An English player has been released by Essex following the rape charges. Essex County Cricket Club have confirmed that batter Robin Das is no longer employed by the club after the 24-year-old appeared in court charged with two counts of rape. Das appeared at Inner London Crown Court on Friday wearing a navy suit, white shirt and dark tie. Judge Freya Newbury set a five-day trial for January 2028 and released him on conditional bail.
Essex releases batter following court appearance on rape charges
According to a report in Cricinfo, the player has been charged with two counts of rape in July. It was further said by the Metropolitan Police that he had been arrested in August 2025 after reports of a woman being raped in Brixton in March 2024. According to a report in the BBC, Das appeared in the dock at Inner London Crown Court on Friday. He was then released on conditional bail ahead of a five-day trial set for January 2028.
What does Essex say?
Essex revealed that they are aware of the case as they acknowledged it in a statement. Essex stated that Das’s playing contract ended prior to the conclusion of the 2026 season following his suspension and resulting unavailability to fulfil his playing obligations. The club stated that this decision was separate from the ongoing legal proceedings. A statement released by them read:
"Essex County Cricket Club is aware of today's court proceedings involving Robin Das. The club recognises the seriousness of the matter and will not comment further on the circumstances of the case."
The statement further read:
"Das's playing contract with Essex ended prior to the conclusion of the 2026 season following his suspension and his resulting unavailability to fulfil his playing obligations. This decision was separate from the ongoing legal proceedings.”
The statement continued:
"Essex County Cricket Club has robust safeguarding and disciplinary procedures in place and regularly reviews these to ensure they remain appropriate.”
The club had earlier confirmed an immediate and ongoing suspension after the charges were brought, noting that the alleged incident took place outside club activities. Essex said it had remained in contact with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) and the Cricket Regulator throughout.
It also stated that they are monitoring the situation and will “work closely with the ECB, PCA and the Cricket Regulator as part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest standards across the club."
Das has not entered a public plea in the available reporting, and the matter remains before the courts. He is entitled to the presumption of innocence until and unless proven guilty. Essex’s decision to end his employment centres on his suspension and inability to meet contractual playing commitments rather than any determination of the legal case. The development brings an abrupt end to Das’s time at the Chelmsford-based club, where he progressed from the youth system to senior cricket.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police and the courts have not released additional details about the conditions of bail or the precise nature of the allegations beyond the two counts of rape. For Essex, the unfortunate case closes a chapter involving a young player who showed early promise, including a memorable debut hundred and contributions in white-ball cricket. Meanwhile, the club’s focus now shifts to the remainder of its squad and ongoing commitments in domestic competitions, while the legal process involving Das continues independently.
Is Robin Das from Bangladesh?
Das is from East London and is British Bangladeshi, while his family is from the Sylhet Division of Bangladesh. He is not the only cricketer from his family. His brother Jonathan is a former cricketer for the Essex Second XI and Cambridge University.
Das made only one first-team appearance for Essex in the 2026 season, scoring 29 in a Metro Bank One-Day Cup match against Middlesex on 21 July. He was charged two days later. Across his career, he has made around 60 appearances for the county in all formats.
As a product of the Essex academy, the right-handed top-order batter made his senior debut in the 2020 Vitality Blast. He scored a century on his first-class debut against Ireland in 2023, making 132, and later registered a List A hundred. He has also featured in T20 cricket and briefly played in the Bangladesh Premier League.
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