Champions League: PSG vs Istanbul Basaksehir Players Walk Out Over Racism
Racism in sports has been a frequent issue throughout the world. And in particular racism in football towards the African-American players has been evident over the course of history. A considerable amount of international documented racist acts occurred during professional sports. Out of 131 racist acts in sports in 2019, around 81 of them were related to Football. Countries like Bulgaria, Montenegro, and Russia faced discrimination, including football powerhouse countries Italy and England.
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) released a report in 2007 stating that racial abuse and vilification is commonplace in international sports, in places such as Australia, Europe, and America.
Racism in Football Incident from 2019
Last year in March, Chelsea lodged a complaint with UEFA. This happens over the alleged racist abuse of Callum Hudson-Odoi against Dynamo Kiev. Where during the last two minutes of Montenegro vs. England match, winger Hudson-Odoi brought the incident of hearing “monkey chants” from a small group of home supporters in the corner of Chelsea’s end to the attention of team-mate Cesar Azpilicueta.
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Racist Remark During PSG vs Istanbul Basaksehir Match
The Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir was abandoned after both teams walked off the pitch following an alleged racist slur by the fourth official.
Players from the Turkish team were furious; according to them the fourth official Sebastian Coltescu of Romania had used a racial slur against assistant coach Pierre Webo, who is from Cameroon, before Webo was sent off at Parc des Princes by Romanian match referee Ovidiu Hategan.
“Our assistant coach, Pierre Webo has been sent off with a “racist” word by the 4th official ref. of the match. Match has stopped for a while,” Istanbul Basaksehir said on the club’s official Twitter.
The former BBC political reporter and journalist Sophie Morris also supported Demba Ba over Twitter,
According to a statement issued by UEFA on the incident on Tuesday, the Football’s governing body stated, “Following an alleged incident involving the fourth official, the match was temporarily suspended.” UEFA further said it will launch a “thorough investigation” into the incident and the match will be resumed with a new set of officials taking the match’s charge on Wednesday.
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Cristiano Ronaldo Now Becomes a Playable Character Chrono
Portuguese football sensation Cristiano Ronaldo has become the latest celebrity to be turned into playable character in Garena Free Fire.
Free Fire, the first self-developed game by Garena, has signed Cristiano Ronald as its global brand ambassador. The partnership hopes to build on Free Fire’s strategy to bring exciting content for all users worldwide to engage, and inspire players to battle in their own styles while having fun along the way.
Gamers can now play as Cristiano Ronaldo in the game, as “Chrono.”
“It’s a great feeling having not only a character in Free Fire modelled after me, but also having the whole universe within the game changing along with it,” said Ronaldo. “The Garena team has worked into the game tons of new features and elements for Operation Chrono. I hope Free Fire players all over the world are just as excited as I am!” he added.
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Kane Williamson Joins Virat Kohli in Test batting Rankings
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson riding on his 251-run knock against the West Indies in the first Test in Hamilton, soared up the ICC Test rankings and tied at No. 2 with Indian Right-Handed top order Batsman Virat Kohli.
Australia batsman Steve Smith leads the chart with 911 points. Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson are tied at 886 points. Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne is at the No. 4 spot with 827 points, while Pakistan skipper Babar Azam rounds up the top 5 spot with 797 points.
ICC released the list on Monday and wrote, “Kane Williamson joins Virat Kohli at No.2. Tom Latham enters 10. After the conclusion of the first #NZvWI Test, top performers from New Zealand and West Indies sizzle in the latest @MRFWorldwide ICC Test Rankings for batting Raising hands.”
Pak vs NZ: It’s a No For Pakistan Team!
A disappointing moment for the Pakistani team, as the squad has not been granted an exemption for training during the managed isolation period.
The statement by New Zealand Cricket authorities and Health Department stated that following careful consideration regarding Coronavirus, the Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield will not be granting the exemption which would allow the Pakistani Shaheens to return back in fields in order to train in groups while completing their time in managed isolation in Christchurch. Read More: PAKISTANI CRICKET PLAYERS IN TROUBLE!
The decision has reportedly added agitation among Pakistan squad members who are already in managed isolation for almost 10 days now.
Following the breach of the COVID-19 protocol from the Pakistani squad in New Zealand, the team expected to be trained after the 3rd day of testings, but now it has been on hold and PCB has yet to release a statement.
Dr. Ashley have ongoing concerns about the risk of cross-infection within the squad. The authorities have repeatedly termed the exemption to train during the managed isolation period a “privilege.”
“There have been a number of active cases identified among the team. Public health considerations will continue to be foremost in our response to COVID-19, whether this involves individuals or teams,” he asserted. “We appreciate the touring team for enduring the challenges posed to public health by a coronavirus,” he added.
Pakistan team has already competed 10 days in managed isolation and the period is set to end on December 8.
Shahid Afridi Returns Home From LPL!
The all-rounder cricket sensation “Boom Boom” Shahid Afridi has decided to return back to Pakistan from Sri Lanka.
The player was leading “Galle Gladiators” in the inaugural edition of Lanka Premier League inorder to attend to a personal emergency.
Afridi announced the news on Twitter, while confirming that he would be back to represent the franchise after taking care of the situation back home.
“Unfortunately I have a personal emergency to attend to back home. I will return to join back my team at LPL immediately after the situation is handled. All the best,” Afridi tweeted. Read More: TIMES WHEN SHAHID AFRIDI LOST HIS TEMPER
Afridi scored 58 runs off 23 balls, with the help of six maximums and three fours, in Gladiators’ season opener against Jaffna Stallions last Friday.
