LONDON: Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan told a hearing into accusations of racism at Yorkshire on Friday it was “inconceivable” he would make the comment attributed to him by Azeem Rafiq as his former county team-mate was accused of being ready to play the “race card.”
Vaughan and a number of other former players at the county cricket club face charges related to the use of racially discriminatory language.
Pakistan-born Rafiq, 32, first went public with allegations of racism and bullying in September 2020, related to his two spells at Yorkshire.
Rafiq alleged Vaughan told him and three other Yorkshire players of Asian origin “there’s too many of you lot, we need to do something about it,” before a 2009 Twenty20 match between Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) lawyer Jane Mulcahy asked Vaughan at the ongoing Cricket Discipline Commission hearing in London whether the words “there’s too many of you lot” were “totally unacceptable” as well as “racist and discriminatory.”
“Absolutely,” said Vaughan, 48, who in his witness statement said: “I consider it to be inconceivable that I would use the words contained in the allegation.”
Rafiq’s conduct, however, was also called into question later Friday when Matthew Wood, a former personal development manager at the Professional Cricketers’ Association and an ex-Yorkshire cricketer, said in a witness statement: “In my dealings with Azeem, I was aware of two occasions in which he (directly or indirectly) acknowledged that he would be prepared to use the ‘race card’.
“By that, I understood Azeem to mean that he would make, or allude to, an allegation of racism in bad faith in order to gain an advantage.”
Wood’s statement also referenced a 2018 conversation with Rafiq in which he recalled: “I asked Azeem, ‘And what will you do if Yorkshire don’t offer you a new contract?’ Azeem replied with words to the effect of, ‘I’ll just hit them with the race card’.”
Mulcahy told the hearing Wood had not made reference to Rafiq “using the race card” when speaking to Yorkshire investigators or an employment tribunal involving Rafiq.
Wood replied: “At the time it wasn’t asked and I wasn’t sure where it was going. My superiors at the PCA knew about Rafiq’s comments and I later added it to my statement.”
Earlier, 2005 Ashes-winning skipper Vaughan insisted: “If you go through the history of me as a player I don’t know any time I’d have gone onto a pitch and said something to my team-mates that would have put them in a bad state of mind to play cricket.”
He added: “You’ve got three or four Asian players in the (Yorkshire) team at the same time, I couldn’t have been more proud.”
Mulcahy asked Vaughan why, if nothing untoward had happened, he had arranged a meeting with Rafiq in November 2021.
Vaughan answered: “I felt it was getting too big, hurting too many people. It’s not been easy for anybody, this.
“I don’t think this is the right process to deal with a word-versus-word process from 14 years ago. Whatever happens, this has a terrible look on the game, a real bad look on how cricket has dealt with this situation.”
The ECB brought charges against seven individuals, and Yorkshire, in June last year, with the club admitting four charges.
Vaughan is the only former player to contest the charges in person.
“Being named and implicated in this matter has had a profound effect on me,” said the former Test batsman.
“My health and personal wellbeing have suffered badly.”
Vaughan denies racism as Rafiq accused of being ready to play ‘race card’
https://arab.news/592th
Vaughan denies racism as Rafiq accused of being ready to play ‘race card’
- Vaughan and a number of other former players at the county cricket club face charges related to the use of racially discriminatory language
- Pakistan-born Rafiq, 32, first went public with allegations of racism and bullying in September 2020, related to his two spells at Yorkshire
Cricketers are now for all seasons
- Leading professionals, male and female, can play top class cricket all year round, irrespective of weather conditions
It is the start of October in the UK. The English and Welsh cricket season staggered to its conclusion, buffeted by rain and winds with occasional outbursts of sun. Autumn is here and I am put in mind of one of England’s most famous romantic poets, John Keats. His final poem, “To Autumn,” began: “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness; Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun.”
September 2024 has not evoked a repeat of Keats’ experience. Although there are mists, the sun-induced mellowness has been largely lacking. Instead, rain has meant the determination of important cricketing issues was subject to uncertainty. England and Australia played a five-match One Day International series. England lost the first two matches but then won the next two, turning the final match at Bristol into a series decider.
