplinary Panel may be appealed by the Respondent. In order to commence an appeal, the Respondent must submit: 

41. The Notice of Appeal must contain at least one of the following grounds of appeal: 

42. The Disciplinary Officer of the Appeal Body will appoint an Appeal Panel Chair to determine whether the Notice of Appeal identifies sufficient grounds for an appeal. The Appeal Panel Chair will notify the Respondent (and, where applicable, the Respondent’s Club) and the Disciplinary Officer of the Relevant Disciplinary Body of their decision in writing. 

43. Where the Appeal Panel Chair rejects the Notice of Appeal, the Respondent may refer the matter to a Recreational Discipline Panel Chair for review of that decision, via the Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary, by sharing the Notice of Appeal and the Appeal Panel Chair’s written decision by email toRecreationalDiscipline@cricketregulator.co.uk within 3 days of receipt of the decision. 

44. The Recreational Discipline Panel Chair will confirm within 7 days whether it will accept the request. The Recreational Discipline Panel Chair is under no obligation to accept the Respondent’s request, whether on the basis that the request does not disclose sufficient information to suggest that the Appeal Panel Chair’s decision was wrong, has not been submitted in respect of an Appeal Body that falls under the jurisdiction of the ECB or otherwise. 

45. If the Recreational Discipline Panel Chair does not accept the request, the Appeal Panel Chair’s decision stands and there is no further right of review or appeal. 

46. If the Recreational Discipline Panel Chair accepts the request, they will move on to review the Appeal Panel Chair’s decision on the basis of the written documents only. If the Recreational Discipline Panel Chair determines that, on the balance of probabilities, the Notice of Appeal identifies sufficient grounds for an appeal, the Recreational Discipline Panel Chair will remit the matter back to the Disciplinary Officer of the Appeal Body, who must proceed to arrange for the appeal to be heard in accordance with Regulation 48. If the Recreational Discipline Panel Chair decides against the Respondent, the Appeal Panel Chair’s decision stands and there is no further right of review or appeal. 

47. Where a Recreational Discipline Panel Chair remits a matter back to be heard as an appeal following the decision of an Appeal Panel Chair not to allow an appeal to proceed, an alternative Appeal Panel Chair must be appointed from that which rejected the appeal under Regulation 43. 

48. If there are sufficient grounds for an appeal, or if required by Regulation 46, the Disciplinary Officer of the Appeal Body will appoint an Appeal Panel and arrange an Appeal Hearing. No individual who was appointed as the Adjudicator or as a member of the original Disciplinary Panel or who has otherwise been involved in the case will be appointed to the Appeal Panel, save that the Appeal Panel Chair that allowed the appeal to proceed to an Appeal Hearing 

following review of the Notice of Appeal may be a member of the Appeal Panel. The Disciplinary Officer of the Appeal Body will confirm to the parties theidentity of the Appeal Panel members, where and when the Appeal Hearing will take place and, if the Appeal Hearing will take place virtually rather than in person, by what means. If either of the parties are unable to attend the Appeal Hearing at that date or time, the Disciplinary Officer of the Appeal Body will attempt to reschedule the Appeal Hearing. 

49. Unless otherwise determined by the Appeal Panel Chair (following consideration of any written submissions from the parties), any sanction imposed by an Adjudicator or Disciplinary Panel will not come into effect until the appeal has been determined. 

50. If the Respondent objects to any member of the Appeal Panel on the basis of a conflict of interest, it will be resolved by the Appeal Panel Chair unless the potential conflict has been raised in respect of the Appeal Panel Chair in which case the Disciplinary Officer will consider whether to appoint an alternative Appeal Panel Chair to consider the conflict of interest and/or be appointed to the Appeal Panel. 

51. The Appeal Panel Chair will set the Disciplinary Officer of the Relevant Disciplinary Body a reasonable timeframe in which to respond to the Notice of Appeal in writing, if they so wish, and set any other directions for the exchange of information and/or evidence that the Appeal Panel Chair considers appropriate. 

