India thrash Scotland, topple Afghanistan
India moved to third place in Group 2 after registering their biggest ever T20I win against Scotland in Match 37 of the Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, in Dubai. They bundled out Scotland for 85 in 17.4 overs and reached the target with eight wickets and 81 balls to spare.
Ravindra Jadeja was adjudged Player of the Match for his 3-15. Mohammed Shami (3-1-15-3) was as impressive, while Jasprit Bumrah ended with 3.4-1-10-2. K.L. Rahul then smashed 50 off 18 balls, while Rohit Sharma got a 16-ball 30, before Suryakumar Yadav smashed the winning six inside the seventh over.
Hutton resigns, Yorkshire appoint Patel as chair
Based on allegations of racism by Azeem Rafiq, ECB had suspended Yorkshire from hosting England matches. A day later, Yorkshire CCC chair Roger Hutton has resigned from his post. Hutton’s resignation came ahead of an emergency board meeting on 5 November, at which Hutton was expected to face calls to quit.
In a statement, Hutton ‘apologised unreservedly’ to Rafiq, adding the club ‘should have recognised at the time the serious allegations of racism’. He also claimed that the ECB ‘declined to help’ many times regarding this matter.
Yorkshire appointed Lord Kamlesh Patel of Bradford as their new chair. Vice-chair Neil Hartley remained on board, but non-executive directors Hanif Malik and Stephen Willis have both quit.
New Zealand win by 52 runs, eliminate Namibia
New Zealand cemented their chances for a place in the Men's T20 World Cup semi-finals by beating Namibia by 52 runs in Match 36 of the tournament, in Sharjah. They are now second in Group 2, behind Pakistan. A win against Afghanistan in their final group game, on 7 November, will be enough for them to qualify in the semi-finals.
New Zealand rode on an unbeaten 76-run fifth-wicket stand off 36 balls between Glenn Phillips and Jimmy Neesham to reach 163/4. In reply, Namibia only managed 111/7, Michael van Lingen top-scoring with a run-a-ball 25. Tim Southee returned 2-15 and Trent Boult 2-20.
Australia postpone Afghanistan Test
Australia have postponed their Men’s Test match against Afghanistan, scheduled to take place in Hobart this month, until the situation regarding women's cricket under Taliban rule in Afghanistan is made clear. Cricket Australia stated that it is ‘committed to support growing the game for women and men in Afghanistan’.
Earlier, the Taliban cultural commission deputy head Ahmadullah Wasiq expressed his doubts whether ‘women will be allowed to play’ or not under their regime.