Rain was forecast for the afternoon and arrived around 4 p.m., after 20.4 overs had been bowled. At 20 overs in a 50-over match, an adjusted target score formula is activated. Australia was sufficiently far ahead in its run chase that, when the match was eventually abandoned, they were declared both match and series winner. The conditions for watching were not pleasant; apart from the constant threat of rain, a strong and gusty breeze made day seem colder.
Nevertheless, the crowd was stoical. The ground has a stated ODI capacity of 15,000 and it was sold out. There are those who regard the scheduling of an England v Australia series at this time of year as bordering on farce. Others, including cricket authorities, argue that the demand exists — all matches were sell-outs and great entertainment was provided by some of the world’s leading players. On top of that, the series provided an opportunity to stage matches at venues which do not regularly host internationals against top opposition.
Whilst the series was being played, the final matches of the county cricket season were unfolding against a backdrop of capricious weather. Matters of promotion and relegation had to be decided, with most teams hoping the weather would not be the ultimate arbiter. Despite several matches losing at least a day’s play, fair conclusions, based on relative performances, emerged. In a twist of fate, Lancashire were relegated from Division 1 and changed places with their historic rivals, Yorkshire, who finished second in Division 2.
An outside observer of English and Welsh cricket with an overall knowledge of the global game might regard the scheduling of such important matches at this time of year as unwise, given the probability of rain and cold weather influencing the outcomes. As has been discussed in previous columns, the reason is The Hundred.
In order to appeal to its target audience of parents and young children it is scheduled for the school holidays in August. All other first class cricket tournaments are scheduled around it. This regime is unlikely to change in the short term. The privatization of The Hundred is now underway, with the longer effects of this process subject to much crystal ball-gazing.
Confirmation came this week of the sale of the private company which owns Hampshire cricket to GMR Global Pte Ltd. It will acquire a majority stake in Hampshire Sports & Leisure Group. No immediate change of personnel will occur other than at main board level, where two new directors will be appointed by GGPL. The transaction, termed as a “definitive agreement,” has been heavily trailed and is expected to be concluded in September 2026. As well as holding a 50 percent stake in Delhi Capitals, GMR also owns shares in the Dubai Capitals and the Pretoria Capitals, as well as investing in US Major League Cricket team the Seattle Orcas.
Cricket’s globalization process is set to expand. Negotiations will proceed throughout the British autumn for the sale of The Hundred. Although the season has ended in Europe and North America it has opened in Asia, central and southern Africa and Australasia. As if to remind us that rain’s detrimental effect on cricket is not limited to Europe and North America, it washed out play on two and a half days of the second Test match between India and Bangladesh in Nagpur.
Rain has also fallen heavily in the UAE, where the women’s T20I World Cup is being played in day-time temperatures in the mid-30s. Originally, the tournament was scheduled to take place in Bangladesh but was moved because of civil strife. This will be the first women’s T20 World Cup to be held at a neutral venue. If it feels like a women’s T20I World cup was played not too long ago, you would be right; the knock-on effect of the global pandemic forced the 2023 edition in South Africa to be held a year later than originally planned.
Ten teams will participate, divided into two groups of five, playing in a round-robin format. The top two from each group will qualify for the semifinals. Australia is the firm favorite to retain the trophy, having won the last four editions and six of the eight to have been played, England and the West Indies being the other winners in 2009 and 2016, respectively.
Since the first edition, women’s cricket has progressed a long way to the point where this will be the first women’s global tournament since the ICC announced equal prize money for both men’s and women's tournaments. The winners will receive USD 2.34 million, an increase of 134 percent over 2023’s prize money.
This reflects the dramatic increase in appeal of women’s cricket to spectators, broadcasters, sponsors and marketeers. Women have proved that they can play cricket to a high standard and attract funding. The leading professional cricketers, both men and women, can play cricket all year round, irrespective of weather conditions. Autumn, for them, has a different meaning compared with Keats. It is a time to fly away to warmer climes, leaving others to discuss the game’s future landscape.
