Essex chair Anu Mohindru asserts that the decision to not name sanctioned individuals following an independent review was driven by the importance of maintaining anonymity. The review, conducted by Katharine Newton KC, revealed that players at the club had experienced racist abuse, with references to their ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds being considered as normal and acceptable banter in the dressing-room culture from the mid-1990s to around 2013.
Newton was tasked with conducting the report in 2021 following accusations of discrimination from former Essex players Jahid Ahmed, Maurice Chambers, and Zoheb Sharif.
The club announced on Wednesday that sanctions have been implemented, but they have not disclosed the identities of those sanctioned, the number of individuals involved, or the specific nature of the sanctions.
Mohindru explained to the PA news agency that he refrained from providing a specific number of sanctions due to concerns about identifying individuals through piecing together information. He emphasised that anyone implicated in the report received some form of punishment. After the report was handed over to an independent panel, they were given full authority to determine appropriate sanctions, ranging from bans to revoking membership or access to grounds. The panel's decisions were then reviewed by the board, allowing all involved parties a chance to present mitigating circumstances. The board ultimately considered the panel's recommendations along with mitigating factors before deciding on the final sanctions.
According to Mohindru, everyone has been informed individually. It was ensured that the information about each person's outcomes had been kept confidential, under the commitment to maintaining anonymity throughout this process. They are not attempting to close operations. However, following the Katharine report, they steadfastly adhered to the anonymity guidelines established from the beginning.
Mohindru declined to disclose whether any of the individuals facing sanctions were still employed by Essex but assured that the England and Wales Cricket Board had been informed about all those sanctioned and the nature of the sanctions imposed. When pressed about the status of the sanctioned individuals, Mohindru responded, "I am unable to confirm or deny that information. I can only confirm that anyone mentioned in the report has been disciplined with a variety of sanctions."
Mohindru underlines that he fully understands the criticism, however, it is his duty to prioritise the well-being of individuals and adhere to the established process. They needed to comply with legal advice from the beginning, leading to a difficult situation with limited options.
The independent panel consists of experienced individuals with a background in regulatory and sanction matters, making them well-equipped to determine the appropriate course of action. Managing such issues is part of the club’s daily responsibilities.
This board was not involved in prior events and operates independently, having been elected after the incidents occurred. They have made efforts to be fair and unbiased in all aspects, imposing strong sanctions while also ensuring fairness for individuals. Newton noted in her report that those who experienced discrimination were too afraid to speak up due to concerns about their career advancement. Additionally, there were no effective channels for raising such issues.
In her report, Newton highlighted a lack of awareness about the requirements of Muslim athletes at Essex. Additionally, she discovered that John Faragher, the club's previous chairman, made racist remarks during a board meeting in 2017 and that the club did not adequately address a complaint about this behaviour. Newton confirmed in her summary that she upheld multiple allegations of racial discrimination, including naming the individuals responsible in the complete report she submitted to Essex.
The ECB has not provided any statements on the penalties. The Cricket Regulator is currently conducting its inquiry into the events at Essex, but Mohindru is still determining when it will be completed.