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
West Indies knock England out of Women’s T20 World Cup as Joseph leads spectacular chase
- The 2016 champions finished with 142-4 in 18 overs in reply to England’s 141-7, winning with 12 deliveries to spare and making the cut from Group B
- It is the first time since 2010 that England have failed to make the semifinals
DUBAI: Qiana Joseph hit 52 runs off 38 balls as she led a spectacular West Indies chase to knock England out of the Women’s T20 World Cup on Tuesday.
Joseph’s half century, propped up by skipper Hayley Matthews’ 50 off 38 balls, helped West Indies win by six wickets in the final league game of the tournament.
The 2016 champions finished with 142-4 in 18 overs in reply to England’s 141-7, winning with 12 deliveries to spare and making the cut from Group B.
The win was sufficient for West Indies to join South Africa in the knockouts. The Proteas’ qualification was confirmed after the first innings ended, leaving England to defend the total for a place in the semifinals.
It is the first time since 2010 that England have failed to make the semifinals. Australia and New Zealand already progressed from Group A, and will take on South Africa and West Indies in the semifinals, respectively.
Earlier, West Indies won the toss and opted to bowl in a must-win game for both sides. Coming into the fixture, England had history and form on their side — they hadn’t lost to their opponent in 14 matches, and had won three successive games in Group B.
It didn’t make the best of starts though as in-form Danielle Wyatt-Hodge was out caught for 16, while Maia Bouchier was out for 14. Alice Capsey was also run out for one leaving England at 34-3 in 6.1 overs.
Nat Sciver-Brunt led the recovery with 57 not out off 50 balls, and put on 46 off 36 balls with skipper Heather Knight.
Knight sustained a calf injury during the innings and retired hurt for 21 off 13 balls. It took away momentum from England, with West Indies making a comeback through leg break bowler Afy Fletcher.
She picked 3-21 in four overs, and squeezed runs in the middle part of the English innings, as Sciver-Brunt looked for more support.
England went from 94-3 to 135-7 in the space of 30 deliveries, but still managed to put a fighting total on the board by scoring 31 runs in the final three overs.
West Indies came out swinging as Joseph opened the innings after a gap of two games and targeted the leg side with some big hits.
She hit six fours and two sixes to blow the English attack away. At the other end, Matthews attacked too, hitting seven fours and a six, as the duo scored a tournament-high 67-0 in the power play.
In all, they put on 102 runs off 74 balls for the first wicket. Sciver-Brunt got the breakthrough in the 13th over, while Sarah Glenn dismissed Matthews five balls later. Shemaine Campbell (5) was also run out to give England hope.
But Deandra Dottin continued the momentum with two fours and two sixes — scoring 27 off 19 balls — to help West Indies across the finish line with plenty to spare.
South Africa and New Zealand enjoy easy wins at Women’s T20 World Cup
- South Africa beat Bangladesh by seven wickets in Dubai and finished with six points from three wins and a loss in Group B
- New Zealand had an emphatic eight-wicket win over already-eliminated Sri Lanka in Group A at Sharjah
DUBAI: South Africa and New Zealand enjoyed easy wins at the Women’s T20 World Cup on Saturday to boost their bids for semifinal spots.
South Africa beat Bangladesh by seven wickets in Dubai and finished with six points from three wins and a loss in Group B. England and West Indies have four points each in the same group. England have two games left, West Indies one.
Earlier, New Zealand had an emphatic eight-wicket win over already-eliminated Sri Lanka in Group A at Sharjah.
Two teams advance from each group.
Opening batter Tazmin Brits top-scored with 42 runs off 41 balls as South Africa cruised to 107-3 with 16 balls to spare.
Bangladesh spinner Fahima Khatun (2-19) had skipper Laura Wolvaardt (7) stumped in the third over but Brits was well supported by Anneke Bosch, who scored a run-a-ball 25 as they put on a key second-wicket partnership of 53 runs.
Earlier, Marizanne Kapp (1-10) and the tournament’s leading wicket-taker Nonkululeko Mlaba(1-11), both in four overs, set up South Africa’s victory by restricting Bangladesh, who won the toss, to 106-3 on a slow surface of Dubai International Stadium.
Bangladesh batters couldn’t score freely against fast bowlers Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka and were restricted to 21-1 in the first six overs. Sobhana Mostary (38) and captain Nigar Sultana (32 not out) tried to push the scoring rate, but South African bowlers always looked in control in the latter half of the innings. Mostary hit four boundaries before she was bowled by Mlaba in the 18th over.
