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Brendan Taylor banned under ICC Anti-Corruption Code and Anti-Doping Code
Aamir Ali Janjua
DUBAI:- Former Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor has been banned from all cricket for three and a half years after he accepted breaching four charges of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code and, separately, one charge of the ICC Anti-Doping Code.
Taylor admitted to being in breach of the following provisions of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code:
Article 2.4.2 – Failing to disclose (without unnecessary delay) the receipt of any gift, payment, hospitality or other benefit that (a) the participant knew or should have known was given to them to procure a breach of the Code or (b) that was made or given in circumstances that could bring the participant or the sport of cricket into disrepute.
Article 2.4.3 - Failing to disclose to the ACU (without unnecessary delay) receipt of gifts/hospitality with a value of US$750 or more regardless of the circumstances in which they were given.
Article 2.4.4 – Failing to disclose to the ACU (without unnecessary delay) full details of the approach received to engage in corrupt conduct under the Code including in relation to Zimbabwe’s then upcoming series against Sri Lanka and/or Bangladesh.
Article 2.4.7 – obstructing or delaying an ACU investigation, including concealing, tampering with or destroying any documentation or other information that may be relevant to that investigation and / or that may be evidence of or may lead to the discovery of evidence of corrupt conduct under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.
Mr Taylor chose to admit the charges under the provisions of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code and agreed a sanction with the ICC in lieu of an Anti-Corruption Tribunal hearing.
His violation under the ICC Anti-Doping Code, which is separate and independent of the anti-corruption charges, resulted from an In-Competition test conducted on 8 September 2021 following Zimbabwe’s match against Ireland. Mr Taylor tested positive for the stimulant Benzoylecognine, a cocaine metabolite, which is specified as a Substance of Abuse under the Code.
Taylor has accepted a one-month period of ineligibility for the violation under Article 2.1 – the minimum allowed under the Code. Mr Taylor’s period of ineligibility was reduced to one month because he was able to establish that he had ingested the substance out of competition, that it was unrelated to sport performance, and because he is currently undergoing a rehabilitation treatment programme.
This one-month suspension will run concurrently with the suspension of three and a half years under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code. Mr Taylor will be free to resume his involvement in the game on 28 July 2025.
Alex Marshall, ICC General Manager – Integrity Unit, said: “Brendan is a former international captain who represented Zimbabwe for 17 years. Over such a long career, he participated in numerous anti-corruption and anti-doping education sessions and knew exactly what his obligations were under the ICC Anti-Corruption and Anti-Doping Codes.
“It is disappointing that a player of his experience chose not to fulfil those obligations, however he has accepted all charges, which has been reflected in the sanction. I would echo Brendan’s message to other players to report approaches as soon as they happen so any corrupt activity can be disrupted at the earliest possible opportunity. We wish Brendan well in his rehabilitation.”
Mother pleasantly surprised at her son's bowling analysis in his first U-19 World Cup match
Bipin Dani
Which parents would not be glad to see their son grabbing 5 wickets and giving away only 10 runs in less than 10 overs ?
Vinuja Ranpul's mother glued before the TV on Thursday night and was "pleasantly surprised" to watch her son showing bowling skill in the U-19 QF match against Afghanistan in Antigua.
"(I was surprised) because my son is a batting all-rounder. He is the one down batsman of Nalanda College 1st XI team and scored unbeaten 119 runs and 3 half centuries in the previous U19 school tournament. He was the 5th most run getter in that whole school tournament as well", the mother Deepani Rane, who is a lawyer by profession, said exclusively over the telephone from Sri Lanka.
"Representing his first match in the ICC U-19 World Cup as a bowling all-rounder, I see this as an opportunity to improve his bowling skills too", the mother added.
Vinuja's father Upul Vithanage is a sea-man (now sailing from Scotland to St. Juan Portico). The sailor with Evergas Company had also played cricket for some extent representing the BRC club Sri Lanka. Vinuja was influenced by his father.
