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The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has appointed Richard Whittam KC as the Chair of the Cricket Discipline Panel (CDP), an independent body that will oversee disciplinary matters and regulatory breaches in English professional cricket. Whittam’s appointment marks a significant change in cricket governance, as the CDP replaces the previous Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC).
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An Experienced Leader in Sports Law
Whittam, a seasoned barrister with over 40 years of experience in regulatory and criminal law, was selected through an open recruitment process by the ECB board. His appointment is for a four-year term. The 64-year-old has previously served as a Deputy High Court Judge (2016-2022) and is the current Head of Independent Judiciary for the Rugby Football Union (RFU), where he has chaired discipline, safeguarding, and appeal panels since 2014.
He is also a member of the World Rugby and European Professional Club Rugby Judicial Panels, highlighting his extensive background in sports discipline.
Role of the Cricket Discipline Panel
In his new role, Whittam will oversee the CDP, which is tasked with handling disciplinary cases involving breaches of the ECB’s Professional Conduct Regulations. These cases may include violations of the Anti-Corruption Code, Player and Match Officials’ Minimum Standards, and other key regulations like Cricket Playing Conditions, Pitch Regulations, and Head Protector Regulations.
The CDP will operate in collaboration with the newly established Cricket Regulator, a body formed in 2023 to ensure the enforcement of cricket regulations on behalf of the ECB. This change follows the recommendations of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) report, which highlighted issues of inequality in race, gender, and class within English and Welsh cricket.
Statements from Richard Whittam KC and ECB Chair Richard Thompson
Upon his appointment, Richard Whittam expressed his commitment to upholding cricket’s integrity:
“I am delighted to be appointed to this important role. It is vital to the integrity of cricket that the sport’s rules and regulations are upheld. As the first Chair of the CDP, I look forward to getting the Panel up and running and ensuring that cases are dealt with promptly, in a fair, thorough, and transparent manner.”
ECB Chair Richard Thompson also lauded Whittam’s selection, emphasizing the importance of the new panel:
“The independent Cricket Discipline Panel will play an essential role in enforcing cricket’s regulations and addressing any misconduct. Richard Whittam KC brings an impressive background in law and sports discipline, making him the ideal person to chair the Panel. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to Tim O’Gorman and all members of the Cricket Discipline Commission for their dedicated service over the years. Their contributions have been invaluable in upholding the standards of the game.”
Transition to the New Disciplinary Framework
The CDP’s formation signifies a new era in cricket governance, with a focus on impartiality and transparency. The transition from the CDC, previously chaired by Tim O’Gorman, to the CDP, underscores the ECB’s commitment to addressing misconduct and maintaining the sport’s integrity, especially in light of recent calls for more equitable treatment across the game.
The new panel members will be recruited soon, with a diverse range of expertise, ensuring that the cases brought before them are handled with the highest level of professionalism and fairness.
