The ECB has appointed Richard Whittam KC as the chair of the newly formed Cricket Discipline Panel (CDP), an independent body responsible for handling disciplinary matters in English professional cricket. The CDP will replace the Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) and take over the task of adjudicating regulatory breaches and determining sanctions.
The ECB selected Whittam, a 64-year-old regulatory and criminal barrister with extensive experience in sports law, through an open recruitment process. He brings a wealth of experience, having served as a deputy high court judge from 2016 to 2022 and as the Rugby Football Union’s Head of Independent Judiciary since 2023. Whittam has chaired various disciplinary panels in rugby union since 2014 and is also a member of the World Rugby and European Professional Club Rugby Judicial Panels.
In his new role, Whittam will oversee disciplinary cases and appoint other members of the CDP, ensuring the panel reflects a diverse range of expertise. The panel’s primary responsibility will be to review cases brought before it by the Cricket Regulator, the body established to enforce adherence to cricket’s regulations. The CDP will focus on breaches of the ECB’s Professional Conduct Regulations, along with other areas such as the Anti-Corruption Code and Cricket Playing Conditions.
Whittam expressed his eagerness to uphold the integrity of the sport, stating his commitment to handling cases in a fair and transparent manner. ECB chair Richard Thompson praised Whittam’s qualifications, noting his ideal background for the role, and thanked the outgoing members of the CDC for their years of service.
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