Babar Azam Preserves Second Spot in T20I Rankings
Nation’s favourite batsman is making headlines again! This time it’s all good news. Captain Babar Azam has preserved the second spot in the new Twenty20 International (T20I). The batting rankings list is published by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
England’s player Dawid Malan has attained the highest-ever rating points for batsmen in the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings. The left-handed batsman Babar Azam has reached 915 points, the first to cross the 900-point mark after Australian player Aaron Finch’s 900-point achievement in July 2018.
Lokesh Rahul, the Indian right-handed batsman and wicket keeper secured fourth position in the ranking’s list, whereas Rassie van der Dussen continues to rise to be in fifth place – up 17 places after the three-match series, despite South Africa’s defeat.
Times When Shahid Afridi Lost His Temper!
The Pakistani nation loves cricket, and they all love Shahid Afridi as well. Whenever the man walks on the pitch, either he gets bold on the first ball or he saves the whole team with a smashing win. There is not in between.
But this is not all; Boom Boom Afridi is also famous for his anger! We have listed down the most famous ones for you. Read on…
Just recently Afridi lost his temper over an Afghani cricketer Naveen-Ul-Haq, at the Lanka Premiere League, LPL2020. When after fellow cricketer Muhammad Amir constantly got abused by Naveen. In response, well Afridi got angry. Twitteratis though, took it very negatively. But supporters soon jumped up to defend “LALA.”
At one moment during a press conference, Afridi sarcastically replied to a journalist’s question with, “Haan mujhay aapse umeed thi ke aap aesae ghatiya sawaal karengey.” Which stirred quite a controversy in media but trolls and memers brigade took it and enjoyed it for a long while.
At another moment he verbally thrashed an older journalist with a remark on his age, that “Apne sawaal puchne ka tareeqa theek karain, umar ke hisaab se behtar andaaz mein sawaal karain. Yeh t-20 hourahi hai apke zamanay ki cricket nahe hou rahi.”
One cannot forget the famous tussle between Indian Cricketer Gautam Gambhir and Shahid Afridi in the India Vs Pakistan, ODI series 2007. The fight got personal on the occasion and the heat was felt on the pitch throughout the inning!
The Geo-Political Issues Between India and Pakistan is the Main Problem for Cricket
The newly appointed chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Greg Barclay has claimed that he hopes on doing his best to bring India and Pakistan closer in terms of cricketing matters.
Greg admits that the sport’s governing body did not have the mandate to influence bilateral ties to a significant degree.
With the current situation between both the neighbouring nations they had made it clear that they would not keep any relation related to sports with each other. The bilateral relation between the two neighbours is currently at an all-time low.
“I would love nothing more than for India and Pakistan to be able to continue cricketing relations as they were previously. I am also enough of a realist to understand that there are geo-political issues at play here. I think all we can do at the ICC is to continue to help and support in any way that we can to bring about outcomes that would see India and Pakistan in a position where they can play cricket regularly against each other and in their home territories,” Barclay was quoted as saying by Press Trust of India.
“Beyond that, I do not think I have the mandate or ability to influence the outcomes more than that. That is really being done at a level way beyond where we would be operating,” he added.
The ICC chief was firm that the ICC would do whatever it can to facilitate and support discussion between the two sides.
Final Warning Issued For Pakistani Players in New Zealand
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Executive Officer Wasim Khan on Thursday revealed that six players had tested positive for COVID-19, according to the New Zealand’s sports body. Read More: PAKISTANI CRICKET PLAYERS IN TROUBLE
The New Zealand Cricket, according to Khan, has claimed that Pakistani cricketers infringed three to four health standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Wasim Khan added that the government of New Zealand had a “zero tolerance policy” towards the COVID-19 safety protocols. Their board has given the Pakistan cricket team a “final warning” to cohere to the safety guidelines.
“I think it is a difficult time, it won’t be easy for you all,” he said in a message intended to the cricketers. “This concerns the prestige and integrity of the country. Please follow Coronavirus safety protocols for the next 14 days,” he added.
The PCB chief said the New Zealand Cricket had notified that any further violation of the SOPs would result in the Pakistan cricket team being sent back home. “If the team is sent back home, it will result in shame for the entire country,” he said.
In a final warning to the players, he reiterated that the New Zealand government will not compromise on the issue of health and SOPs.
Greg Barclay Elected as Independent ICC Chair
Barclay, an Auckland-based commercial lawyer, has been a director of New Zealand Cricket (NZC) since 2012 and is currently NZC’s representative on the board of the International Cricket Council. He will step down from his position at NZC to lead the ICC in an independent capacity.
Barclay expressed his gratitude and said, “It is an honour to be elected as the Chair of the International Cricket Council and I would like to thank my fellow ICC Directors for their support. I hope we can come together to lead the sport and emerge from the global pandemic in a strong position and poised for growth.”
He further said, “I look forward to working in partnership with our Members to strengthen the game in our core markets as well as grow it beyond that ensuring more of the world can enjoy cricket. I take my position as a custodian of the game very seriously and am committed to working on behalf of all 104 ICC Members to create a sustainable future for our sport.”
“I’d like to thank Imran Khwaja for his leadership as acting ICC Chair during a difficult period for the game and I look forward to continuing a close working relationship with him in the future,” he added.