Thakor given six-month ECB ban after indecent exposure

Shiv Thakor, the former Leicestershire and Derbyshire cricketer, has been banned by an ECB disciplinary committee from playing cricket for six months - three of them suspended - for bringing the game into disrepute.

Thakor pleaded guilty to the charge following his conviction for indecent exposure at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court in November 2017.

Although, in theory, he might be free to resume his first-class career next season, it is questionable whether any county would be willing to give him a further opportunity.

The ECB panel imposed a suspension of six months from playing cricket in any match under its jurisdiction. Three months of this suspension will take effect from April 1 to June 30 and the balance was suspended "pending satisfactory completion of his court-imposed Community Order including the Community Sex Offender Groupwork Programme."

This suspended sentence will remain in place until completion of the Community Order and, if subsequently imposed, will be served during the English cricket season.

The CDC panel recorded that it had taken into account Thakor's guilty plea to the ECB charge, his undertaking to complete his Community Order, and the period of suspension imposed by Derbyshire before they sacked him in November after the guilty verdict.

Thakor, a former England under-19 captain, exposed himself through a "gap" in his jogging bottoms. He was arrested in July after the two offences in Mackworth, Derby, last June.

The ECB decision was made following a Cricket Discipline Commission hearing at Lord's chaired by Ricky Needham, the former Glamorgan cricketer, and also comprising Eddie Slinger and the former England women's cricketer, Claire Taylor.

In reaching its sentencing decision, the panel said that it also took into account that "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.