Saltburn Cricket Club has suspended the player at the centre of cheating allegations for the “foreseeable future” after footage from a second-team match went viral on social media. The club said it is treating the complaint very seriously and has also conceded Wednesday’s second-team cup fixture against Marton.
What happened in the match?
The first video, posted on Monday evening, was from Saltburn’s second XI victory over Norton in Division Two of the North Yorkshire and South Durham League. It showed the fielder clicking his fingers as the ball passed the bat of the Norton batter, Noman Shabir, before being caught by the wicketkeeper, Josh Bowes, and the umpire gave him out.
Saltburn, who sit 17 points clear at the top of the table, won the match by 159 runs. The footage of several incidents later went viral on social media.
How has Saltburn responded?
Saltburn said it has acted after the complaint and is cooperating with the North Yorkshire and South Durham League’s investigation. The club said the player involved has been suspended and will not play again this season or in the foreseeable future, pending the outcome of that investigation.
“This is issued in response to the widely publicised complaint made against a Saltburn Cricket Club member and, as a consequence, against the club more generally.
“We are treating this allegation with the utmost seriousness and, as a family-centric club, we are fully cooperating with the NYS League’s investigation.
“We believe that the club acted decisively as soon as the complaint and investigation were made known to us. The player at the centre of the complaint has been suspended and will not play again for the club this season or in the foreseeable future, pending the outcome of this investigation.
“Initial discussions have already taken place between club officials and the league.
“This has been a very distressing and stressful experience for all those concerned, and we would ask that this reality is borne in mind and that personal boundaries are respected, as we are an amateur club entirely run by volunteers.”
The club also said initial discussions have already taken place between club officials and the league. It described the situation as distressing and stressful for everyone involved and asked that personal boundaries be respected because it is an amateur club run entirely by volunteers.
What has happened since the video spread?
The video has now had more than 7.5m views on X, and several celebrities have condemned the behaviour. Saltburn’s announcement came as scrutiny around the incident increased online and the club moved to distance itself from the allegations while the league investigates.
What is the wider context?
Saltburn’s first team remain 17 points clear at the top of the table, but the club’s second-team cup fixture against Marton on Wednesday has been conceded. The controversy centres on the viral footage from the Division Two of the North Yorkshire and South Durham League match against Norton and the allegations that followed.
Key Facts
- Saltburn Cricket Club suspended the player at the centre of the allegations for the “foreseeable future”.
- The club conceded its second-team cup fixture against Marton on Wednesday.
- The first viral video came from Saltburn’s second XI win over Norton in Division Two of the North Yorkshire and South Durham League.
- Saltburn won that match by 159 runs and sit 17 points clear at the top of the table.
- The video has been viewed more than 7.5m times on X.
