WESTERN PROVINCE CRICKET ASSOCIATION (WPCA)

CODE OF BEHAVIOUR FOR THE 2024/2025 SEASON

1. THE CODE:
This Code of Behaviour outlines the standards of behaviour expected from all members,
players, coaches, officials, and volunteers associated with the Western Province Cricket
Association (WPCA). It aims to promote respect, integrity, and fairness within the cricket
community.

1.1 In the Western Cape, club cricket has traditionally been the one sport to maintain
and exhibit the highest levels of conduct and sportsmanship.
1.2 Whilst always a most competitive game, the continued strength of the sport has
relied upon the acceptance of Umpires' decisions and the preparedness to play
within the "Spirit of the Game".
1.3 All participants shall respect the rights, dignity, and worth of every person involved
in cricket, regardless of age, gender, ability, race, religion, or social status.
1.4. All participants shall conduct themselves honestly and ethically.
1.5 Participants must not engage in any form of cheating or unfair play.
1.6 The use of drugs, alcohol, or any banned substances before or during participation
in any cricket activity is strictly prohibited.
1.7 All participants shall maintain a high standard of behaviour both on and off the field.
1.8 Coaches and officials should function as role models and lead by example.
1.9 The use of social media should be responsible and respectful, avoiding any posts that
could harm the reputation of the WPCA or its members.
1.10 The areas of major concern, and those clearly unacceptable to the WPCA are

- The use of offensive language- generally as a disparaging remark to an

opposing player or toward an Umpire, or even as an expression of frustration
or self-admonishment. This includes racial vilification (any act that is
reasonably likely to threaten, disparage, vilify, offend, insult, humiliate or
intimidate another person or group based on race, religion, descent, colour
or national or ethnic origin)
- The questioning / disputing of the Umpire's decision - often in an aggressive
or sarcastic manner. This applies equally to dismissals and unsuccessful
appeals as to the judgment of calls on no balls, wides, byes, etc.
- The excessive number of frivolous and ridiculous appeals - primarily aimed at
pressuring and intimidating the Umpire into a favorable decision.
- The actions of the dismissed batsman in failing to leave the crease promptly
on being given out, and any equipment abuse (e.g. banging the bat into the
ground or against a fence, etc. and / or throwing the bat or equipment during
or after his return to the pavilion).

1.11 Breaches of this Code of Conduct will be subject to disciplinary action, which may
include warnings, suspensions, or expulsion from the WPCA The severity of the
disciplinary action will be determined by the nature of the breach, any previous
misconduct and considering the mandatory penalties
 1.12 It is the responsibility of everyone involved with WPCA cricket, including Club
Officials, Team Captains and especially the players, to ensure a return to the levels
of conduct and sportsmanship traditionally inherent in the game.
1.13 Clubs must take adequate steps to ensure the good behaviour of their members and
supporters towards players and umpires.

2. ELIGIBILITY TO LODGE A REPORT

Procedure for reporting a breach of the Code.

2.1 A report may be submitted by:

2.1.1 any player participating in a match in which an alleged breach occurs. Such a
report must be supported by the players’ Club.

2.1.2 either one or both official umpires and ratified by the Western Province
Cricket Umpires Association (WPCUA).

2.1.3 a committee member of a club participating in a match in which an alleged

breach occurs.

2.1.4 a member of the WPCA Board, the Local Leagues Committee or the
Disciplinary Committee (DC) of the WPCA, including ex-officio members of
these Committees.

2.2 The WPCA Board may refer any alleged breach of the code which is brought to its
attention in writing from any source whatsoever to the DC within a reasonable time
of receiving such report.

2.3 The Disciplinary Committee has the right to review any club’s decision relating to breach of
the code and the penalty imposed in respect thereof.

3. LODGING A REPORT

A written report must reach the offices of the WPCA within 3 working days after the day on
which the breach is alleged to have occurred provided that the Local Leagues Committee
may condone any late report. As soon as reasonably possible after receiving the report, the
WPCA shall inform the accused person(s), either personally or through their club, that a
report has been submitted.

The Local Leagues Committee shall have the power, whether on its own initiative or as a
result of a report received, to investigate and adjudicate any breaches of the by-laws, playing
conditions and any complaints and disputes; to impose administrative penalties, to impose
fines and deduct or award points as provided for in the By-Laws and/or Playing Conditions;
to refer any breach of Code of Behavior to the disciplinary committee; and to make decisions
concerning the interpretation and application of Playing Conditions and By-Laws
4. BREACHES - PROCEDURE

4.1 When an official umpire submits a report, the Local Leagues Committee will review
it and conduct any necessary inquiries. If the committee determines that there has
been a prima facie breach of the Code of Behaviour, it will cite the accused, apply the
mandatory penalties listed herein and inform the accused accordingly.