His only sister is a 3rd year medical student studying at Faculty of Medicine, Karapitiya, Sri Lanka.
Mahela's pep-talk
Obviously, the entire team was disappointed on losing the match after performing so well till this stage.
Mahela, the team consultant, did console the players, though, one of the sources in Antigua confirmed. "He gave his own example of his playing days when his team lost four times out of five after reaching the final but ultimately won", one of the sources in Antigua confirmed.
South African players De Kock, van der Dussen gain big in ICC ODI Player Rankings
Sports Bulletin
ISLAMABAD:-South Africa batters Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen have made huge gains in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings after helping their team complete a memorable 3-0 series win over India.
De Kock is in the top five for the first time since the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 after aggregating 229 runs that included a match-winning 124 in the final match in Cape Town. The wicketkeeper-batter has moved up four places after his Player of the Series effort.
Van der Dussen, who scored 218 runs, has advanced 10 places to reach a career-best 10th position. Captain Temba Bavuma has also made huge progress, reaching a career-best 59th position from 80th before the latest weekly update which also includes the Afghanistan-Netherlands series and the last match of the Sri Lanka-Zimbabwe series.
Opener Shikhar Dhawan, the leading scorer for India against South Africa with 169 runs, has moved up one place to 15th in the list led by Pakistan captain Babar Azam with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in second and joint-third positions, respectively. Rishabh Pant is up five places to 82nd.
Afghanistan batter Rahmat Shah’s aggregate of 153 runs against the Netherlands has lifted him seven places to joint-36th while Hashmatullah Shahidi is up nine places to 53rd. For the Netherlands, Scott Edwards’s series-topping 208 runs see him move up 97 places to 100th. Charith Asalanka of Sri Lanka is another one to progress, from 52nd to a career-best 46th position.
South Africa’s bowlers too have significant gains in Wednesday’s update. Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi is back in the top 20 after five wickets in the series and spinner Keshav Maharaj is at a career-best 33rd position. Andile Phehlukwayo is up seven places to 52nd after taking six wickets in the series.
In the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings, England batter Jason Roy’s 45-run knock in the second match against the West Indies has helped him move up one place to 15th while West Indies’ Brandon King is up 28 places to 88th thanks to his unbeaten 52 in the first match.
In the bowlers’ list, Jason Holder is up to a career-best 26th following his haul of four for seven that won him the Player of the Match award in the first match. His team-mate Akeal Hosein bowled economically to gain 40 places and reach 33rd after the first two matches.
Let Vamika grow in her own way
Bipin Dani
Indian sociologists have come in support of Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, who have requested the fans not to circulate their daughter Vamika's photo on social media.
Cameras were zoomed in on Anushka holding the baby in the arm when former captain Kohli reached 50 in the 3rd and final ODI against South Africa on Sunday.
"Any post made public is bound to have repercussions, and if you are celebrities, like Virat and Anushka, it will be followed by a large number of people reacting to it. Requesting them to social media to respect their privacy and not click, share or upload the pics of their little daughter was fine and totally their personal matter", Prof. Abha Chauhan, President, Indian Sociological Society (ISS), says.
Adding further, she says, "Beyond that it should be just a normal way of leading life, even cheering at the match, or being clicked at times, could be a usual way of growing up for a child of the two celebrities".
"The couple didn’t need to justify or sound apologetic about not being aware of the camera on them during the one-day international match between India and South Africa. The comments and counter-comments, now and before, from their fans and others, many of them making fun and some demeaning, were not in a good spirit".
"Socialization of a child is a contextual process, it depends on where and to whom you are born. There are thousands of children in our country who need care and attention, but are completely ignored by the media. Why make some children more special than others, by either protecting them too much or exposing them a lot? Either way, the children of the celebrities will be susceptible to focus and remain the center of attraction. Just let them be…and just let them enjoy the status which they have inherited, normally and naturally!
