ICC launches crackdown on sexual harassment

A sexual conduct charter aimed at cracking down on harassment will be introduced at the women’s World Twenty20 next month as the International Cricket Council reacts to a spate of cases in the sport.

The move was approved at a meeting of member board chief executives in Singapore yesterday.

Players, officials, coaches and media will be subject to strict rules around safeguarding after ICC officials were made aware of nine incidents in the past 18 months.

The charter will cover off-field behaviour including harassment, indecent exposure and inappropriate behaviour with tournament staff, and covers cricket grounds and team hotels.

It has been brought in after the ICC was made aware of incidents, including a female team physiotherapist being sexually harassed, inappropriate comments by a player to a female journalist, sexual harassment of a female player by a male coach and a player having his contract terminated for inappropriate behaviour.

The Telegraph recently revealed that the Professional Cricketers’ Association was introducing sexual conduct workshops for all senior and academy players in England in light of the Me Too movement and a series of high-profile sexual harassment cases in other sports.

A pilot session will be held with the England Lions squad at the end of this month, before being rolled out to all first-class senior and academy squads next summer.

Three years ago, a report by the Sri Lankan sports ministry found evidence that players from the Sri Lanka women’s team had been forced to perform sexual favours for officials to stay in the team.

“The proposal to revise our safeguarding policies received overwhelming support,” said Dave Richardson, the chief executive of the International Cricket Council.