Upon receiving this citation, the accused may request a Disciplinary Hearing in
accordance with the WPCA Constitution, By-Laws, and Code of Behaviour. The
request for a hearing must detail the reasons and grounds for the hearing and be
countersigned by the Club Chairperson.

This request should be submitted in writing to the Club Cricket Coordinator of the
WPCA within three working days of the accused being informed of the imposed
sentence. If the Disciplinary Committee deems the grounds for the hearing to be
frivolous or vexatious, the accused will be liable for a R1000.00 fee to cover the
hearing costs.

4.2 When an official umpire submits a report, the Local Leagues Committee will review
it and conduct any necessary inquiries. If the committee determines that there has
been a prima facie breach of the Code of Behaviour, it will cite the accused, apply the
mandatory penalties listed herein and inform the accused accordingly.

Upon receiving this citation, the accused may request a Disciplinary Hearing in
accordance with the WPCA Constitution, By-Laws, and Code of Behaviour. The
request for a hearing must detail the reasons and grounds for the hearing and be
countersigned by the Club Chairperson.

This request should be submitted in writing to the Club Cricket Coordinator of the
WPCA within three working days of the accused being informed of the imposed
sentence. If the Disciplinary Committee deems the grounds for the hearing to be
frivolous or vexatious, the accused will be liable for a R1000.00 fee to cover the
hearing costs

5. DC HEARING PROCEEDINGS

5.1 CONFLICT OF INTEREST

i. No person whose Club participated in the match from which the report(s) arose
shall be eligible to sit on the LLC or Disciplinary Committee concerned.
ii. No person who serves on the WPCA DC, Local Leagues or Appeals Committee
shall appear before a DC, LLC or AC as a representative of any club or individual
appearing before it.
5.2 The charge sheet drawn up by the Local Leagues Committee shall set out the
following:

i. the name and capacity of the accused (e.g., “member of XXX CC”).
ii. the date, time and place when each alleged offence took place.
iii. the number and description of each offence and the prescribed penalty.
 Iv. Particulars of each offence (e.g., a description of the actual words or
conduct constituting the alleged offence with sufficient particularity to
enable the accused to plead thereto)
v. the date, time and place of the Disciplinary Hearing.

5.3 Proceedings shall commence with an opening address by Chairperson, including the
identification of all people present, any conflict of interests and the procedure to be
followed.
5.4 The charge sheet shall be read by the Chairperson.
5.5 The Chairperson shall request the accused to plead to the charge/s set out in the
charge sheet and may pose questions to the accused to clarify his/her plea or any
aspect thereof.
5.6 If the accused pleads guilty on all charges or if the accused pleads guilty on only some
of the charges and the Disciplinary Committee accepts such plea, then such plea of
guilty shall be entered and the hearing shall proceed to the penalty phase.
5.7 If the accused pleads not guilty on all charges or if the accused pleads guilty on only
some of the charges and the Disciplinary Committee rejects such plea, then a plea of
not guilty shall be entered and the hearing proceeds on the merits.
5.8 The Disciplinary Committee shall lead such witnesses as are available and the accused
shall be entitled to cross-examine such witnesses.
5.9 Written submissions of witnesses, documents and other forms of evidence may be
considered, provided that (unless confirmed by oral evidence) they shall carry less
weight than direct oral evidence where such evidence is tendered on any issue in
dispute.
5.10 The accused may present his/her evidence and lead any evidence.
5.11 The Chairperson and thereafter any member of the Disciplinary Committee, may ask
questions of any witness to clarify any issue.
5.12 Once the accused’s evidence is concluded, the Chairperson shall permit the accused
and any other person present, if the Chairperson deems such submission to be of
assistance in reaching a determination, to make any relevant submissions.
5.13 After all evidence, submissions and questioning have been concluded, all persons
present, except the DC members and the DC secretary, shall leave the room whilst
the DC deliberates upon its decision.
5.14 Announcement of the decision - guilty or not guilty

5.14.1 If not guilty, the hearing is concluded.

5.14.2 If guilty, prior to the announcement of the penalty, the Chairperson asks if
any person has anything further to add in relation to the penalty.
5.14.3 The additional information /pleas/ character evidence is heard.