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Dubai begins with Captains’ Day ahead of opening game
- Action gets underway on Thursday when original hosts Bangladesh face tournament debutants Scotland
- Decision to move competition to UAE taken amid concerns about political violence in Bangladesh
DUBAI: The captain of Bangladesh’s women’s cricket team said her team will remain professional during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup despite their disappointment about the last-minute relocation of the tournament from their home country.
The decision to move the competition, which begins on Thursday and continues until Oct. 20, to the UAE was taken in August because of political violence in Bangladesh. All 23 matches will be played at two venues in Dubai and Sharjah. Bangladesh, who remain the official hosts, will get the tournament underway against debutants Scotland in the opening match.
The captains of all 10 competing teams gathered at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday for a pretournament press conference.
Bangladesh’s captain, Sultana Joty, acknowledged the challenges her team have faced as a result of the unrest in their home country and the resultant change in venue for the competition but said they maintain a positive outlook.
“It was disappointing but we are professional,” she said. “More than us, this is about everyone there. We are fortunate to be here and will provide some cheer for the fans.
“I’m expecting a lot of spectators because in Sharjah there are a lot of Bangladeshis there. And playing in this kind of event, I think more people will come watch us and support.”
Scotland are playing in their first-ever Women’s T20 World Cup. Captain Kathryn Brice emphasized her team’s familiarity with the host venues and hopes their previous experience with conditions in the UAE will give them a boost.
“I think we just really want to compete in this competition,” she said. “We’ve played some fantastic cricket in the qualifiers and leading up to it, so I think we just want to go out there and do ourselves justice on that stage and put in some good performances against these teams.”
The tournament begins with a group stage, with the top two teams from each of the two five-team groups progressing to the knockout phase. The top team from each group will then face the runners-up from the other group, with the two winners contesting the final.
In one of the most eagerly anticipated group-stage matchups, India will take on Pakistan on Oct. 6. Adding to the excitement is the fact that tickets are very reasonably priced, starting at just 5 dirhams ($1.36), and children get in free.
India’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, a veteran of all eight previous T20 World Cups, said it is important to remain composed under pressure.
“I think learning is something which is never going to stop,” she said. “Every day is a learning day. I’m going and learning and getting experience from every game.
“I think people around me, they are helping me, they are working hard to make our team go at that level where we want to be. I am happy with where our team is. I like how our team is working hard to achieve small, small things.”
Fatima Sana, the captain of Pakistan, emphasized the importance of self-belief, saying: “The best advice that management gave me is to express and back myself. They told me to take a brave decision in the field.”
The team with the best record in the tournament, six-time champions Australia, are led by Alyssa Healy.
“Ten teams, we all have a shot. You don’t come to defend a ball, you come to win,” she said.
“Our pool is quite a tricky one. We’ve got to get past a lot of these teams to be able to lift the trophy and it’s a challenge we’re excited for.”
A new feature for this year’s event is the first all-female team of umpires and referees, marking a historic step toward gender equality in officiating major sporting events.
With the possibility that dew might influence matches played under floodlights, and teams having taken the opportunity to play warm-up games to help adapt to conditions in the UAE, this edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup offers a chance for the next global superstars of women’s cricket to shine. New Zealand captain Sophie Devine highlighted the importance of nurturing emerging talent as the women’s game continues to develop.
“In terms of the quick bowlers, you’ve seen the girls become more professional, and what they’ve been able to do in the gym is starting to see bowlers hitting 120 kph and more, which makes for a challenge,” she said.
“It’s always exciting to be coming up against that but I think it just shows the development of the women’s game, that those sorts of skills continue to improve.
“We’ve got a number of young fast bowlers coming through. And again, their development has been massive the last 12 to 18 months, so certainly I’m looking forward to seeing what sort of bowlers they can turn into.”