"If they don't want to bring the photos and other personal details of their daughter on social media, as an ethically and morally responsible persons, we should refrain from posting their personal details. It will provide a better chance, free from the dazzling lives of celebrities, of growing up and socialization to the daughter of Virat and Anushka",
However, it is to be noted here that ex-captain Dhoni and his wife Sakshi have also portrayed their daughter Ziva in public domain.
Prof. Manish K. Verma, the secretary. of the Association says, "No matter other celebrities have 'chosen' to make their personal life public by showcasing the photographs and other details of their spouse and children on social media, it is strictly the decision of Virat and Anushka that what they want with regard to their daughter and how they want to groom her", the sociologist adds.
Former Sri Lankan captain Aravinda de Silva invited at an ICC event in Australia
Bipin Dani
Former Sri Lanka captain and a member of the 1996 World Cup winning team Aravinda de Silva, who is now in Australia on a personal visit, was invited at the launch of the fixtures of the ICC Men's T-20 World Cup to be played there later this year.
This was revealed by Sri Lanka-born Vernon Tissera, who now works as an event photographer with Sports N News channel in Australia.
The ceremony which was held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where the final this year is scheduled to be played on November 13, was also attended by Aaaron Finch, Australia's 2021 T-20 World Cup winning captain, Adam Gilchrist and Michael Hussey and England's Michael Vaughan.
Members of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) also discussed with the participants about the possible outcome of this year's final.
While describing his feelings for winning the 50-Over World Cup in 1996, the former captain also expressed confidence in the present young team of Sri Lanka.
"This young side has a lot of potential and this World Cup is almost nine months away, it is all to do with momentum and confidence. I think the team can be well prepared with the training in this period and do well", he said in the video, sent by another Sri Lankan Johann Dias Jayasinha, who is a National Operations and Media manager.
Shaheen Afridi receives the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy as the Cricketer of the Year 2021
Sports Bulletin
ISLAMABAD:-As part of the 2021 edition of the ICC Awards, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Pakistani pacer Shaheen Afridi as the recipient of the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year 2021.
Afridi has had a fabulous 2021 across all three formats of the game. He took 78 wickets in 36 internationals at an average of 22.20. His contribution in the Test and T20I formats of the game was phenomenal. At the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Afridi took seven wickets in six matches aiding Pakistan formidably to make it to the semi-finals of the tournament.
In the Test format, Afridi remained consistent and claimed 47 wickets in only nine matches at a staggering average of 17.06. His most memorable performance was at the high stakes game against India at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. He claimed three wickets in that match which included the wickets of opening pair Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul and that of India captain Virat Kohli in the death overs.
Commenting on receiving the honour Shaheen Afridi, said:
“I feel truly honoured and privileged to become the first Pakistan cricketer to win the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year. I had always dreamt of doing something unique and special for Pakistan. In this background, I am elated and thank Almighty for blessing me with this respect.
“I also feel humbled to join a galaxy of legends who have previously won the Garfield Sobers Trophy. I have grown up watching the exploits of these cricketers and now to be bracketed with them is a matter of great honour and pride for me, my family, my teammates and my country.
“This award is a testament to the high quality of cricket we played as a group during another difficult and challenging year. This required a lot of mental and physical toughness on a consistent basis, and I am glad we all were able to maintain the high standards to live up to the expectations of our fans.
“Every performance I gave for Pakistan was enjoyable and memorable and was made possible through the support of my teammates. But to me, the standout performances remained the three wickets against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, and the 18 wickets I took in the two-Test series against the West Indies in Jamaica.
“I look forward to 2022 with optimism and hope I will be able to contribute regularly in Pakistan’s successes as at the end of the day, it all depends how we perform as a team and unit.”
Lizelle Lee and Babar Azam are the ICC ODI Cricketers of the Year 2021
Aamir Ali Janjua
DUBAI:-As part of the 2021 edition of the ICC Awards, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Lizelle Lee of South Africa and Babar Azam of Pakistan as the ICC ODI Cricketers of the Year 2021across women’s and men’s international cricket respectively.