5.15 All persons, except the DC members and the DC secretary, again leave the room
whilst the DC deliberates upon a decision regarding the penalty.
5.16 Sentence/ penalty advised, along with the reason(s) given as to how the decision was
reached
6. RECORDING OF DC HEARINGS

6.1 The DC hearing will be assisted by a DC Secretary who will not participate in its
decision, but who will be allowed to advise it on the Association’s By-Laws.
6.2 The DC Secretary will record the charges or disputes, a summary of the evidence, and
advise all other interested parties of the decisions and ensure the record of the
hearing is available for any subsequent appeal.
6.3 If possible, a mechanical or electronic recording of the DC hearing shall be made by
the DC Secretary, who shall make such recording available to any party to the
proceedings, which party shall be entitled to transcribe such recording at its own
cost.

7. PENALTIES & DETERMINATIONS

7.1 The Disciplinary Committee shall have the power to reprimand or impose penalties
on clubs, players and officials, including mandatory penalties, to impose fines and
deduct or award points as provided for in the By-Laws, Playing Conditions and the
Code of Conduct Behavior.
7.2 It may suspend teams, in which case all members of the team in the match to which
the charge relates will be suspended for the same period unless individually
exonerated and the team will cease to take part in their current competition for the
period of the suspension.
7.3 For the failure to control properly a club's players, officials or teams, the Disciplinary
Committee may fine, deduct points or reprimand that club. Fines may be suspended
subject to good conduct for a specified period.
7.4 Suspensions and fines may be suspended subject to good conduct for a specified
period.
7.5 A suspension must be for a specified period of club playing days and will not include
any match that is partly completed at the time of the hearing unless the player was
already under suspension for non-attendance at the disciplinary hearing. It should
be clearly understood that a specific number of playing days’ suspension excludes
days when the team that he represented is on a bye.
7.6 To comply with WPCA procedures, the Disciplinary Committee must nominate the
date on which any suspension starts and ends. The guilty party shall be allowed to
complete the match in progress. However, in the event of a player being found guilty
of physical assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, the suspension will
become effective immediately. No substitute shall be allowed for the match in which
the transgression took place.
7.7 If the Disciplinary Committee finds that an incorrect ruling has been made by or on
behalf of the WPCA then it will correct the ruling in accordance with the Constitution
and Rules of the WPCA.
7.8 Should any player, official or team fail to attend a Disciplinary hearing, they will
automatically be suspended until they appear before the Disciplinary Committee.
However, should such player, official or team request a postponement, the
Disciplinary Committee may grant this, on condition that the request is made no later
than 3 working days prior to the scheduled date of the hearing, and on condition that
this request is deemed to be valid by the Committee and is put in writing, with proof
of the reason/s provided. For example, if the request for a postponement is work
related, an instruction from the employer to that effect must be provided. If the
 Disciplinary Committee accedes to the request for a postponement, a second date
will be set for the hearing, and the suspension will not apply.

7.9 If a player, official or team fails to attend a rescheduled Disciplinary hearing which
has been specially convened for the purpose, the Disciplinary Committee will
deliberate at that time, and hand down its decision immediately, based on the
evidence submitted. However, in the event of exceptional unforeseen circumstances
which prevent such player, official or team from attending the hearing, a request for
postponement, submitted in writing with proof of the reason/s provided no later
than 3 working days prior to the scheduled date of the hearing, may, if deemed valid
by the Disciplinary Committee, be granted. Another date will then be scheduled, and
no further requests for postponement will be considered. In such an event, the
Disciplinary Committee will deliberate at that time, and hand down its decision
immediately, based on the evidence submitted. Any suspension which may have
been imposed as contemplated in 7.8 will still apply.
7.10 Such decision shall be conveyed verbally to the person/s concerned within 2 working
days after the meeting and confirmed in writing to that party within a period of 3
working days thereafter.
7.11 Should a person be found guilty of committing an offence, the mandatory penalties
as listed below shall be applied. If he is found guilty of more than one offence
committed on the same occasion, a cumulative sentence may be imposed. All or part
of the sentence may be suspended for a period, as is deemed fit. Any suspended
sentence imposed in respect of any offence shall be added to the sentence for a
subsequent offence, provided that the period for which the suspended sentence was
imposed has not expired, unless the Disciplinary Committee finds valid and
convincing reasons not to do so.
7.12 If an offender is found guilty of any other or similar offence within a period of 2 (two)
years, it shall be deemed to be a second or subsequent offence for the purposes of
determining the prescribed penalty.
7.13 Should a player be suspended in terms of the mandatory penalties, the suspension
will take effect upon the completion of the match (2-Day game) in which the offence
occurred unless the player requests a DC hearing, in which event the player may
continue playing until the DC has been finalized.

