Shiv Thakor former Derbyshire player suspended for six months

Cricket is termed as gentleman’s game and all the governing bodies try hard to maintain that level. Acting on the same, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) banned Shiv Thakor, former Leicestershire and Derbyshire cricketer who pleaded guilty during a court hearing. Thakor was charged with indecent exposure last year. He had then denied the allegations.

However, the former England Under-19 player pleaded guilty to the charge of bringing cricket into disrepute. Last year in June, Thakor while jogging had exposed himself inappropriately to two of the women. He had exposed himself through a “gap” in his jogging bottoms. He was arrested in July when he repeated the offence.

After his conviction in November last year, his county side Derbyshire had terminated his contract. He last represented the county side during a T20 game against Durham.

ECB suspended the all-rounder for six months. He will be barred from participating in any games which come under the jurisdiction of the English board. The banned period starts from 1st April. If Thakor follows the judgment and serves the suspension satisfactorily which also includes a Community Order and a Community Sex Offender Groupwork Programme, he will be banned only for the three months, ie. till 30th June.

Will he be picked again?

Once the suspension gets over, the 24-year-old can resume his first-class cricket career from the next English county season but it will be interesting to see if any county side will put their bet on him following the incident that has substantially tarnished his image.

Ricky Needham, the chairman of Cricket Discipline Commission who played for Glamorgan said that the image of cricket was damaged. “Clear reputational damage had been done to the game due to widespread adverse publicity as well as the nature of Mr. Thakor’s criminal conviction,” said Needham.

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