52. Unless the appeal is brought under Regulation 41(c), the Appellant has no right to a complete rehearing of the case and the Appeal Panel will instead consider whether the grounds of appeal have been made out. If an appeal is brought under Regulation 41(c), if the Appeal Panel determines that the fresh evidence is admissible the Appeal Panel will consider whether to re hear the case in full. 

53. At the outset of the Appeal Hearing, the Appeal Panel Chair will confirm how the Appeal Panel would like the Appeal Hearing to proceed, and in particular how the case should be presented (and by whom). The parties will be entitled to provide oral submissions at the Appeal Hearing if they wish to do so. 

54. At the end of the Appeal Hearing, the Appeal Panel will consider the appeal (in private) and determine whether, on the balance of probabilities, the appeal should be allowed (in whole or in part). Any decision of the Appeal Panel will be taken by majority vote, with the Appeal Panel Chair having a casting vote in the event of a tie. 

55. If the appeal is allowed (in whole or in part), the Appeal Panel may disapply the sanctionimposed by the Adjudicator or Disciplinary Panel or issue a new sanction in accordance with the sanction guidelines in Appendix 3. If the appeal is dismissed, the sanction imposed by the Adjudicator or Disciplinary Panel will remain in place. 

56. Unless otherwise stipulated in the Appeal Panel’s decision, any ban which is imposed or maintained by an Appeal Panel will apply to the Respondent’s next match (or matches) following receipt of the decision by the Respondent or Respondent’s Club, whichever is sooner, regardless of whether the match is in an ECB Competition. 

57. The Appeal Panel Chair will decide whether to make a costs order and whether the appeal fee will be refunded to the Appellant in the event of a successful appeal. Any costs ordered by the Appeal Panel will be limited to £250 (which will be paid on top of the appeal fee referred to in Regulation 40). 

58. Wherever possible, the Appeal Panel Chair will communicate the decision and any sanction to the parties verbally at the end of the Appeal Hearing. The Appeal Panel’s decision will also be confirmed to the parties (and, where applicable, the Appellant’s Club) in writing following the Appeal Hearing. Where the Appeal Body is a League, decisions of the Appeal Panel must also be provided to the Disciplinary Officer of the relevant Recreational Cricket Board to which the League is affiliated. 

59. If an appeal is dismissed, the unsuccessful Appellant may make a request to the Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary to appoint a Review Panel to review the decision of the Appeal Panel (the “Review”). 

60. The sole ground on which such a request can be made is that there was a serious procedural irregularity affecting the Appeal Panel’s decision which significantly impacted the Appellant’s rights and caused the Appeal Panel’s decision to be unjust (the “Sole Ground of Review”) 

61. Any request to the Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary under Regulation 59 must be made within 7 days of receipt by the Appellant of the Appeal Panel’s decision in writing, and must include: 

together, the “Notice of Review”. 

62. The Notice of Review must be sent to the Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary by email to RecreationalDiscipline@cricketregulator.co.uk, with a copy sent to the Disciplinary Officer of the Appeal Body whose Appeal Panel’s decision is being challenged. 

63. The Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary will appoint a Review Panel Chair who will confirm within 7 days whether the request for a Review will be accepted. The Review Panel Chair is under no obligation to accept the request, whether on the basis that the Sole Ground of Review is clearly not satisfied, the decision has not been made by an Appeal Panel on behalf of an Appeal Body which falls under the jurisdiction of the ECB or otherwise. If the Review Panel Chair does not accept the request, the Appeal Panel’s decision will stand and there is no further right of review or appeal. 

64. If the Review Panel Chair accepts the request for a Review, the Review Panel Chair will appoint a Review Panel to determine the Review. No individual who has previously been involved with the case will be appointed to the Review Panel, save that the Review Panel Chair that accepted the request may be a member of the Review Panel. 

65. Unless otherwise ordered by the Review Panel Chair, any sanction upheld or otherwise imposed by the Appeal Panel will not come into effect until the Review has been determined. 

