In today’s UK cricket sports news, learn more about a landmark report that concluded that racism, misogyny, elitism, and class-based discrimination are “widespread and deeply rooted” in English cricket. Meanwhile, The ICC confirmed the October 5-November 19 tournament’s scheduling on Tuesday, rejecting PCB’s request to avoid playing certain teams in Chennai and Bengaluru. Lastly, Logan van Beek’s bat and ball in the Super Over after Teja Nidamanuru’s 76-ball 111 matched Nicholas Pooran’s second consecutive ton stunned two-time champions West Indies in World Cup Qualifiers in Harare and won the game.
The Landmark Reports Calls English Cricket “Racist, Sexist, and Elitist”
Original Source: English cricket is ‘racist, sexist and elitist’, says landmark report
According to a groundbreaking analysis, English cricket is plagued by “widespread and deep-rooted” racism, misogyny, elitism, and class-based discrimination at all levels.
The 317-page report from the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (Icec) advises the sport to recognize “that it’s not banter or just a few bad apples” creating the issues.
The England and Wales Cricket Board apologized for its inaction on prejudice and called the report “a seminal moment” for the sport. It promised to address Icec’s 44 suggestions within three months.
Cindy Butts, Icec chair, said substantial change was needed immediately. She remarked, “Our findings are unequivocal.” Cricket’s institutions and processes are built on discrimination. It’s true that cricket isn’t for everyone.
Racism, classism, elitism, and sexism are pervasive. “The game must accept that it’s not banter or a few bad apples.”
The report, one of the most damning published evaluations of a British sports authority, exposes the game’s flaws.
Racism permeates cricket. The report notes, “It is not confined to ‘pockets’ or individual incidents of misconduct.” The Icec showed that 87% of Pakistani and Bangladeshi, 82% of Indian, and 75% of Black respondents had experienced discrimination.
Women’s teams are “frequently demeaned, stereotyped and treated as second-class” and marginalized. According to the article, the England women’s team has never played a Test at Lord’s.
“Private school and ‘old boys’ networks’ and cliques permeate the game to the exclusion of many,” cricket is “elitist and exclusionary”. State school youngsters were also called “peasants” or had their working class accent imitated, according to the report.
A “drinking and puerile lads’ culture” in the sport puts women at danger of unwanted attention and hinders Muslim involvement.
An ineffective, convoluted, and defensive complaints system. According to the report, victims “suffer in silence” because they think reporting abuse won’t help.
The report also criticizes the ECB for neglecting to recognize cricket’s racism until former Yorkshire player Azeem Rafiq revealed his mistreatment. It also wonders why the sport’s governing body did not address the drop-off of black players or the underrepresentation of state school graduates in professional cricket.
The research states, “At the playing level, private school educated players are disproportionately represented, to a significant extent, in England’s national teams, both men and women, compared with the general population. “Diversity of ethnic background has also decreased in the men’s professional game over the last 30 years, and has never been high in the women’s game.”
The Icec’s 44 suggestions are moderate to extreme. They ask for regular “culture” checks and several steps to combat racism, misogyny, and elitism. “Cricket must not find itself in the same position in another two years’ time let alone another twenty,” the report adds.
The Icec report also recommends an independent regulator to remove the ECB’s conflict of interest as promoter and regulator.
It also proposes replacing the annual Harrow versus Eton match and the Varsity game between Oxford and Cambridge with a state school under-15s competition and a university team finals day to make the sport more inclusive.
The paper notes, “Some people may roll their eyes at the perceived ‘wokeness’ of this work.” “However, as much as the word may have been weaponized in recent years, taking on a pejorative meaning, we consider – and it is often defined as such – that being ‘woke’ or doing ‘woke work’ simply means being alive to injustice.”
Butts was a Criminal Cases Review Commission commissioner and deputy chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority. She is a trustee of Kick it Out, a football anti-racism charity. Former Conservative prime minister Sir John Major wrote the report’s foreword.
Some ideas, such as considerably increasing state school athletes’ possibilities, may be monetarily difficult. The commission also observes that in 2021 England’s men cricketers received 13 times the amount given to England’s women cricketers and recommends equal pay at domestic and international levels by 2029 and 2030, respectively, which may be difficult to achieve.
The report commends the ECB for commissioning the report in March 2021 and notes the game’s recent advances, especially in recruiting more girls and women. The issues it identifies are “not, sadly, unique to cricket” and often reflect “deeply rooted societal problems.”
The ECB chair, Richard Thompson, acknowledged that the game needed to reform more. He remarked, “Cricket should be a game for everyone, and we know that this has not always been the case.”
The report’s powerful conclusions also show that women and black people were neglected for too long. We’re truly sorry. I’m determined not to waste this wake-up call for cricket in England and Wales.”
Pakistan’s Proposal to Move Two 2023 World Cup Matches to India is Denied by the ICC
Original Source: ICC rejects Pakistan’s request to relocate 2 World Cup 2023 matches in India
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is still hesitant about sending its side to India for the ODI World Cup, but the International Cricket Council (ICC) is “confident” that Babar Azam’s team would compete.