Following the opening match between Bangladesh and Scotland, Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka on Thursday. Both games are at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Livingstone stars as England thrash Australia to square ODI series
- The victory pulled a youthful England ODI side level at 2-2 in a five-match series ahead of Sunday’s finale at Bristol
- This was England’s second-biggest win at this level over arch-rivals Australia in terms of runs, following their mammoth 242-run success at Trent Bridge in 2018
LONDON: Liam Livingstone’s stunning unbeaten 62 paved the way for England’s colossal 186-run win over world champions Australia in the fourth one-day international at Lord’s on Friday.
The victory pulled a youthful England ODI side level at 2-2 in a five-match series ahead of Sunday’s finale at Bristol.
Livingstone’s whirlwind 27-ball innings took England to 312-5 in a match reduced by rain to 39 overs per side after captain Harry Brook just fell short of successive hundred with 87.
Australia made a sound start to their daunting chase but lost six wickets for 28 runs in slumping from 68-0 to 96-6.
They were eventually dismissed for 126 inside 25 overs, with paceman Matthew Potts taking an ODI-best 4-38.
Fit-again opener Travis Head’s 34 was the top score in an Australia innings where only four batsmen made it into double figures.
This was England’s second-biggest win at this level over arch-rivals Australia in terms of runs, following their mammoth 242-run success at Trent Bridge in 2018.
“We’ve taken all the positives and the momentum and brought them here,” player-of-the-match Brook, 25, told Sky Sports. “Livingstone, we know what he’s capable of and he showed that tonight.”
“We just identify the times we need to apply pressure.”
Australia captain Mitchell Marsh accepted his side had been outclassed.
“We were a bit off today but fair play to England they put us under pressure,” he said. “They out-played us today... Liam Livingstone played a gem of an innings.”
England were 16 runs shy of 300 when Mitchell Starc began to bowl the last over of their innings.
But Livingstone, renowned as a big-hitter, then hammered the left-arm fast quick for 28 runs — the most expensive over by an Australian bowler in men’s ODIs — including four sixes in five balls, before finishing with a four.
Livingstone started the 39th over by driving Starc into the pavilion for six.
And two balls later, Livingstone lofted Starc for six over midwicket and next ball drove him for another six. The fifth ball also went for six, via a monster pull, before Livingstone scythed the last ball of the over for four.
Livingstone struck three fours and seven sixes in total as Starc finished with hugely expensive figures of 0-70 in eight overs.
Australia, who saw their run of 14 straight ODI wins ended by England at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday, were up against it after that late blitz.
But Head, who made a superb 154 not out in Australia’s series-opening win in Nottingham, launched Brydon Carse for a huge six onto the roof of the Mound Stand.
Carse, however, had his revenge when he bowled left-hander Head for 34 from around the wicket.
Australia’s 68-1 then became 75-2 when Potts had star batsman Steven Smith caught behind for just five.
After Marsh was bowled for 28 by a superb delivery from express fast bowler Jofra Archer that nipped past his outside edge, Carse struck twice in the 15th over to remove Josh Inglis and Marnus Labuschagne.
Potts just missed out on a hat-trick before leg-spinner Adil Rashid ended the match by bowling last man Josh Hazlewood for a duck.
Earlier, Brook— fresh from a match-winning maiden ODI century at Chester-le-Street — came in with England faltering at 71-2.
But he responded with an exhilarating 58-ball innings including 11 fours and a six.
Australia thought Brook had been caught behind down the legside for 17 by Inglis, playing his first match of the series after injury, off Starc.
But an umpire review made it clear the ball had bounced into Inglis’s gloves — with boos ringing round Lord’s as the replay was shown on the giant screen.
It was the second controversial incident involving an Australia wicketkeeper at Lord’s in as many matches after Alex Carey — playing as a batsman only on Friday — stumped Jonny Bairstow during an Ashes Test last year when the England batsman believed the ball was dead.
Brook fell when he holed out in the deep off leg-spinner Adam Zampa.
A ‘duck’ — the ultimate failure in cricket
- The crushing disappointment that results in a long walk back to the pavilion
LONDON: One of cricket’s complexities for those unfamiliar with the game is its use of language.