66. The Review Panel Chair will set the Disciplinary Officer of the Appeal Body a reasonable timeframe in which to respond to the Notice of Review in writing, if they so wish, and set any other directions for the exchange of information and/or evidence that they consider appropriate. The Review Panel may adopt such procedure as it considers appropriate, which may include considering the matter on written evidence/submissions alone or hearing oral submissions from the parties (or their representatives). 

67. The Review Panel will consider the matter (in private) and determine whether, on the balance of probabilities, the Sole Ground of Review is made out. Any decision of the Review Panel will be taken by majority vote, with the Review Panel Chair having a casting vote in the event of a tie. 

68. If the Review Panel decides that the Sole Ground of Review has been made out, the Appeal Panel’s decision will be set aside and either: 

69. If the Review Panel decides that the Sole Ground of Review has not been made out, the decision of the Appeal Panel will remain in place and any ban which was imposed or maintained will apply to the Appellant’s next match (or matches) following receipt of the Review Panel’s decision by the 

Appellant or Appellant’s Club, whichever is sooner. 

70. The Review Panel Chair will decide whether to make a costs order and whether the Appeal Body will be required to refund the Appellant’s original appeal fee. 

71. The Review Panel’s decision will be delivered to the parties in writing (and, where relevant, may be shared with the Appellant’s Club). Where the Review involves an Appeal Body that is a League, decisions of the Review Panel may also be provided to the Disciplinary Officer of the relevant Recreational Cricket Board to which the League is affiliated. 

72. Any decision of the Review Panel is final and binding, and there is no further right of review or appeal. 

 

73. Following a Referral being accepted by the Cricket Regulator under Regulation 17 of these Regulations, the Cricket Regulator will consider whether there is sufficient information and/or grounds to charge the relevant Participant with a breach of these Regulations. If further information is required, the Cricket Regulator will conduct (either internally or via a third party) any further investigation that is necessary. All Participants must co-operate fully with, and must in no way obstruct or delay, any investigation conducted by the Cricket Regulator under these Regulations; as part of this obligation, Participants must provide any relevant documents, footage or recordings in their possession or control that are reasonably requested by the Cricket Regulator. Any failure to co-operate will constitute a standalone breach of these Regulations and the Cricket Regulator may bring a charge for such breach as it sees fit. In addition, a Recreational Discipline Panel is entitled to draw an adverse inference from any breach of this duty to co-operate. 

74. If there is sufficient information and/or grounds, the Cricket Regulator will issue a Charge Letter to the Respondent or the Respondent’s Club to share with the Respondent. The Respondent will have 14 days to respond to the Charge Letter in writing. This period may be extended by agreement of the parties, failing which it can only be extended by a Recreational Discipline Panel Chair in exceptional circumstances. If there is not sufficient information and/or grounds to charge, the Cricket Regulator will inform the individual who submitted the Referral that no further action will be taken. 

75. The Cricket Regulator will instruct the Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary to appoint a Recreational Discipline Panel Chair, who in turn will appoint a Recreational Discipline Panel. 

76. The Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary will arrange a Hearing. The Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary will confirm to the Respondent (either in the Charge Letter or separately) the identity of the Recreational Discipline Panel members, where and when the Hearing will take place and, if the Hearing will take place virtually rather than in person, by what means. If the Respondent is unable to attend a Hearing at that date or time, the Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary will attempt to reschedule the Hearing. 

77. If the Respondent objects to any member of the Recreational Discipline Panel on the basis of a conflict of interest, it will be resolved by the Recreational Discipline Panel Chair unless the potential conflict has been raised in respect of the Recreational Discipline Panel Chair in which case the Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary will consider whether to appoint an alternative Recreational Discipline Panel Chair to consider the conflict of interest and/or be appointed to the Recreational Discipline Panel. 

78. In appropriate circumstances, including if the Respondent is not contesting the charge or does not wish to attend a Hearing, the Recreational Discipline Panel Chair may direct that the charge be considered by the Recreational Discipline Panel by way of written submissions only (i.e. without a Hearing) provided that a Hearing must be arranged if this is requested by the Respondent. 

