Mohammad Saifuddin set to miss home series against Pakistan

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

In very shocking sets of events West Indian skipper, Kieron Pollard retired to get Andre Russell on the crease in an attempt to increase the run rate of the struggling Caribbean side in a Super 12 match against Bangladesh. But Russell got run out without even facing a ball as a straight drive from Roston Chase hit bowler Taskin Ahmed on the legs and ricocheted to the stumps. It is still not clear as to why Pollard retired, but as per the commentators, it was either a tactical decision to score runs quickly, or a decision taken because he had an upset stomach. Anyhow, just after the end of the 13th over, in the very next over, Bangladesh returned the favours and dropped two dolly chances to dismiss Chase and Nicholas Pooran. While Mahedi Hasan dropped a sitter at mid-wicket off the bowling Shakib Al Hasan, Liton das missed a stumping of Pooran on the very next ball. When Pollard returned to the dressing room, he was batting on eight runs of 16 balls. At the end of 15 overs, West Indies were 84-4 after being sent to bat first by Mahmudullah who won the toss.

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.