Over the years everyday words have assumed a new identity in the hands of lawmakers and administrators. These words have been perpetuated by players, spectators and reporters to create a mystique. Their origins may appear to be unfathomable, even inexplicable. One of those words — duck — has developed as a perfect example of cricket’s penchant for euphemism.
Any player, at any level, in any format, lives in fear of the ignominy of being dismissed without scoring a single run off his or her own bat. In such an event it feels like a long walk back to the pavilion, a walk that is usually accompanied, at best, by complete silence and, at worst, by jeers and the sound of a quacking duck.
The sight of the dreaded zero against one’s name on the scoresheet is unwelcome for the batter, although the bowler and fielders will have a different perspective. It is believed that scorers in cricket’s early days referred to zero as a duck’s egg, because of its resemblance in shape. Around 1863, the shortened version was adopted. This is probably as well because, since that time, 10 different types of duck have evolved.
A dismissal off the first, second or third delivery faced, without scoring a run, is termed, respectively, a golden, silver or bronze duck. This evokes synonymy with Olympic-level awards, although there is no kudos associated with a duck compared with an Olympic medal.
However, a duck can sometimes invoke pathos. In his final Test match innings at The Oval, London, Donald Bradman required four runs to secure a Test average of 100. Allegedly with tears in his eyes after being applauded to the wicket, he missed the second delivery from leg spinner Eric Hollies and was bowled without scoring. His Test career average was stuck forever on 99.94.
Although Bradman’s dismissal is classed as a silver duck, the term is rarely used. The same applies to bronze duck, but golden duck is in common usage throughout the cricketing world. Numerous examples abound. In men’s Test match history, Muttiah Muralitharan holds the record for the most golden ducks, 14 out of his total of 33 ducks.
Courtney Walsh of the West Indies achieved the highest number of ducks in Tests, 43, of which 10 were golden.
England’s recently retired fast bowling duo of Stuart Broad and James Anderson made 39 and 34 ducks in their Test careers, of which 19 were golden.
Unsurprisingly, 60 percent of players with the highest number of ducks are primarily bowlers. There are some exceptions: the Waugh brothers, Steve and Mark, who scored 52 centuries between them, notched up 22 and 19 ducks, respectively. Even the great Sachin Tendulkar suffered 14 in his 200 Tests. In Mark Waugh’s case he suffered four consecutive ducks against Sri Lanka in 1991/92. His teammates awarded him a temporary nickname — Audi — based on the car producer’s four-ring logo. If Waugh had suffered a fifth consecutive duck, the nickname Olympic awaited. It did not happen to him, but it has to three players.
When a player scores a duck in both innings of a match, it is termed a pair, as two zeros resemble a pair of spectacles. Graham Gooch, who went on to be England’s leading run scorer and captain, scored a pair in his first Test match and was dropped. Ian Botham, one of England’s greatest players, was dismissed for a pair at Lord’s in July 1981 when captaining the team. When he left the field after his second dismissal, I can vouch that it was to the sound of silence. How different to the acclaim he received at Headingley two weeks later after scoring an unbeaten 149 and having resigned the captaincy.
If both dismissals are off the first ball of the innings, the outcome is termed a king pair, a fate which has befallen 24 players in Test cricket. Surprisingly, the most recent was the prolific Travis Head of Australia against the West Indies at Brisbane in January 2024.
One of the most remarkable cricketers to have suffered a king pair must be Robert (Bob) Crisp for South Africa at Durban in February 1936 against Australia. Some 35 years ago I attended a football match between Colchester United and Aldershot FC. A conversation was struck up with the Colchester chairman who seemed more interested in talking about cricket than football. Trivial questions were swapped, culminating in him asking me if I knew the identity of the only person to have a Test match king pair, who had climbed Mount Kilimanjaro twice, been awarded a Military Cross, a Distinguished Service Order and mentioned in dispatches for tank warfare. It was his father, Bob Crisp.