79. The Recreational Discipline Panel Chair will set any other directions for the exchange of information and/or evidence (which may include witness statements) that the Recreational Discipline Panel Chair considers appropriate. The Recreational Discipline Panel will not be bound by rules governing the admissibility of evidence in judicial or other proceedings. Instead, facts may be established by any reliable means, including admissions, circumstantial evidence and hearsay (to the extent appropriate). Findings in criminal and civil proceedings are admissible and assumed to be correct, unless it is shown by clear and compelling evidence that this is not the case. 

80. In exceptional circumstances, the Recreational Discipline Panel Chair may suspend a Respondent from participating in cricket until the Hearing has concluded. If so, the Recreational Discipline Panel Chair will give the Respondent the opportunity to give written submissions on why it would be inappropriate to suspend the Respondent and consider those submissions before making any decision. Any suspension which has been ordered by the Recreational Discipline Panel Chair (or otherwise issued) will be taken into account by the Recreational Discipline Panel when considering what sanctions to impose in accordance with Regulation 83. 

81. At the outset of any Hearing, the Recreational Discipline Panel Chair will confirm how the Recreational Discipline Panel would like the Hearing to proceed, and in particular how the case should be presented (and by whom). The parties (or their representatives) will be entitled to provide oral submissions at the Hearing if they wish to do so. 

82. At the end of any Hearing, the Recreational Discipline Panel will consider the charge (in private) and determine whether, on the balance of probabilities, there has been a breach of these Regulations. Any decision of the Recreational Discipline Panel will be taken by majority vote, with the Recreational Discipline Panel Chair having a casting vote in the event of a tie. 

83. If the Recreational Discipline Panel decides that there has been a breach of these Regulations, it will impose a sanction in accordance with the sanction guidelines in Appendix 3. 

84. Unless otherwise stipulated in the Recreational Discipline Panel’s decision, any ban which is imposed by a Recreational Discipline Panel will apply to the Respondent’s next match (or matches) following receipt of the decision by the Respondent or Respondent’s Club, whichever is sooner, regardless of whether the match is in an ECB Competition. 

85. Unless the Recreational Discipline Panel directs otherwise, the parties will bear their own costs of preparing for and attending a Hearing. 

86. Wherever possible, the Recreational Discipline Panel Chair will communicate the decision and any sanction to the parties verbally at the end of the Hearing. The Recreational Discipline Panel’s decision will also be confirmed to the parties (and, where applicable, the Respondent’s Club) in writing following the Hearing. 

87. Subject to Regulation 68(ii), any decision made by a Recreational Discipline Panel may be appealed by the Respondent. In order to commence an appeal, the Respondent must submit: 

88. The Notice of Appeal must contain at least one of the following grounds of appeal: 

89. The Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary will appoint a Recreational Appeal Panel Chair to determine whether the Notice of Appeal identifies sufficient grounds for an appeal. The Recreational Appeal Panel Chair will notify the Appellant (and, where applicable, the Appellant’s Club) and the Cricket Regulator of their decision in writing. 

90. Where the Recreational Appeal Panel Chair rejects the Notice of Appeal, the sanction imposed by the Recreational Discipline Panel will remain in place and there is no further right of review or appeal. 

91. If there are sufficient grounds for an appeal to proceed, the Recreational Appeal Panel Chair will appoint a Recreational Appeal Panel and notify the Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary, who will arrange a Recreational Appeal Hearing. No individual who was appointed as a member of the original Recreational Discipline Panel or who has otherwise been involved in the case will be appointed to the Recreational Appeal Panel, save that the Recreational Appeal Panel Chair who initially reviewed the Notice of Appeal may be a member of the Recreational Appeal Panel. 

92. The Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary will confirm to the parties the identity of the Recreational Appeal Panel members, where and when the Recreational Appeal Hearing will take place and, if it will take place virtually rather than in person, by what means. If either of the parties are unable to attend the Recreational Appeal Hearing at that date or time, the Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary will attempt to reschedule the Recreational Appeal Hearing. 

