By Sohaib Shams
Amateur cricketer Brian Devine has been banned from all cricket under the England and Wales Cricket Board until September 29, 2028, for his role in a cheating incident that went viral last July.
Devine, playing for Saltburn Cricket Club's second XI in a North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League Division Two match against Norton, clicked his fingers to mimic the sound of the ball edging the bat, leading to the dismissal of batsman Noman Shabir.
The league's investigation, which included player interviews, written statements and video review, found Devine guilty. He accepted the two-year ban, which prohibits him from playing, coaching, umpiring, scoring or managing junior teams.
Saltburn's second XI has been relegated from Division Two to Division Three with a 60-point deduction for the 2027 season, and the club was fined £300. The club admitted the charges but appealed the penalty.
The relegation offers a reprieve to Middlesbrough's second XI, which had finished 11th in the 12-team division. Saltburn's first XI had already been relegated from the Premier League.
The NYSD acknowledged the strain caused by online and in-person abuse directed at those involved and urged respect now that the formal process is complete.
