T20 World Cup | Kieron Pollard voluntarily walks off the pitch after struggling against Bangladesh

Yorkshire takes no action on Azeem Rafiq racial abuse issue, devastated cricketer wants ECB to step up

The Yorkshire County Cricket Club in a shocking statement said that no current employee or player could be held responsible for seven counts of racial abuse met to its former captain Azeem Rafiq. This statement comes after the club apologised to Rafiq in August this year, confirming that the player was indeed subjected to inappropriate behaviour. But not holding anyone responsible for the crime is one thing that most of the people and the player himself are unable to digest. In its official statement, the Yorkshire administration mentioned that it has sent the full copy of the report to England and Wales Cricket Board to support in board’s independent enquiry into the matter. It further said that after the independent committee, which comprised of seven members and investigated the matter for a year after Rafiq raised the issue in early 2020, the club also carried out its own investigation. “The Club has also carried out their own internal investigation following the findings in the Report after which they are able to report that they have come to the conclusion that there is no conduct or action taken by any of its employees, players or Executives that warrants disciplinary action,” it said. “None of this diminishes the importance of the findings or that fact that there is much the Club can learn from the Report. It was important for Azeem to raise the issues and without him doing so we would not have the Panel’s recommendations which are an important part of the Clubs continuing journey,” the statement further added. Naturally, Rafiq was shaken by such a baseless and out of the blue announcement by the club to not hold anyone responsible for a crime that they admitted was committed. In a series of Tweets, the former county cricketer and England U-19 captain let his anger out. "Wow, just when you think this club couldn't get more embarrassing, you find a way," Rafiq tweeted. "Still awaiting the FULL report. Thanks for mentioning the people that have provided your PROTECTION & give green light to RACISM. Interesting timing again,” he said n another tweet, trying to implicate the fact that half the enquiry committee members were Asian and still they couldn’t find anybody guilty of the racism that they themselves admitted happened. Rafeeq’s spokesman said that it was time that Yorkshire board members did at least something good and resigned voluntarily for the crimes they have committed. "It is inconceivable that there are no current employees who should not have been disciplined for their conduct. Yorkshire's failures continue to mount up and it is time that board members - for once - do the decent thing and resign,” said the spokesperson. The ECB acknowledged that they have received the full report from Yorkshire and are going to investigate the matter thoroughly. "This is a matter with many serious allegations at its heart and the ECB’s regulatory team will now consider the Report as part of its investigation. We anticipate that it will take time for the regulatory process to reach its conclusion, but it is imperative that this is completed thoroughly and with fairness to all involved,” the board said.

Arun Jaitley’s son Rohan elected DDCA Prez, former CM’s son elected Secretary

In what was a foregone conclusion even before the elections in the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association, incumbent President Rohan Jaitley, son of former Finance Minister of India, late Arun Jaitley was re-elected as the Association president. He defeated senior advocate Vikas Singh by a massive margin of 996 votes. While Jaitley polled 1658 votes, Singh could only get 662. In another former politician’s son getting the big-ticket, Delhi’s former Chief Minister late Saheb Singh Verma’s son and former first-class player Siddharth Verma claimed the secretary's post. His was a close fight against corruption-tainted Vinod Tihara for the position. On two other posts too, it was the victory of nepotism as a former India player and Delhi legend as well as a Member of Parliament, Gautam Gambhir's maternal uncle Pawan Ghulati was elected treasurer of DDCA while former BCCI acting president CK Khanna's wife Shashi Khanna retained her vice-president's post. "It is a great victory for me personally. I would like to extend all my co-operation towards Rohan and work for the betterment of Delhi cricket. I have been a cricketer and working for their cause would be the priority," Siddarth Verma, a first-time office-bearer in the administrative department was quoted as saying by PTI.

When you ride the highs, you've got to ride the lows: David Warner after regaining form in T20 World Cup

Australia opener David Warner finally got back to some form after hitting 65 off 42 balls against Sri Lanka in a Super 12 clash in the ongoing T20 World Cup in UAE. It was the southpaw’s first-ever score of 50 since coming to UAE at the start of the second leg of the Indian Premier League in September. Asked whether it was a good enough knock to shut the critics who have been making a point to dissect every Warner innings as low and slow and lacking confidence even during the warm-up games, the New South Wales man said that he doesn’t believe in shutting critics. "Shutting the critics down? No, never. That's the world of sport. When you ride the highs, you've got to ride the lows and you've got to stay confident, keep a smile on your face, and never let it get to you,” said Warner in the post-match press conference after Australia’s seven-wicket win over the Lankans while chasing down 155. Tackling Maheesh Theekshana, the mystery spinner who has a good combination of carrom ball and traditional off-spin was not going to be easy for a left-hander. But Warner said that he had a plan and was glad that it came off. "When they're [off spinners] coming over the wicket, they've obviously got their carrom ball to come straight down the line. For me, it's actually a low-risk shot to go with the spin and because you've only got two [fielders] out to protect, you've got to back yourself. It's a shot that I favour. You've got to apply pressure and that's how I start my innings against spin," he said. "I got criticised when I got out to Ashwin in the practice game playing the same shot. We know which bowlers are bowling what, we know where the fields are and we know how to try and apply pressure. If it comes off, it comes off,” the 35-year-old added. Warner getting back to form is crucial in the sense that Australia now play arch-rivals England in the Super 12 clash on Saturday in Dubai and looking at the kind of form the English are in, it would be nothing short of sensational.

Playing T20 World Cup final against India will be good for relations between neighbours: Saqlain Mushtaq

Pakistan interim coach Saqlain Mushtaq feels that if India and Pakistan play in the T20 World Cup 2021 final, it would be a huge occasion, not only for both the teams, but for the International Cricket Council, cricket fans across the world and especially for relations between the two neighbours. "If India makes it to the final with us, it would be a great thing because I feel -- and this is not because we became big-headed after beating them -- but because they are a strong team, everyone considers them a favourite,” Mushtaq said in a pre-match press conference in Dubai ahead of his side’s clash against Afghanistan. “If India comes in the final, then it would be very good for the ICC, fans around the world and for world cricket -- everyone will enjoy it. They are our neighbouring country and playing one more match would only improve our relations,” added the former off-spinner, who is also credited to have invented Doosra. Talking about his team’s preparedness against the Mohammad Nabi led side who beat Scotland comprehensively in their opening game, Mushtaq said that they are not taking the Afghans lightly whatsoever. "It's a strong unit. We can't really say that it's very easy and you will roll over them. It's not like that. They have a wonderful bowling attack, especially the spinners. When they bat, they just play, the way they feel it, what's in their heart, what they think. They just go and execute the plan. They just play a sort of fearless cricket and I think that kind of team can be dangerous,” said the 44-year-old who was given the job to handle the team after Misbah-Ul-Haq resigned from the position of head coach of the Pakistan unit just ahead of the World Cup in September.