93. If the Appellant objects to any member of the Recreational Appeal Panel on the basis of a conflict of interest, it will be resolved by the Recreational Appeal Panel Chair unless the potential conflict has been raised in respect of the Recreational Appeal Panel Chair in which case the Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary will consider whether to appoint an alternative Recreational Appeal Panel Chair to consider the conflict of interest and/or be appointed to the Recreational Appeal Panel. 

94. Unless otherwise determined by the Recreational Appeal Panel Chair (following consideration of any written submissions from the parties), any sanction imposed by a Recreational Discipline Panel will not come into effect until the appeal has been determined. 

95. The Recreational Appeal Panel Chair will set the Cricket Regulator a reasonable timeframe in which to respond to the Notice of Appeal in writing, if it so wishes, and set any other directions for the exchange of information and/or evidence that they consider appropriate. 

96. Unless the appeal is brought under Regulation 88(c), the Appellant has no right to a rehearing of the case and the Recreational Appeal Panel will consider whether the grounds of appeal have been made out. If an appeal is brought under Regulation 88(c), if the Recreational Appeal Panel determines that the fresh evidence is admissible the Recreational Appeal Panel will consider whether to re-hear the case in full. 

97. At the outset of the Recreational Appeal Hearing, the Recreational Appeal Panel Chair will confirm how the Recreational Appeal Panel would like the hearing to proceed, and in particular how the case should be presented (and by whom). The parties (or their representatives) will be entitled to provide oral submissions at the hearing if they wish to do so. 

98. The Recreational Appeal Panel will consider the appeal (in private) at the end of the hearing and determine whether, on the balance of probabilities, the appeal should be allowed (in whole or in part). Any decision of the Recreational Appeal Panel will be taken by majority vote, with the Recreational Appeal Panel Chair having a casting vote in the event of a tie. 

99. If the appeal is allowed (in whole or in part), the Recreational Appeal Panel may disapply the sanction imposed by the Recreational Discipline Panel or issue a new sanction in accordance with the sanction guidelines in Appendix 3. If the appeal is dismissed, the sanction imposed by the Recreational Discipline Panel will remain in place. 

100. Unless otherwise stipulated in the Recreational Appeal Panel’s decision, any ban which is imposed or maintained by the Recreational Appeal Panel will apply to the Appellant’s next match (or matches) following receipt of the decision by the Appellant or Appellant’s Club, which ever is sooner, regardless of whether the match is in an ECB Competition. 

101. The Recreational Appeal Panel Chair will decide whether to make a costs order and whether the appeal fee will be refunded to the Appellant in the event of a successful appeal. Any costs ordered by the Recreational Appeal Panel will be limited to £1,000 (which will be paid on top of the appeal fee referred to in Regulation 87). 

102. Wherever possible, the Recreational Appeal Panel Chair will communicate the decision and any sanction to the parties verbally at the end of the Recreational Appeal Hearing. The Recreational Appeal Panel’s decision will also be confirmed to the parties (and, where applicable, the Appellant’s Club) in writing following the Recreational Appeal Hearing. Where a Referral originally came from a League, decisions of the Recreational Appeal Panel may also be provided to the Disciplinary Officer of the relevant Recreational Cricket Board to which the League is affiliated. 

103. Any decision of a Recreational Appeal Panel is final and binding and there is no further right of appeal or review. 

104. The Disciplinary Officer of the Relevant Disciplinary Body and/or Appeal Body and the Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary (as applicable) will communicate any sanction imposed or upheld by any Adjudicator, Disciplinary Panel, Appeal Panel, Recreational Discipline Panel, Recreational Appeal Panel or Review Panel under these Regulations to any League that they are aware the Respondent participates in (including any league run by a Recreational Cricket Board) and the Cricket Regulator in respect of any Respondent in Professional Cricket. 

105. Any ban which is imposed under these Regulations will be applicable to all cricket that falls under the ECB’s regulatory jurisdiction. As bans take effect across all regulated cricket they may be required to be served in a Match (or Matches) which are not in the same league or competition that the disciplinary incident arose in (including in Professional Cricket). 

See Appendix 4, guidance note 11 for further information. 