Bangladesh, who beat first-timer Scotland in the opening match of the tournament, lost three matches in a row and bowed out of the event with two points.
Plimmer leads NZ chase
New Zealand opener Georgia Plimmer led the chase with 53 and Amelia Kerr was brilliant with an unbeaten 34 and two wickets. New Zealand reached 118-2 with 15 balls remaining after limiting Sri Lanka to 115-5.
Asian champions Sri Lanka crossed the 100-run mark for the first time in the tournament but rounded off their below-par campaign with four straight losses in Group A.
Unbeaten group leaders and defending champions Australia have all but secured one semifinal berth. The other spot depends on if India beat Australia on Sunday then New Zealand’s last group match against contending Pakistan on Monday.
In an intense heat of 38 degrees, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu made 35 off 41 balls with five fours, but once Kerr bowled her in the 14th over, Sri Lanka struggled to hit boundaries in the death overs.
New Zealand struck through spinners Kerr (2-13) and Leigh Kasperek (2-27).
Plimmer’s second T20 50 came off 44 balls. Her and Suzie Bates (17) shared a 49-run opening stand. Plimmer holed out in the outfield and gave Athapaththu a consolation wicket.
Kerr scored better than a run-a-ball 34 with three boundaries, and captain Sophie Devine knocked off the winning runs with the only six of the game.
India sweep series against Bangladesh with 2nd highest T20I score powered by Samson’s ton
- India hit the most runs in boundaries in a T20I game, that included 22 sixes, their highest total in a T20 game, and 25 fours
- Samson put on 173 runs in 11 1/2 overs for the second wicket with Yadav that was India’s third highest partnership for any wicket in T20s
HYDERABAD, India: Sanju Samson smacked his first Twenty20 century off 40 balls as India beat Bangladesh in the third and final match by 133 runs to sweep the series 3-0 on Saturday.
Samson was out for 111 off 47 balls, including eight sixes and 11 fours.
He had help in Hyderabad from skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who hit a 35-ball 75. Hardik Pandya smacked 47 off only 18 as India finished at 297-6, the second highest total in T20 internationals and exceeded only by Nepal’s 314-3 against Mongolia in the 2023 Asia Cup.
India hit the most runs in boundaries in a T20I game. That included 22 sixes, their highest total in a T20 game, and 25 fours.
In reply, Bangladesh was restricted to 164-7. Towhid Hridoy was 63 not out off 42 deliveries, and Litton Das hit a 25-ball 42. Wrist spinner Ravi Bishnoi took 3-30 in four overs.
Opting to bat first, India lost opener Abhishek Sharma (4) early once again. It didn’t deter Samson though, who got going for once.
Samson raced to 50 off 22 balls, hitting two sixes and eight fours. His next 50 came off 18 deliveries — including another six sixes and three fours — in the second quickest T20 hundred by an India batter after Rohit Sharma’s 35-ball ton against Sri Lanka in 2017.
Samson put on 173 runs in 11 1/2 overs for the second wicket with Yadav. It was India’s third highest partnership for any wicket in T20s.
“The team management has backed me. I could have done much better (in previous matches), and it can get frustrating,” Samson said. “When you are playing for the country, it comes with a lot of pressure. But with experience, I learnt how to deal with pressure.”
The Tigers’ brief respite came from a floodlight failure in the ninth over, but it wasn’t enough. On resumption, player-of-the-match Samson smacked five sixes — 30 runs – off the next over bowled by wrist spinner Rishad Hossain.
Samson was finally caught in the 14th over, while Yadav had reached 50 off 23 balls. Overall, the India captain hit eight fours and five sixes, before falling in the next over.
India was then at 206-3 in 14.3 overs and it accelerated further thanks to a rapid 70-stand between Riyan Parag and Pandya.
Parag scored 34 off 13 but it was in-form Pandya who stole the show hitting four sixes and four fours.
In reply, Bangladesh was down to 59-3 in 5.2 overs. The top three didn’t contribute much, while Das propelled the innings. He hit eight fours.
Bishnoi became the second quickest Indian bowler to 50 T20I wickets, when Najmul Hossain Shanto (14) was caught behind. He also had Das out caught in the 12th over.
Das and Hridoy added 53 off 38 balls for the fourth wicket.
India had already sealed the series win with an 86-run victory in the second T20 on Wednesday. India won the first T20 in Gwalior by seven wickets. India swept the two-match Test series against Bangladesh 2-0.