Lizelle Lee has had an outstanding year in ODI cricket. She scored 632 runs in 11 matches at an average of 90.28 that included a century and five half-centuries. Lee also finished as the highest run-scorer in 2021 in fifty over format. In South Africa’s tour of India, Lee was unstoppable, contributing with big runs in the 4-1 series win for her team. With 288 runs, including a hundred and two fifties, she ended the series as the highest run-scorer and was also awarded the Player of the Series. Lee scored the highest individual ODI score of her career at 132* in the third match of the series against India. She carried her form over to the series against West Indies and was once again the top run-getter in the series.
Commenting on receiving the honour Lizelle Lee, said:
“I am very privileged and honoured to have been awarded the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year. I honestly didn’t expect this. It is a privilege just to be nominated, anyone could have won this award. It is truly an honour!
“There are so many that I would like to give credit to not just on the field but off the field too. Firstly, I would like to thank my family which has been my number one support system, my parents and my wife, our coaching staff, and teammates, without whom none of this would have been possible.”
In the men’s category, Pakistani skipper Babar Azam has had an impressive 2021 across all formats of the game. He scored a total of 405 runs in six matches at an average of 67.50 which included two centuries. Babar was the second-highest run-scorer with 228 runs and was also the Player of the Match in both matches that Pakistan won against South Africa.
Commenting on the honour Babar Azam said: “I feel humbled to have been voted as the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year a few days after being adjudged by the PCB as their ODI Cricketer of 2021. Recognition by the parent and then the world administrative bodies means a lot and gives me tremendous satisfaction and happiness.
“It has been an excellent year for Pakistan cricket across all formats and I am delighted to have been part of an outstanding bunch of players who displayed their very best, both on and off the field that, in turn, earned them well deserved respect and acknowledgement from the opponents and fans alike.
No "death overs" please....
Bipin Dani
Death over refers to the final overs in a limited match. Often the batting side would bat aggressively to gain more runs and increase their score. This will take place during the last five to ten overs of a team’s innings in a match.
Former India cricketer, who has been a regular commentator has requested commentators all over the world not to use the term "Death Overs" while on air.
"Request to all commentators please don't say Death Overs". Either call it slog overs or end overs", he has appealed.
Explaining the reason for this appeal, the former googly bowler says, "we are going through a tough time. Death is not a nice word. The last ten overs are definitely important overs but one doesn't die if it doesn't go the team's way".
Obviously, the veteran bowler’s words were directed at the ongoing COVID crisis.
ICC declares Zeeshan and Andrea-Mae declare Associate Cricketers of the Year 2021
Sports Bulletin
DUBAHI:-As part of the 2021 edition of the ICC Awards, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced today the first set of the individual awards with the associate cricketers of the year category in men’s and women’s international cricket. The captain of Oman’s men’s cricket team Zeeshan Maqsood was voted as the ICC Men’s Associate Cricketer of the Year for his fantastic performance in 2021, including leading his team at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup last year. The left-arm spinner was consistent with his performance across both ODI and T20I and aided his team to several victories throughout the year. Leading his side with aplomb, Maqsood also flourished in both batting and bowling roles for Oman in 2021. He played a crucial role as a middle order batter and picked up wickets consistently.
Maqsood made fifties against the USA and Namibia, and was at his consistent best as a bowler, controlling the flow of runs in the middle overs and picking up vital wickets. Maqsood particularly thrived against PNG, registering four wickets against them twice this year, one in an ODI and the other one in at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. His most memorable performance in the year was against PNG at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup where he was also named as the Player of the Match for his performance.
Commenting on receiving the honour Zeeshan Maqsood said:
“I am very delighted to be presented as the ICC Men’s Associate Cricketer of the Year. This award surely is one of the biggest achievements in my career and gives me immense pleasure that my efforts have been recognized by the ICC. I would like to thank the Oman Cricket Management, my teammates, support staff, my family, and my organization to have backed me in all stances to express myself on the field. 2021 has truly been god's blessing to me in terms of my accolades and leading Oman to flourish to the highest level”.
