Come on ECB, tell us why...

WHILE the general consensus of opinion appears to suggest that the sanctions imposed upon Durham were disproportionate, a greater concern that this issue has raised is the lack of openness and clarity in the decision-making of cricket’s ruling body.

Despite repeated requests, ECB have still to state exactly which rules Durham have broken and, more pertinently, when and by whom these rules were drawn up and when agreed to by ECB members.

Secondly, were any of the members of the committee who decided these sanctions chairmen of county cricket clubs and as such would have a pecuniary interest in the consequences of these sanctions e.g. withdrawal of staging of Test matches?

Whilst that doesn’t in anyway imply any impropriety it’s normal accepted protocol that if there’s the slightest hint of any pecuniary conflicts, the party involved should declare that interest and withdraw from the decision-making process.

The ECB is a public body which receives public funding, and as such should be accountable for their actions. They have an obligation therefore to clarify which rules Durham have broken and which guidelines have been followed in determining the sanctions imposed. Until they do the suspicion will persist that the ECB directorate make up their own rules and sanctions as and when they please.

No-one would deny that Durham deserve sanction, but equally the ECB have to abide within their own rulebook when imposing them.