Injury-hit Australia thrash ‘embarrassing’ Pakistan at Women’s T20 World Cup
- Spinner Ashleigh Gardner finished with figures of 4-21 in Dubai as six-time winners Australia bundled out Pakistan for 82 — the lowest team total in this edition
- Australia have been clinical in their three matches in Group A to extend their victory run in the tournament since 2020
DUBAI: Defending champions Australia hammered “embarrassing” Pakistan by nine wickets to extend their winning streak to 14 in the Women’s T20 World Cup and close in on a semifinal spot on Friday.
Spinner Ashleigh Gardner finished with figures of 4-21 in Dubai as six-time winners Australia bundled out Pakistan for 82 — the lowest team total in this edition.
Skipper Alyssa Healy hit 37 before retiring hurt as Australia romped home in 11 overs to stay unbeaten against Pakistan in the format.
Healy injured her leg while going for a second run and she walked off in pain, becoming the second player injured after quick bowler Tayla Vlaeminck dislocated her shoulder while fielding in the first over of the match.
“Alyssa sustained an acute right foot injury while running between wickets,” said a Cricket Australia statement.
“Once we have more information based on her assessment and scans tomorrow, her availability for the remainder of the tournament will be clearer.”
Vice-captain Tahlia McGrath said: “It has been a big day for us and heartbroken for the two girls. We will find out in a few days.”
“The thing about this Australian side is how much depth we have got, captaincy-wise and wicketkeeper-wise, yeah, time to use it.”
Australia have been clinical in their three matches in Group A to extend their victory run in the tournament since 2020.
Pakistan, whose semifinal hopes have been seriously hit with their second loss in three matches, suffered a big blow when captain Fatima Sana flew back home ahead of the match after the death of her father.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Muneeba Ali took charge.
Invited to bat first, Pakistan lost regular wickets after left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux dismissed Ali, for seven, and pace bowler Megan Schutt had Sadaf Shamas caught behind for three.
Middle-order batter Aliya Riaz offered some resistance with her 26 but fell to Gardner as Pakistan’s innings ended in 19.5 overs.
“We are not up to the mark in batting. That’s not how you approach T20 cricket, it’s embarrassing and we need to change that and win games for Pakistan,” said Ali.
“Everybody needs to step up and we need to have the confidence to win the last game.”
Australia started strongly with Beth Mooney hitting Sadia Iqbal for three boundaries in the third over before the bowler had revenge in the next.
Mooney was caught out for 15 but Healy took charge before being retired hurt.
Ellyze Perry, on 22, and player of the match Gardner, on seven, took the team home.
Australia next take on India in a much-awaited clash on Sunday in Sharjah.
New Zealand will face Sri Lanka on Saturday in a key Group A clash as they and India could be one of the two teams from this group to move into the semifinals.
West Indies beat Bangladesh to stay in Women’s T20 World Cup semifinals race
- Off-spinner Karishma Ramharack’s spell restricted Bangladesh to 103-8
- West Indies moved atop Group B with their second win in three games
SHARJAH: Off-spinner Karishma Ramharack took 4-17 as West Indies beat Bangladesh by eight wickets in the Women’s T20 World Cup on Thursday.
Ramharack’s spell restricted Bangladesh to 103-8. Skipper Hayley Matthews led the chase with 34 off 22 balls, hitting six boundaries, to help her side score 104-2 in 12.5 overs and boost their hopes of reaching the semifinals.
West Indies moved atop Group B with their second win in three games. They could still need another win in their final group game against England to qualify for the semis.
England have a game in hand; Scotland on Sunday, then West Indies on Tuesday.
Second-placed South Africa also need a win in their last group game against Bangladesh on Saturday to advance.
Tournament host Bangladesh have lost all three of their games.
Ramharack was in action early, and Bangladesh opener Shathi Rani was stumped for 9 and Dilara Akter was bowled on 19.
Shobana Mostary (16) revived the innings in a 40-run partnership with skipper Nigar Sultana, who top-scored with 39 off 44 balls.
Ramharack again provided the breakthrough, with Mostary stumped in the 13th over.
Bangladesh slumped, and leg-spinner Afy Fletcher took 2-25.
Sultana hit four fours but couldn’t generate any more momentum with the lower middle order, and Bangladesh had to settle for a below-par total despite a slow Sharjah track.
In reply, Matthews brought her power game in 52 off 45 balls for the first wicket with Stafanie Taylor.
Matthews provided the punchy start before she was bowled in the eighth over.
Taylor scored 27 off 29 balls, including three fours, before retiring hurt. It didn’t slow West Indies, however, as Shemaine Campbelle scored 21 off 16 balls and Deandra Dottin smacked an unbeaten 19 off seven balls, including two sixes.