The ICC confirmed the October 5-November 19 tournament’s scheduling on Tuesday, rejecting PCB’s request to avoid playing certain teams in Chennai and Bengaluru.
PCB didn’t want to play Afghanistan on a spin-friendly track in Chennai or Australia in Benglauru.
In Mumbai, it was announced that Pakistan will play India in Ahmedabad on October 15 and Australia (October 20) and Afghanistan (October 23) at pre-determined locations.
The PCB announced that its ODI World Cup participation will require government approval shortly after the announcement.
“Our participation in the World Cup and us playing in Ahmedabad on October 15 or in Mumbai if we qualify for semi-finals will all be dependent on government clearance,” a PCB official said.
The PCB official said the government has not yet provided a NOC to travel to India, and as it was a delicate topic, the Board can only move forward after having clear orders.
“We have already informed the ICC that our participation in the tournament or any issues over venues is linked to firstly the PCB getting clearance from the government to travel to India,” added the official.
The ICC “100% expects them to be there and has had no indications to the contrary” because Pakistan has a signed participation agreement.
“All members must follow their country’s laws, and we respect that. An ICC spokeswoman told PTI, “We’re confident Pakistan will be in India for the men’s cricket World Cup.”
The 2016 T20 World Cup saw Pakistan play in India. Due to tight relations, the two teams play each other in ICC and Asia Cup events.
Pakistan’s request to shift two matches was expected since the ICC normally tackles venue concerns on security grounds, not cricketing grounds.
The Board’s reaction to the World Cup schedule announcement is unknown since the PCB chairman election has been postponed until July 17.
Pakistan cricket is in disarray after the Balochistan High Court issued a stay order on Monday on the Chairman’s election on petitions submitted by two former PCB cricket management committee members.
Netherlands Beat West Indies in Super Over Thriller
Original Source: World Cup Qualifiers: Netherlands clinch Super Over thriller to put West Indies on the brink
After Teja Nidamanuru’s 76-ball 111 matched Nicholas Pooran’s second consecutive century, Netherlands defeated two-time champions West Indies in World Cup Qualifiers in Harare on Monday.
After losing to the Dutch, West Indies must work hard to qualify for the ODI World Cup.
After Pooran’s unbeaten 104 took West Indies to 374 for 6, Nidamanuru’s blitz allowed Netherlands to draw the game and force a Super Over in the high-scoring match.
In the super over, Logan van Beek hit three fours and two sixes to score 30 runs. He then limited West Indies to eight off five balls by dismissing Johnson Charles and Romario Shepherd to complete an incredible win.
“I’m at a loss.” Van Beek added, “We wanted something special.”
“I’ve played for years.” I’ve lost so many games from those situations, it felt satisfying to win.”
“Now we have a chance to go to the World Cup in India, and that is really huge,” he said.
Pooran scored an unbeaten 104 off 65 balls after openers Brandon King (76) and Charles (54) all scored half-centuries as the West Indies posted a big total batting first.
King and Charles opened with a 101-run partnership. Shai Hope and Pooran added 47 before Keemo Paul hit 46 not out.
The Netherlands reached 76 without loss to start the chase, but Nidamanuru and skipper Scott Edwards (67) came together to give them a chance.
Van Beek and Aryan Dutt took up the gauntlet after falling in consecutive overs, but they failed with five runs needed off the last five balls and the finish line clearly in sight.
Van Beek burst in the super over after failing to close it out off Alzarri Joseph’s final ball, putting the West Indies in serious danger of missing the World Cup.
“We let ourselves down,” admitted West Indies skipper Hope.
“We understand now. “It’s a shame.”
The Netherlands advance as runners-up of Group A, but the West Indies start with zero and must win against Scotland, Oman, and Sri Lanka.
Summary of Today’s Cricket Sports News
Overall, historical analysis shows “widespread and deep-rooted” sexism, racism, elitism, and classism throughout all tiers of English cricket, calling for quick change.
Based on interviews with more than 4,000 cricketers, managers, and spectators, the 317-page Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (Icec) report recommends that cricketers acknowledge “that it’s not banter or just a few bad apples” behind the problems plaguing the sport.
On the other hand, The ICC is “confident” that Pakistan would send a team to the 50-over World Cup in India, which will be led by Babar Azam and the PCB.
On Tuesday, the ICC released the schedule for the event, which will take place between October 5 and November 19. The ICC denied PCB’s request to avoid playing specific teams in Chennai and Bengaluru.
Finally, The Netherlands won the Super Over thriller, bringing the West Indies dangerously close to defeat. After suffering an unexpected loss to the Dutch, West Indies’ chances of making the ODI World Cup have been greatly diminished. Group A’s runner-up, the Netherlands, will advance with two points, while the West Indies will begin with zero and need to overcome Scotland, Oman, and Sri Lanka just to have a chance.