Ex-cricketers in UK face sanctions over racism against Pakistani teammate

Azeem Rafiq alleged Yorkshire County Cricket Club covered up his complaints. (FILE/AFP)
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Updated 03 May 2023
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Ex-cricketers in UK face sanctions over racism against Pakistani teammate

  • Azeem Rafiq alleged Yorkshire County Cricket Club covered up his complaints

LONDON: Six former cricket players in the UK are set to be sanctioned today following a hearing that confirmed their use of racist language against Pakistani teammates, The Independent reported.

The ex-Yorkshire cricketers — John Blain, Tim Bresnan, Andrew Gale, Matthew Hoggard, Richard Pyrah and Gary Ballance — used the term “Paki” to refer to teammate Azeem Rafiq as well as other individuals, a hearing on March 31 found.

The independent Cricket Discipline Commission panel will take the players’ own accounts of the incidents into consideration before issuing the sanctions at a hearing on Wednesday.

Hoggard, a former England player, used the term “Paki” toward Rafiq, as well as the nickname “Rafa the Kaffir” during the 2008 season.

He also labeled former Yorkshire teammate Ismail Dawood the “token black man” of the team.

Gale, a former Yorkshire captain and head coach, was also discovered to have used the same terms against Rafiq as well as Yorkshire academy player Mosun Hussain.

Blain, in 2010 and/or 2011 while at Yorkshire, also used the racist term, while Bresnan and Pyrah had labeled Pakistani women as “fit Pakis.”

As of Tuesday afternoon, only Ballance — who already admitted to using racist or discriminatory language — had submitted a personal account of the incidents.

The other five former players did not appear before the March hearing and had withdrawn from proceedings.

The panel has the power to impose playing suspensions and fines, as well as mandatory training courses.

Yorkshire County Cricket Club, the team at the center of the racism storm, admitted to four charges relating to allegations leveled by Rafiq, who claimed that the club had tried to cover up his complaints.

The club itself will face a separate sanctions hearing on June 27.


West Indies beat Bangladesh to stay in Women’s T20 World Cup semifinals race

Updated 11 October 2024
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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.


‘Yes, no, wait, sorry’: Anatomy of a run out

Updated 10 October 2024
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‘Yes, no, wait, sorry’: Anatomy of a run out

  • Convention has it that the batter on strike calls for a run if he or she has full vision of the ball

In the recent ICC Women’s T20 World Cup match between New Zealand and India, a bizarre incident occurred.

Amelia Kerr of New Zealand played the last ball of the 14th over to wide long off and took a single. The ball was in the hands of Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s captain. At that point, the umpire handed the bowler her cap, usually a sure sign that the end of the over has been called. Undeterred, the batters, presumably ignorant of the fact that the bowler’s cap had been returned, tried to steal a run. Kaur threw the ball to the wicket keeper, who ran out Kerr.

She headed off to the dugout, convinced of her dismissal, but was stopped by the fourth umpire. After some discussion, the umpires ruled that the ball was dead when the dismissal occurred. Kaur was incensed and had to be restrained, but the letter of the law was upheld. Observers were unanimous in saying that they had not seen anything like it before.

While this was a run-out attempt that failed, it generated a degree of drama, something common to this method of dismissal, since it can involve an error of judgment by not just one, but two people. Some batters are “bad runners.” This reflects their tendency to be a poor judge of when a run is possible, or not. It is conventional that the batter on strike calls for a run if he or she has full vision of the ball. If the ball is out of vision, the responsibility for calling falls to the non-striker.

A number of factors must be computed very quickly in a batter’s head when deciding if both parties can reach the other crease before the ball is returned by the fielder to the stumps. These include the speed at which the ball has been hit, how close it is to the fielder, the competency of the fielder in gathering and returning the ball at speed, underfoot conditions, the running speed of the two batters and the state of the match in terms of level of risk worth taking.

Denis Compton was a debonair, dashing, English batter whose best years were between 1946 and 1950. During this time, he scored 14,641 runs with 60 centuries in county cricket and for England, also finding time to play 250 matches for Arsenal, including the win over Liverpool in the 1950 FA Cup final. One of his English cricket colleagues remarked that “a call for a run from Compton should be treated as no more than a basis for negotiation.” Maybe this was the origin of “Yes, no, wait, sorry.”

There have been others afflicted with similarly impaired judgment. Inzamam-ul-Haq was a notoriously leaden-footed runner. An example occurred in the group stage of the 1992 ODI World Cup when Pakistan, chasing 212 to win against South Africa, were 135 for 2. Inzamam, on 48 from 43 balls, pushed the ball to point, set off for a run but was sent back by his captain, Imran Khan, who recognised the danger. But the world’s finest fielder was lurking, Jonty Rhodes swooped, flung himself horizontally, simultaneously releasing the ball, which broke the wicket. Pakistan folded to 173 all out.   