In the women’s category, Austrian all-rounder Andrea-Mae Zepeda was voted as the ICC Women’s Associate Cricketer of the Year for her stellar performance in 2021. Zepeda was consistent at the top of the order for Austria while scoring her runs at a brisk rate. Out of the eight T20Is she played in 2021, three were against Belgium, while the other five came against Italy. Zepeda was impressive in the series against the Belgians in particular, as she scored over fifty runs, including a century, in all three matches against them.
Commenting on her award Andrea-Mae Zepeda said:
“It is a great honour and a pleasant surprise for me to receive the ICC Women’s Associate Cricketer of the Year award. Thank you, ICC, for this. I would also like to thank my teammates, my coaches, the Austrian Cricket Association, my home club Austrian Cricket Club Vienna, to my family and friends for always supporting me and encouraging me to play such a wonderful game.
“I really enjoyed playing cricket last season despite being surrounded by COVID 19 and working full-time as a medical doctor. Nevertheless, we played some very good cricket, and I was able to perform well. My best innings was probably against Belgium in our home ground when I scored my first century ever. Looking forward, I will try my best to continue my journey and to contribute to my team as much as I can.”
Mohammad Rizwan and Tammy Beaumont are ICC T20I Cricketers of the Year 2021
Aamir Ali Janjua
DUBHI:-As part of the 2021 edition of the ICC Awards, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced today the T20I cricketers of the year in men’s and women’s international cricket. Pakistan’s ace wicketkeeper-batter, Mohammad Rizwan was voted the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year 2021, whilst England’s Tammy Beaumont was voted the ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year 2021.
Aggregating a staggering 1326 runs in only 29 matches, Rizwan averaged at 73.66 and had a strike-rate of 134.89. Apart from his exploits with the bat, he was as solid as ever behind the stumps, playing a key role in Pakistan's run to the semi-finals during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021, where he ended up as the third-highest run-scorer.
Earlier in the year, Rizwan also scored his maiden T20I century against South Africa in Lahore and ended it continuing his form with a brilliant knock of 87 against West Indies in Karachi.
Commenting on receiving the honour Mohammad Rizwan, said: “I had an exceptional year in the shortest format of the game, and I am thankful to all my colleagues and peers for voting me as the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year. This award gives me further motivation and incentive to do even better in 2022 and beyond for Pakistan so that we can collectively achieve our objective of being the top T20I playing side and in the process enhancing our fan-base.
“I want to thank all my team-mates and coaching staff who helped me throughout the year by preparing and training me well enough to contribute to Pakistan’s successes. As cricket is a team sport, I would like to dedicate this award to my teammates and fans.”
In the women’s category, England’s all-rounder Tammy Beaumont was voted as the ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year for her stellar performance in 2021. Beaumont was England's highest run scorer, and third-highest overall in the world in 2021.
Earlier in the year, in a low-scoring series against New Zealand away from home, Beaumont was the top scorer and was awarded the Player of the Series for a total of 102 runs in three matches. Her 63 in 53 balls in the second match put England in a winning position after they had lost two wickets in the powerplay. Beaumont continued her form against New Zealand when they visited England for a limited-overs tour. She once again finished as the highest run scorer in the series with 113, which included a stunning 97 in the opening game of the series.
Commenting on her award Tammy Beaumont said: “It’s a huge privilege to win the ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year Award. I’ve worked incredibly hard on my T20 game in the last few years. My T20I career has had its ups and downs and I don’t think I’ve always been known for my T20 abilities, so this award gives me a huge amount of confidence.”
“As a team we had a great year in terms of T20I results and it feels great to have contributed to team wins. We’ve got a big year ahead in all formats - with the Ashes, the ICC Women’s World Cup and the Commonwealth Games, and I look forward to continuing to work hard alongside my teammates to help us win as many games as possible.”
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