The Cricket Regulator is the body responsible for monitoring compliance with the game’s regulations, enforcement of adherence to those regulations and providing relevant information and education.
The Cricket Regulator was established in December 2023 and is overseen by the independent Cricket Regulatory Board. It is ring-fenced from the rest of the ECB.
Who heads up the Cricket Regulator?
From January 2025, Chris Haward will be Director of the Cricket Regulator.
He will succeed Dave Lewis, who had been fulfilling the role on an interim basis, and will head up the body responsible for ensuring compliance with the game’s rules and regulations.
Chris joins from the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), where he is currently the Chief Constable lead for Serious and Organised Crime. Prior to that, Chris had been Chief Constable for Lincolnshire Police and fulfilled a number of roles within law enforcement across a 34-year career.
He started his work in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Leicestershire, before moving to Interpol, specialising in combatting the importation of heroin and supply across the UK. Over his 34 years of service Chris has been a Public Order and Firearms Commander leading the police approach to numerous large scale events including Leicester City’s title-winning Premier League season in 2015.
Chris will report into Nic Coward – chair of the independent Cricket Regulatory Board.
Who does the Cricket Regulator report to?
The Cricket Regulator reports to the Regulatory Board. The Regulatory Board is the independent body established as part of the game’s response to the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket report. Nic Coward is Chair of the Regulatory Board.
The Regulatory Board has two roles:
- To oversee the Cricket Regulator, the new investigation and prosecution unit established in December 2023
- To scrutinise and advise the ECB Board on cricket’s policy, approach and legislation in regulatory and integrity matters across the game.
The Regulatory Board is chaired by Nic Coward, and focuses on Anti-Corruption, Anti-Discrimination, Anti-Doping, Safeguarding, General Misconduct, Agency activity, and health and safety.
Who makes up the Cricket Regulatory Board?
Nic Coward is chair of the Cricket Regulatory Board. The Regulatory Board members are: Dr Arun Thiyagarajan, Helen Stephenson CBE, Dr Priya Singh, Suzanne Jacob OBE, Kathryn Richardson, Jerry Cope, Rajesh Pillai KC and Jim Wood.
Nic Coward (Chair) has been chair or CEO of national governing bodies of football and golf, horseracing and athletics. Previously General Secretary of the Premier League, he continues to advise sports and entertainment businesses across the world, and chairs a number of companies and representative organisations.
Jerry Cope was Group Managing Director of Royal Mail, Chair of both Kingston and London South Bank Universities, Chair of the Prison Service and NHS Pay Review bodies, and Chair of the Croydon Health Alliance. Heavily involved in bridge and other sports, he was also chair of a leadership consultancy to the private and public sectors before its sale to a listed company.
Suzanne Jacob OBE, Chief Executive of SafeLives from 2017 to recently, and a trustee of Crimestoppers UK. Two decades of experience working in safeguarding, vulnerability, and support for people who have had adverse experiences linked to crime and discrimination. Suzanne had a number of roles at the Home Office, including intelligence and security for the London 2012 Olympics. She has also worked in a voluntary capacity for Victim Support. Rajesh Pillai KC is a King’s Counsel specialising in complex commercial litigation and international arbitration, and regulatory matters. Rajesh is also New York and BVI bar qualified.
Kathryn Richardson is General Counsel of Paramount's UK television and streaming business which includes Channel 5, previously Head of Commercial Rights & Business Affairs at the BBC. She is also a director of YouView and the Creative Diversity Network, and a Level 2 cricket coach.
Dr Priya Singh, Chair of National Council for Voluntary Organisations and of NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board, and an executive director at the Society for Assistance of Medical Families. Priya has a background in general medical practice, and as a specialist in medical law, ethics, risk and safety, and was responsible at the Medical Protection Society for professional services to 290,000 health professionals around the world. Previously Deputy Chair of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, a member of the London Policing Ethics Panel, and an associate with Working With Cancer.
Helen Stephenson CBE, CEO of the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Previously Director of Early Years and Childcare at the Department for Education, and in the Cabinet Office as Director of the Office for Civil Society and Government Innovation Group, and the Big Lottery Fund where she was Head of Strategic Policy and Partnerships. Helen is a board member of the National Lottery Community Fund, previously on the Board of the Big Society Trust, and Chair of National Childbirth Trust.
Dr Arun Thiyagarajan, currently Global Healthcare Transformation Director for BUPA. Previous positions include Managing Director for BUPA UK's Health Clinics, and Medical Director. He is the Responsible Officer for BUPA UK.
Jim Wood is a former chair of Devon Cricket and the Recreational Assembly, as well as the ECB Board. In his professional career, he was deeply involved in social care, with a particular specialism in safeguarding.
What is the scope of the Cricket Regulator?
The remit of the Cricket Regulator includes matters of anti-discrimination, anti-corruption, anti-doping, misconduct and safeguarding.
Within the professional game, when a case is brought to the Cricket Regulator, the Cricket Regulator will undertake an investigation before making a decision whether there is sufficient evidence to put the case to the Cricket Discipline Commission.
As stated in the ECB’s response to the ICEC Report, the Cricket Discipline Commission will be re-purposed as the Cricket Discipline Panel in 2024.
Within the recreational game, all matters of potential discrimination raised with Cricket Regulator will be reviewed by the Regulator’s Anti-Discrimination Unit. The Cricket Regulator will then support the appropriate cricket organisation in managing the issue.
The Cricket Regulator has dedicated teams whose role is to provide support to Counties, Leagues and Clubs in respect of delivering effective safeguarding and tackling discrimination across the game.