South African players have featured in other disastrous run-out incidents. At Edgbaston in the semi-final of the 1999 ODI World Cup, Australia were restricted to 213. With 39 deliveries remaining, South Africa required 31 runs, with four wickets in hand. The equation was reduced to nine runs in the last over, only one wicket remaining. Lance Klusener hit the first two balls for four. The field was brought in, Klusener hit the ball straight to a fielder, his partner had moved far out of his crease and a direct hit to his stumps would have led to a run-out.

The next ball was also hit straight to fielder, this time Klusener ran, but his partner did not, until too late. The match was tied. Australia progressed to the final by virtue of having beaten South Africa in the group stage.

No consideration of run-outs would be complete without reference to Geoffrey Boycott. In 1977, back in the England team after a self-imposed exile, he was batting at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, with local hero Derek Randall, who had never made a century in a Test match on his home ground. Randall had settled his nerves in making 13 when Boycott tried to play the ball into the off side, set off for a run only to find that the ball had gone straight back to the bowler. Boycott continued running to the non-striker’s end, Randall sprinted to the other end but was already doomed. The locals booed — I know, I was there — while Boycott stood with gloved hand over his face. He later wrote that “if the ground had opened and swallowed me at that moment it would have been a mercy.”

In January 1978, the tables were turned when Randall ran out Boycott in Pakistan, the latter remarking that he could not complain after Nottingham. The following month, Boycott captained England in New Zealand. In the second innings of the second Test quick runs were needed to seize the initiative. Boycott, in poor form, could not provide them. It is rumoured that senior team members decided that he should be deliberately run out. This responsibility fell to a young Ian Botham and he did not disappoint, to the chagrin of his captain.

Probably the most famous run-out in the game’s history occurred in Brisbane in 1961. When the last over of the match began, Australia, with three wickets left, needed six runs to beat the West Indies. Five runs were scored, but two wickets lost, one to a run-out. On the penultimate ball, the last pair set off for the winning run. The fielder, Joe Solomon, side on to the stumps, threw the ball, which hit the wicket with the scores level. The match was tied, the first ever in Tests.

These examples demonstrate that a run-out has the capacity to generate mixed and varied emotions. Tragic, even farcical lows, as experienced by the South Africans and Randall, are balanced by the incredulity of Australians and West Indians snatching unlikely victories. Victims and perpetrators of chaotic run-outs rarely forget the experience.


Run blitz edges India and South Africa closer to Women's T20 World Cup semifinals

Updated 10 October 2024
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Run blitz edges India and South Africa closer to Women's T20 World Cup semifinals

  • India made a tournament high of 172-3 from their 20 overs before Sri Lanka were dismissed for 90 off the penultimate ball of the match
  • South Africa chalked up 166-5 in their 20 overs before the Scots, playing in their first World Cup, were bowled out for 86

DUBAI: India and South Africa piled up the two highest totals at the Women’s T20 World Cup on Wednesday to stay on track for the semifinals.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and opener Smriti Mandhana hit half-centuries as India defeated Sri Lanka by 82 runs.

India made a tournament high of 172-3 from their 20 overs before Sri Lanka were dismissed for 90 off the penultimate ball of the match.

Earlier, South Africa produced a superb all-round performance to thrash Scotland by 80 runs.

South Africa chalked up 166-5 in their 20 overs before the Scots, playing in their first World Cup, were bowled out for 86.

India now have two wins in three games ahead of their final Group A match with six-time champions Australia on Sunday.

The top two teams from each of the five-nation pools make the semifinals.

Mandhana made 50 from 38 balls with four fours and a six to register her 27th T20 international 50.

She also shared a 98-run opening stand with Shafali Verma (43) before Kaur put on a blistering display of shotmaking.

The captain reached her 13th half-century in the format off 27 balls and finished undefeated on 52 with eight boundaries and a six.

Just as important for India, Kaur showed little effect of the neck injury she had suffered in the win over Pakistan at the weekend.

“It was one of those days when I was in my zone, whenever ball was in my zone, I went hard. I was only thinking about positives,” said Kaur.

In reply, Asian champions Sri Lanka collapsed to 6-3 inside three overs before Kavisha Dilhari (21) and Anushka Sanjeewani (20) put on 37 for the fourth wicket.

But they always struggled to keep up the run rate with Ama Kanchana (19) the only other player to reach double figures.

For India, fast bowler Arundhati Reddy and leg-spinner Asha Sobhana returned identical figures of 3-19 in their four overs.

“We struggled even in the bowling. We dropped catches. We didn’t bowl in the right areas. Batters including me didn’t do a good job. We have to rethink what we have to do and bounce back,” said disconsolate Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu.

The result means that Sri Lanka have no chance of making the semifinals after three defeats.

Scotland are also out of contention after suffering a third loss in three games.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, South Africa chalked up 166-5 in their 20 overs with captain Laura Wolvaardt (40), Tazmin Brits (43) and Marizanne Kapp (43) all feasting on some weak bowling and poor fielding.

Scotland were never in the chase and slumped to 86 all out in 17.5 overs.

“We felt the best chance to win the game was to put a lot of runs on the board and restrict them,” said Wolvaardt.

“We wanted to be ruthless and show what we are about and kill it off the way we did.”

