Cricketers 'vindicated' by landmark racism fine

The Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) said £50,000 of the fine would be suspended for two years

Two former cricketers felt "vindicated" by a decision to fine Essex County Cricket Club £100,000 over historic racism, their lawyer said.

The landmark punishment followed complaints made by ex-players Jahid Ahmed, Maurice Chambers and Zoheb Sharif, relating to conduct at the club between 2001 and 2010.

Amjad Khan, who represented Chambers and Sharif, said they had shown "extraordinary strength" to speak out and spark an investigation in 2021.

In response to the sanctions, Essex chair Anu Mohindru said: "There is deep regret for what occurred in the past, but these events do not reflect the Essex of today."

The club admitted a charge brought by the Cricket Regulator in June, having been alleged to have brought the game into "disrepute".

The Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) said £50,000 of the fine would be suspended for two years.

Jahid Ahmed, Maurice Chambers and Zoheb Sharif all made racism allegations against the club in 2021

"If you read some of the stuff that went on in the past - which is many years ago now - it was quite horrific," Mr Khan said.

He told BBC Essex that Chambers and Sharif felt "really pleased" with the way the investigation had been handled.

"Essex haven't tried to gaslight them out of this, they've taken responsibility," he said.

"They apologised to Maurice and Zoheb which was really important to them.

"They're in a place now where they feel vindicated, they feel believed and they feel they can move on from this much better."

Essex has "cleaned up" its issues with racism, Amjad Khan said

Delivering the sanction, the CDC panel said the "systemic use of racist and discriminatory language suggests a culture that was embedded across the club".

It added: "Such language or conduct was used regularly, openly and seemingly without fear of criticism.

"No one at any level within the club sought to challenge or stop its use."

Mr Khan said his dealings with Essex led him to believe the club had "cleaned up a historic problem" it had.

"It’s a really well-run club with good people that are doing the right thing and they have been doing so for a while," he added.

"It’s absolutely a club that has changed quite a bit and they’ve taken responsibility, they’ve learnt from it."