106. All Participants, cricket organisations and the ECB (subject to the specific provisions in the Disciplinary Procedure Regulations) will immediately recognise, give effect to and fully enforce any sanction(s) which have been imposed under these Regulations, the Recreational Conduct Regulations, the ECB GCR or the Disciplinary Procedure Regulations and which they have been notified about. 

107. Any Participant serving a lifetime ban from all cricket imposed under these Regulations may apply to the Relevant Disciplinary Body that imposed the ban (or, in the case of a lifetime ban imposed by a Recreational Discipline Panel, may apply to the Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary) for their sanction to be reviewed. 

108. A lifetime ban may only be commuted if, having taken into account the views of any victim(s) (where available), a Disciplinary Panel or Recreational Discipline Panel (as applicable) is satisfied that the applicant: 

109. An application for a lifetime ban to be reviewed must be made in writing to the Relevant Disciplinary Body (or the Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary, if applicable) accompanied by any evidence the applicant wishes to submit in support of their application. 

110. Upon receipt of an application the relevant Disciplinary Officer (or Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary, if applicable) will appoint a Disciplinary Panel Chair (or Recreational Discipline Panel Chair) who in turn will appoint a Disciplinary Panel (or Recreational Discipline Panel), and a hearing will be arranged to determine the application. 

111. The Disciplinary Officer (or Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary, as applicable) will confirm to the applicant the identity of the appointed panel, where and when the hearing will take place and, if the hearing will take place virtually rather than in person, by what means. If the applicant is unable to attend a hearing at that date or time, the Disciplinary Officer (or Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary) will attempt to reschedule the hearing. 

112. If the applicant objects to any member of the panel on the basis of a conflict of interest, it will be resolved by the chair of that panel, unless the potential conflict has been raised in respect of that person in which case the Disciplinary Officer (or Recreational Discipline Panel Secretary, as applicable) will consider whether to appoint an alternative chair to consider the conflict of interest and/or be appointed to the panel. 

113. The chair will set the Disciplinary Officer (or Cricket Regulator, as applicable) a reasonable timeframe in which to respond to the application in writing, if they so wish, and set any other directions for the exchange of information and/or evidence that they consider appropriate. The Disciplinary Officer (or Cricket Regulator, as applicable) must use reasonable efforts to obtain a response to the application from the victim(s) of the offence(s) which led to the lifetime ban being imposed. 

114. At the outset of the hearing, the chair will confirm how the hearing will proceed, and in particular how the case should be presented (and by whom). The parties (or their representatives) will be entitled to provide oralsubmissions at the hearing if they wish to do so. The panel will not be bound by rules governing the admissibility of evidence in judicial or other proceedings. Instead, facts may be established by any reliable means, including admissions, circumstantial evidence and hearsay (to the extent appropriate). Findings in criminal and civil proceedings are admissible and assumed to be correct, unless it is shown by clear and 

compelling evidence that this is not the case. 

115. The panel will consider the application (in private) at the end of the hearing and determine whether, on the balance of probabilities, the lifetime ban should be commuted. Any decision of the panel will be taken by majority vote, with the chair having a casting vote in the event of a tie. If the application is successful, the panel may disapply the lifetime ban or reduce it to a lesser period of suspension, taking into account time already served by the applicant. 

116. Wherever possible, the chair will communicate the panel’s decision to the parties verbally at the end of the hearing. The panel’s decision will also be confirmed to the parties (and, where applicable, the applicant’s Club) in writing following the hearing. Where the lifetime ban was originally imposed by a League’s Disciplinary Panel, decisions of the panel under Regulation 115 may also be provided to the Disciplinary Officer of the relevant Recreational Cricket Board to which that League is affiliated. 

117. If the application is dismissed, the lifetime ban will remain in place and there will be no further right of review or appeal. 

118. Where the incident(s) leading to any charge relating to conduct occurred when any other disciplinary regulations were in force, then: 

determined by the regulations that were in force at the time of the offence; and 

119. Leagues and Clubs will maintain a record of all disciplinary decisions and, where applicable, sanctions imposed.