The win lifts South Africa, beaten by Australia in the final of the 2023 edition, to the top of Group B.

Scotland made life hard for themselves, dropping a simple chance when Wolvaardt was on just two.

The skipper made them pay as she clubbed five fours and a six in her 27-ball 40.

Brits hit five fours and a six in her 43 while Kapp smashed her 43 off just 23 balls, enough to give her the player of the match award.

Nonkululeko Mlaba was the most successful of the South African bowlers, picking up 3-12 in her four overs.

South Africa play their final group game against Bangladesh in Dubai on Saturday, knowing that a win will give them a great chance of reaching the semifinals.


Australia post dominant 60-run win over New Zealand in Women’s T20 World Cup

Updated 09 October 2024
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Australia post dominant 60-run win over New Zealand in Women’s T20 World Cup

  • Australia scored the tournament’s second-highest total — 148-8 in 20 overs — thanks to Beth Mooney’s 40 off 32 balls
  • It was New Zealand’s third-highest margin of defeat in women’s T20s

SHARJAH, UAE: Megan Schutt took three wickets for just three runs off 20 deliveries as Australia secured a rampant 60-run win over New Zealand in their Group A clash at the Women’s T20 World Cup.

Schutt’s return was the most economical three-wicket spell in tournament history, surpassing England’s Danielle Hazell’s 3-4 against Bangladesh in 2014.

This was after Australia scored the tournament’s second-highest total — 148-8 in 20 overs — thanks to Beth Mooney’s 40 off 32 balls.

In reply, New Zealand was bowled out for 88 runs in 19.2 overs with medium pace pairing Schutt and Annabel Sutherland sharing six wickets.

Sutherland took 3-21 in four overs, as Australia moved to the top of Group A with two wins in as many games.

Australia opted to bat after winning the toss as Mooney put on 41 runs with Alyssa Healy, who scored 26 runs.

Mooney added another 45 off 48 balls with Ellyze Perry, who scored 30 off 24 balls, hitting three fours and a six.

Perry’s knock provided momentum for Australia, despite Mooney being caught by all-rounder Amelia Kerr.

Kerr finished with 4-26 in four overs, picking up a couple late wickets, but couldn’t prevent Australia from putting up a challenging total.

Chasing 149, New Zealand lost Georgia Plimmer early — bowled off Schutt for four.

Kerr contributed 29 off 31 balls, hitting three fours, and put on 47 runs for the second wicket. It raised visions of a Kiwi fightback, before left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux made a double breakthrough.

Molineux broke the partnership in the 11th over and New Zealand crashed to defeat within 42 deliveries, losing nine wickets for 27 runs.

Only Lea Tahuhu (11) managed to reach double figures thereafter, as Australia registered their 13th consecutive win in Women’s T20 World Cups.

It was also New Zealand’s third-highest margin of defeat in women’s T20s.


Bangladesh’s Mahmudullah announces T20 retirement

Updated 08 October 2024
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Bangladesh’s Mahmudullah announces T20 retirement

  • The 38-year-old Mahmudullah, who quit Tests in 2021, is set to play his 140th T20 match for Bangladesh in the second game in New Delhi on Wednesday
  • “I am retiring from T20 cricket after the last game of this series,” Mahmudullah told reporters

NEW DELHI: Former Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah Riyad said Tuesday his remaining two T20 matches in India will be his last international appearance in the format, vowing to play out with a “good show.”
The 38-year-old Mahmudullah, who quit Tests in 2021, is set to play his 140th T20 match for Bangladesh in the second game in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The tourists need to win in the Indian capital to keep the three-match series alive, after they lost the opener by seven wickets in Gwalior.
“I am retiring from T20 cricket after the last game of this series,” Mahmudullah told reporters.
The final match of the series will be in Hyderabad on Saturday.
“I was pre-decided before coming here. I had a chat with my family and with my coach and captain,” Mahmudullah added.
“It is the right time to move on from this format for me and the team as well and concentrate on the one-day game.”
Mahmudullah has been Bangladesh’s warhorse after he made his international debut in 2007 in a one-day international against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
He has played 50 Tests, 232 ODIs and 139 T20 matches for his country with over 10,500 runs across formats as a dependable middle-order batsman and 165 wickets with his off-spin.
“If we can play to our ability (in Delhi), then we could put up a good show,” he said.
Mahmudullah said he had “no regrets” in his 17-year career.
“I have never ever regretted, at any stage at any point of my life, playing for Bangladesh,” he said. “I have always been a team man.”
The veteran said the T20 team remains in good hands under skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto.
Mahmudullah’s T20 exit comes soon after star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan announced his decision to quit the format last month during the Test series, which the tourists lost 2-0.
India’s left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh meanwhile said he was making the most of his opportunities in the national team without thinking much about the future.
“My life mantra is to enjoy the present,” Arshdeep, who made his India debut in 2022, told reporters.
“I want to do my best in all the formats wherever I get the opportunity.”
Arshdeep, who has claimed 86 wickets in 55 T20 internationals, played in India’s T20 World Cup triumph in June.