Ollie Robinson clear to play cricket immediately - ECB

Ollie Robinson, who was banned from representing England last month after old racist tweets emerged on social media, is clear to play cricket immediately. The news was confirmed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Saturday.

“A Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) Panel today announced its decision in relation to two charges brought against Ollie Robinson,” the ECB said in a statement.

“Robinson had previously admitted breaching ECB Directives 3.3 and 3.4 in relation to a number of offensive tweets which were posted between 2012 and 2014, when he was aged between 18 and 20. The tweets came to light on 2 June 2021, which was also the first day of his first Test match for England,” added the statement.

How will Ollie Robinson be allowed to play?

The ECB had held a hearing on June 30. In the meeting it was decided that he would be suspended from playing eight cricket matches. Five of those will be suspended for two years.

For the other three games, Robinson has already served suspension. He was dropped from the second Test against New Zealand at Edgbaston from June 10 to 14.

He then pulled himself out of two Vitality Blast T20 matches for Sussex. This is despite still being allowed to play in them.

“Following a hearing on 30 June, the Panel decided that Robinson should be suspended from playing cricket for eight matches, five of which will be suspended for two years,” the statement added.

“As regards the three matches which are the subject of immediate suspension, the Panel has taken into account the suspension imposed by the England Team from the second LV Insurance Men’s Test against New Zealand, together with two of the Vitality Blast T20 matches from which Robinson voluntarily withdrew himself from selection for Sussex CCC due to the impact of these proceedings,” it further said.

“Robinson is therefore free to play cricket immediately,” the statement concluded.

What caused Robinson’s suspension?

His old tweets that were racist and sexist in nature. They started doing the rounds on Twitter on the day he made his Test debut against New Zealand.

Prior to the Test, England took part in a ‘moment of unity’ to address issues of inclusivity and discrimination.

Afterwards, Robinson said he was ’embarrased’ by the revelation of the tweets. It is also worth noting that the tweets in question are over eight years old. But the 27-year-old said he was ashamed of them regardless.

“On the biggest day of my career so far, I am embarrassed by the racist and sexist tweets that I posted over eight years ago, which have today become public. I want to make it clear that I’m not racist and I’m not sexist; I deeply regret my actions, and I am ashamed of making such remarks.”

He also offered up an apology ‘to anyone he has offended’.

“I would like to unreservedly apologise to anyone I have offended, my teammates and the game as a whole in what has been a day of action and awareness in combatting discrimination from our sport.”

Many people agreed that Robinson deserved some form of punishment for his old tweets. However, that was not a universal view in England. Many – including politicians – felt his ban was too harsh.

How the world of cricket reacts to this latest development remains to be seen.