NZ cricketers handed guidebook on conduct
MUMBAI: As the #MeToo campaign highlighting sexual harassment of women in the workplace rages, New Zealand cricketers have been handed guidelines on how to conduct themselves.
The New Zealand Cricket Players Association (NZCPA), in a revamped handbook, tells cricketers how to deal with various risk areas, including affirmative sexual consent by partners.
According to a report in the New Zealand Herald, the guidelines are mentioned under the section ‘good decision-making’. The programme has been running for around seven years, but NZCPA has said it has been included in the handbook to make the material more accessible to players around the country.
“Making good decisions is important in all aspects of life. This is particularly important when relating to sexual relationships, and especially around matters of consent. “No matter the situation, sexual consent is crucial,” it reads. It adds that if a woman says ‘no,’ it means ‘no’, and not accepting an individual’s right to consent is unlawful. The guidelines ask players to respect an individual’s choice to withdraw consent even when they are in a relationship and have been in a physical relationship.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) actively supports a secure working environment through its accreditation conditions. Any player-related issue is dealt with by the respective national board.
As far as wider sexual misdemeanours are concerned, ICC can even withdraw accreditation under its Media Terms and Conditions in case of transgression during its events.
A BCCI insider said the player contract contains guidelines on conduct and before every series/ tour they are issued letters on the dos and don’ts. Directives on offfield behaviour cover anti-corruption and anti-doping.
Cricket Australia does not interfere with the private lives of players and only deals with intellectual property rights and playing conditions. India has no policy on the matter in the absence of a players’ body. The NZCPA, a powerful body, is recognised by the New Zealand cricket board.
The NZCPA programme also covers other risk areas like antidoping and life after retiring from the game.
“If people are making good decisions they’re aware of the risks around being a professional cricketer and are aware of the importance of respect and responsibility, then there are going to be skills and attributes they’re going to have for life no matter what career they’re involved in,” NZCPA CEO Heath Mills was quoted as saying by the Herald.
“There’s a whole heap of pages in here, and they’re all aspects of the personal development programme that we run. Good decision making is one aspect to it.”