PCA appoint Vice Chairs

The Professional Cricketers’ Association has confirmed the appointments of England Women’s captain Heather Knight and Middlesex all-rounder James Harris as Vice Chairs.

Both players will now take positions on the PCA Board and support Chairman Daryl Mitchell who leads the PCA Players’ Committee. The new roles will see the pair provide support to Mitchell and provide further guidance to the PCA in the aim to champion the ongoing interests of professional cricketers in England and Wales.

Mitchell formally submitted a paper to the board in December 2019 on the role of Vice Chairs with the position discussed in greater detail at the PCA AGM in February. The PCA Board then recommended the appointments at a recent board meeting and the process was finalised with the subsequent approval by the Players’ Committee.

Knight has captained England since 2016 and has helped transform the women’s game, highlighted by the 2017 Women’s World Cup victory. The 29-year-old also played a key part in establishing the England Women’s Player Partnership and remains on the EWPP Committee to ensure contractual and commercial rights of players are protected.

Harris started his career at Glamorgan, making his debut at the age of 16. After a successful start to his career, he moved to Middlesex and has established himself in the county game, playing 261 games and taking 620 wickets in his 13-year career to date. The 30-year-old joined the Players’ Committee in 2017 and has played an important role in representing the views of the Middlesex squad, which included voting through the County Partnership Agreement in June 2019.

Knight and Harris have immediately taken on their role and will attend their first board meeting in mid-Juy.

Confirming the newly elected Knight and Harris, PCA Chairman, Daryl Mitchell, said:

“I am delighted to welcome both Heather and James onto the PCA Board. Both bring vast amounts of experience and knowledge across the professional game and I have no doubt they will make the PCA even stronger.

“The role of Vice Chairs is an important one to add further structure to the PCA Players’ Committee. My first three years as Chairman has coincided with enormous change within the game due to the new broadcast deal and the subsequent new white ball tournament and County Partnership Agreement.

“While I have thoroughly enjoyed the responsibility and the challenge, it has become apparent two Vice Chairs sitting above the Committee can really help fulfil roles to support our association.

“More current player representation on the PCA Board is also a progressive move to ensure players views are at the forefront of shaping the future of professional cricket careers and the views of the PCA.”

England Women’s captain and PCA Vice Chair, Heather Knight, said:

“I am really pleased to be elected onto the PCA Board as a Vice Chair. I have worked really closely with the PCA since I have been captain and the women’s game is growing so quickly so I think it is really important to have a voice on there for the women’s game, not just for the international players, but for the domestic players that are joining the professional game in the next few months.

“I have always been interested in how the game works and what the right decisions are for the wider game so I’m very excited by the opportunity to work closely with the PCA to continue the momentum we’ve seen in women’s cricket over the last few years.

“I look forward to supporting Daryl, alongside James, and continuing the brilliant work the PCA do in supporting all professional cricketers across the country.”

Middlesex all-rounder and PCA Vice Chair, James Harris, said:

“I am honoured to be given this opportunity. I’ve been doing more and more work with the PCA over the last few years and helping Daryl out with any extra support he has needed as part of my role on the Players’ Committee.

“Daryl has had an incredible amount on his plate with the current pandemic and everything that has preceded this during his time as chairman, including the new standard playing contract which he has played such a huge part in over the last three years. With this role becoming official I will hopefully be able to help him out even more.

“All 18 counties are quite different and the women have unique issues too so to have more player representation on the PCA Board provides a greater perspective across the game.

“I’m really excited and I know Heather will do a great job as well, so to have the two of us sat underneath Mitch in playing a bigger part with the PCA who do so much for everyone in the game – both present and past is great.”