Bassetlaw and District Cricket League Official Handbook 2017

4 Constitution, Rules & Playing Conditions 67  d)  Players and team officials shall not intimidate, assault or attempt to  intimidate or assault an Umpire, another player or spectator.  e)  Players and team officials shall not use crude and/or abusive language  (known as ‘sledging’) nor make offensive gestures or hand signals nor  deliberately distract an opponent.  f)  Players and team officials shall not make abusive comments nor indulge  in abusive actions against fellow players, officials, members or  supporters because of their perceived membership in a certain social  group.  Examples of such groups include but are not limited to:  racial  group, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity or gender identity.  Clubs  must operate an active open door membership policy whist respecting  player qualification regulations and welcome players/members  irrespective or their social group.  g)  Players and team officials shall not use or in any way be concerned in the  use or distribution of illegal drugs.  h)  Clubs must take adequate steps to ensure the good behaviour of their  members and supporters towards players and Umpires.  (ii)  Spirit of Cricket Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should  be played not only within its Laws but also within the Spirit of the Game. Any  action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to the game itself. The  major responsibility for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the Captains.  a)  There are two Laws which place the responsibility for the team’s conduct  firmly on the Captain.  Responsibility of Captains  The Captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is  conducted within the Spirit of the Game as well as within the Laws.  Player’s conduct  In the event of a player failing to comply with instructions by an Umpire,  or criticising by word or action the decisions of an Umpire, or showing  dissent, or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game  into disrepute, the Umpire concerned shall in the first place report the  matter to the other Umpire and to the player’s Captain, and instruct the  latter to take action.  b)  Fair and Unfair Play According to the Laws the Umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfair  play.  The Umpires may intervene at any time and it is the responsibility  of the Captain to take action where required.