Five players have been reprimanded by the ECB over historic racist social media posts, following a Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) hearings.
Azeem Rafiq, Andrew Gale, Jack Brooks, Danni Wyatt and Eve Jones were found to have engaged in "racist and discriminatory conduct". All five admitted breaching ECB Directive 3.3 which states: "No such person may conduct themself in a manner or do any act or omission which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket or which may bring the game of cricket or any Cricketer or group of Cricketers into disrepute."
Brooks, Jones and Wyatt also admitted a separate breach of Directive 3.4 which states: "Each Participant is bound by and must comply with the ECB Anti-Discrimination Code." Rafiq has previously apologised for making antisemitic comments on Facebook in 2011 as a 19-year-old and issued another apology following the CDC's adjudication.
"This summer, I unequivocally accepted a charge from the ECB regarding my antisemitic social media post from 2011," he wrote. "You will hear no complaint from me about the CDC's decision today.
"It is deserved and I fully accept this reprimand. I want to repeat my apology to the Jewish community. I remain ashamed and embarrassed.
"I hope I have demonstrated over the past 10-11 months that I am trying to educate myself about the horrors and prejudice the Jewish community has historically - and continues - to face. I will keep trying and I thank the Jewish community for the forgiveness and kindness that has been shown to me so far."
Gale was suspended by Yorkshire after a historic tweet emerged from 2010 where he used an anti-Semitic slur. The 38-year-old, who was later sacked as Yorkshire coach, told Jewish News in November that he was "completely unaware" the term was a racial slur and said he would not have used it had he "been aware of its offensive meaning".
Brooks, who currently plays for Somerset, was reprimanded over two tweets directed at current England bowler Tymal Mills and former cricketer Stewart Laudat where he used the word "n****". The 38-year-old underwent training on equality, diversity and inclusion after the tweets resurfaced in November 2021.
England international Wyatt and Central Sparks and Birmingham Phoenix batter Jones were reprimanded over a photo posted on Instagram in 2013 where the former was "dressed in fancy dress with blackface" at a Jamaican themed party for former West Indies cricketer Shanel Daley.
A member of the public complained to the ECB in April 2021, prompting the photo to be deleted. Daly told the CDC that she "did not take offence at the blackface or the post".