8. APPEALS

A party found guilty by the WPCA Disciplinary Committee shall have the right to appeal such
finding and/or any penalty imposed to the Appeals Committee in the manner set out in the By-
Laws and the Constitution of the WPCA.
9. PENALTIES

9.1 MANDATORY PENALTIES

MATCH RELATED OFFENCES BY PLAYERS AND MATCH Number of playing days for which
OFFICIALS person is to be suspended
(ON AND OFF THE FIELD)
Offence First Second Third
Offence Offence Offence
1 Persons disputing an umpire’s decision or acting in a
disapproving manner either towards an umpire, 4 8 12
his/her decision, or generally acting in a provocative
manner
2 Verbal abuse except as set out in number 3. 4 8 12

3 Verbal abuse of WPCA umpire or - official 10 20 40

4 Incitement of any person to verbally abuse 4 8 12
5 Making of aracial/religious/cultural/sexual remark or 10 20 40
comment that could be interpreted as such in nature
6 Use of Crude or Abusive Hand Signals or Gestures 4 8 12
7 Intimidation (e.g., throwing the ball at or near a 8 16 24
player/umpire or official in an inappropriate and
dangerous manner), Threat of Assault or Threat of
Physical Interference
8 Threat of Assault of/or Physical Interference of/to an 10 20 40
Umpire
9 Incitement, or Provocation of Any Person to Physical 8 16 24
Assault
10 Assault or physical interference 20 40 Life
11 Physical Assault with intent to do grievous bodily 40 Life
harm
12 Engaging in public acts of misconduct or unruly public 8 16 24
behaviour whilst playing or officiating in any cricket
game under the auspices of the WPCA
13 Consuming of alcoholic beverages and/ or narcotic 8 16 24
substance on the field of play whilst umpiring or
playing
14 Consuming of alcoholic beverages and/ or narcotic 8 16 24
substance off the field of play whilst the match is still
in progress by any player/ match official involved in
the match
15 Abuse of cricket equipment or property. 4 8 12
Equipment/property need not be damaged by such
abuse
16 Changing the condition of the ball and/or pitch 10 20 40
17 Collusion to contrive the result of the match and/or 40 Life
match fixing
 18 A captain of a team who fails to control his/her 4 8 12
players.
19 A captain of a team who fails to control his/her 8 16 24
players after having been requested to do so by an
officially appointed Umpire or a duly elected official
of WPCA
20 A captain of a team found guilty of offence number 15 30 60
16 where no individual offender is identified
21 Where a captain is found guilty of offences 1-16 the
penalty shall be doubled.

9.2 OFFENCES (1-16 ABOVE) BY SPECTATORS, COACHING STAFF, TEAM MANAGEMENT AND
CLUB OFFICIALS.

A suspension ranging from 4 to 40 playing days and/or a fine up to R20 000.00 per offence,
at the reasonable discretion of the DC, depending on the nature and seriousness of the
specific offence.

9.3 BRINGING THE GAME OR WPCA INTO DISREPUTE IN ANY MANNER OTHER THAN SPECIFIED
ABOVE (INCLUDING BROADCASTING, PUBLISHING OR POSTING DEROGATORY AND/OR
DEFAMATORY COMMENTS IN ANY MEDIA, INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA SITES).
A suspension ranging from 4 playing days to Life and/or a fine up to R20 000.00 per offence,
at the reasonable discretion of the DC, depending on the nature and seriousness of the
specific offence.
9.4 A player/captain of a team found guilty of any transgression/s of the Laws of cricket, which
the Laws provide are reportable to the governing body, other than changing the condition
of the ball and/or pitch (offences 16 & 20 above).
A suspension ranging from 4 to 40 playing days and/or a fine up to R20 000.00 per offence,
at the reasonable discretion of the DC, depending on the nature and seriousness of the
specific offence.

10. EFFECT OF SUSPENSION

Any person who has been suspended in terms of the WPCA Code of Behaviour shall not be
allowed to participate in any Club activities/functions/meetings, administration, WPCA
functions/meetings or any other cricket related activities including playing, coaching,
practice, etc. Any person found to be in contravention of this provision may be charged with
bringing the game or WPCA into disrepute in terms of 9.3 above.