Another type of duck is a diamond, used to describe the unfortunate situation when the batter is dismissed without facing a ball. The name reflects its rarity. Angelo Mathews of Sri Lanka was timed out during an ODI World Cup match against Bangladesh last November. Although he was at the wicket to face his first delivery, he was denied the opportunity, a very rare event. A more likely diamond dismissal is where the new batter is the non-striker, is called for a run and fails to make ground at the other end, thus being run out.
A variation on diamond is titanium when the batter is dismissed for zero on the first ball of the team’s innings without facing a delivery, most likely run out. A royal duck occurs when a batter is dismissed without scoring from the first ball of their team’s innings. Conversely, a laughing duck occurs when a batter is dismissed for nought on the very last ball of the innings.
When I first started playing cricket I do not recall a duck having variations. Dates when the variations were introduced are hard to identify. It is reasonable to assume that some have been applied retrospectively to records. However, it remains the case that whenever a batter fails to score a run at any point in the innings, it is an unpalatable experience, whatever its name.
Head’s hundred seals Australia win over England in 1st ODI
- Australia, set 316 for victory, finished on 317-3 with six overs to spare as they went 1-0 up in a five-match series
- Australia captain Mitchell Marsh hailed an “exceptional” team performance: The way we were able to pull it back (in the field) was great.
NOTTINGHAM: Travis Head’s superb career-best 154 not out saw depleted world champions Australia to a seven-wicket win over England in the first one-day international at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
Australia, set 316 for victory, finished on 317-3 with six overs to spare as they went 1-0 up in a five-match series to make it 13 ODI wins in a row against all opponents.
Earlier, Marnus Labuschagne was the unlikely hero with the ball as Australia fought back after losing the toss.
England, on 201-2 off 30 overs, were set for a colossal total as Ben Duckett eyed a hundred on his home ground.
But left-hander Duckett departed for 95 when caught and bowled by part-time leg-spinner Labuschagne, who also removed Harry Brook — out for 39 in his first innings as England captain — in similar fashion soon afterwards.
Labuschagne returned ODI-best figures of 3-39 as England, succumbing to spin, lost their last six wickets for 59 runs.
First-choice leg-spinner Adam Zampa marked his 100th ODI with 3-49 from his full 10 overs.
Labuschagne then completed a fine all-round display by making 77 not out off 61 balls in an unbroken partnership of 148 with fellow 30-year-old Head.
But the outcome might have been different had Head been caught early in his innings, with the player of-the-match telling Sky Sports: “I got lucky and Jofra (Archer) bowled a hell of a spell at the start. Glad I can continue.”
Australia captain Mitchell Marsh hailed an “exceptional” team performance by saying: “The way we were able to pull it back (in the field) was great.
“I think the calmness in the group has been great. There’s illness flying around, it builds resilience in the team.”
Brook, leading England in just his 16th match at the relatively youthful age of 25, accepted the hosts had posted a “below-par score.”
Australia lost Marsh early in their chase when he holed out off Matthew Potts.
Three balls later Head, the hundred hero of Australia’s World Cup final win over India last year, almost fell in single figures.
His slashing square-cut off Potts flew to deep point only for Brydon Carse, in too far off the boundary rope at Brook’s request, just failing to hold what would have been a spectacular leaping catch.
Fast bowler Archer topped speeds of 90 mph (145 kmh) in his first ODI after over a year out with injury.
But opener Head came through to completing a sixth century in 66 ODIs.
He went to exactly 150 by launching Liam Livingstone for a spectacular six over long-on, with the spinner’s nine overs costing an expensive 75 runs.
Head then surpassed his previous highest ODI score of 152, against England at Melbourne two years ago, with the left-hander facing 129 balls, including 20 fours and five sixes, in total.
After Brook won the toss, both Duckett and Will Jacks completed brisk fifties.
But Zampa struck when Jacks (62) holed out to cover to end a partnership of 120 with Duckett.
Test opener Duckett pressed on before chipping Labuschagne’s fourth delivery back to the bowler as a 91-ball innings, including 11 fours, ended tamely.
And when Brook fell the same way, England were 232-4 off 35 overs.
Australia have several players sidelined by illness and injury, including experienced fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
The series continues at Headingley on Saturday.
