Hawke's Bay Cricket Association CEO Craig Findlay is being dealt with internally by the association. Photo / File
Hawke's Bay Cricket Association CEO Craig Findlay is being dealt with internally by the association. Photo / File
Hawke's Bay Cricket Association is staying tight lipped over its interaction with its CEO following his handling of a complaint involving his son.
The association has also asked parties to the complaint to not speak with media, and will not release the findings of an independent commissioner, who conducteda hearing that followed the complaint.
Hawke's Bay Cricket Association CEO Craig Findlay's son was one of two Napier Tech secondary players stood down for 10 weeks, after an independent commissioner held a closed code of conduct hearing on February 5, and founds racist and homophobic remarks were made by players.
The hearing followed a January 21 Cornwall Park match between a Napier Tech Year 11 to 13 side and a Western Districts Auckland Blue XI.
The Twenty20 game was called off by an umpire unhappy with Napier Tech players' comments.
Two players involved in this controversial match have been banned for the season.
When first approached for comment, Findlay was adamant that the complaint did not need investigating and there had been a "misunderstanding" around the comments that were made.
When asked about his son's involvement in the game, Findlay said HBC was aware of the incident and dealing with it.
Asked whether HBCA had concerns that Findlay, who also plays for the Napier Tech club, had attempted to protect his son, HBCA chairman James Rainger said ''other issues referenced in the commissioner's findings... will be handled internally''.
Rainger declined to comment further on Findlay's handling of the complaint. Findlay has also declined to comment. HBCA has asked parties to the complaint to not make public statements.
Media were not advised the hearing was taking place as it was a closed hearing, and HBCA will not release the commissioner's findings publicly, Rainger said.
"Commissioners' written decisions are usually not released publicly – and especially so when it involves minors and/or non-professional players,'' Rainger said.
The Western Districts School Children's Cricket Association president Lynn Fuller declined to comment on the commissioner's finding. The HBCA had requested that it alone deal with the media, Fuller said, and she had agreed.
NZ Cricket had earlier expressed concern at the allegations, and assisted HBCA with its complaint process.
NZC spokesman Richard Boock said the whether the commissioner's report was released was up to the HBCA board and chairman.
HBCA was an autonomous body with "sovereignty over its own affairs", Boock said.
NZC had received a copy of the report.
It did not have concerns about any matters outside of the players' conduct, that had been raised by the commissioner.
"We're satisfied with the integrity of both the process and outcome of the hearing; we endorse the findings, and agree that the type of offending described required a serious response," Boock said.
