Quetta Gladiators’ batter Jason Roy has been fined five per cent of his match fee for a Level 1 breach of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Code of Conduct during his team’s eight-wicket defeat against Lahore Qalandars in the 20th match of PSL 7 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Sunday.
Roy was found to have violated Article 2.21 of the PSL Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “conduct that brings the game into disrepute”, following his reaction after he was adjudged caught behind by Asif Yaqoob off Shaheen Shah Afridi.
In the video, posted by PSL official Twitter account, he can be seen misbehaving with the umpire despite the fact that he had the option to challenge the umpire’s decision of giving him out.
England’s cricketer accepted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed to be imposed by Roshan Mahanama and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.
The charges were levelled by the on-field umpires Asif Yaqoob and Michael Gough, third umpire Rashid Riaz and fourth umpire Waleeed Yaqoob.
All first-time offences of Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official warning and/or imposition of a fine of up to 25% of the applicable match fee.
It was also reported that Roy had reported Shaheen’s bowling action but the reports were denied by the Quetta Gladiators.
England pacers Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood and Sam Billings have raised their voice and spoken in support of Moeen Ali after author Taslima Nasreen’s Islamophobic tweet.
Taslima, in a now-deleted tweet, had said that the England all-rounder would have joined the militant Islamic State (IS) group had he not been playing cricket.
“If Moeen Ali were not stuck with cricket, he would have gone to Syria to join ISIS,” Taslima had said.
Jofra Archer did not take it lightly and wrote: “Are you okay? I don’t think you’re okay.”
The Bangladeshi-Swedish author later tried to calm things down, claiming that her tweet on Moeen was “sarcastic”.
“Haters know very well that my Moeen Ali tweet was sarcastic,” said Nasreen. “But they made that an issue to humiliate me because I try to secularise Muslim society and oppose Islamic fanaticism.”
“One of the greatest tragedies of humankind is pro-women leftists support anti-women Islamists,” she added.
Haters know very well that my Moeen Ali tweet was sarcastic. But they made that an issue to humiliate me because I try to secularize Muslim society & I oppose Islamic fanaticism. One of the greatest tragedies of humankind is pro-women leftists support anti-women Islamists.
Domestic English cricketer Ben Duckett also extended his support to Ali, saying: “This is the problem with this app. People being able to say stuff like this. Disgusting. Things need to change, please report this account!”
This is the problem with this app. People being able to say stuff like this. Disgusting. Things need to change, please report this account! https://t.co/uveSFqbna0
Nasreen’s tweet also sparked outrage on social media.
Heartening to see the way British Cricketers have stood up for #MoeenAli after Taslima Nasreen’s hideous tweet. Wish our chaps would take a cue or two and speak their mind, not just coordinate their hashtags.
Another form of #extremism. Anyone with a beard is a Taliban and IS terrorist. This stupidity must always be given a shut-up call, always, like this great English player has done to support his team mate… #MoeenAli#taslimanasreenpic.twitter.com/5bRJ0HakhR
Moeen (Ali) wants people to know he is Muslim and Asian and British and that there is no conflict between any of those. Not easy for those to understand who has made a profession selling bigotry. #MoeenAlihttps://t.co/wsOw3bfgN8 via @cricketmonthly
Taseelma Nasreen is an Islamophobic maniac. Moeen Ali is a devout Muslim, excellent cricketer, human bng, associated wid charity works 4 kids, ambsdr for free cricket coaching. Has shown concern abt British Muslims joining terrorist organisations such as Al Qaeda & ISIS.#MoeenAlipic.twitter.com/CKDMwC3ybG
Shame on you @taslimanasreen. You will be remembered as a garden variety bigot not a writer, certainly not a rationalist or feminist. https://t.co/tjjeheBmdJ
Moeen Ali’s presentation reminds me of Hashim Amla. Both exhibit the same disciplined conduct and politeness on and off the field. An absolute role model #MoeenAli@benstokes38@JofraArcher
Meanwhile, Moeen’s father Munir Ali also spoke about the hurt it has caused and how his son has broken stereotypes while following his heart and faith.
Speaking about the tweet, Ali said: “I am hurt and shocked to read Taslima Nasreen’s vile remark against my son Moeen. In her “clarifying” tweet, where she described her original remark as sarcasm, she also says she stands against fundamentalism.”
“If she looks into a mirror, she will know what she tweeted is what is fundamentalist – a vicious stereotype against a Muslim person, a clearly Islamophobic statement. Someone who doesn’t have self-respect and respect for others can only stoop to this level,” he continued.
Munir further said: “Truth be told, I am really angry, but I know I would be playing into the hands of people like her if I let my rage get out of control. If I get to meet her someday, I will tell what I really think of her on her face.”
“For now, I would ask her to pick a dictionary and see the meaning of sarcasm. It’s not what she thinks it is. It’s not spewing vile poisonous stuff against someone you don’t even know and then retracting it by saying it was sarcasm. Of all the people to pick on for her agenda, I can’t believe she has chosen my son. Everyone in the cricketing world knows the person he is. Let me reiterate for those who don’t,” he concluded.
The matter had risen when Ali, Chennai Super King’s new recruit for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, had requested to remove the logo of a liquor brand from his jersey.
Alex Hales has appreciated Pakistan’s hospitality and food, referring to it as “excellent”.
Responding to a tweet by senior sports journalist Saj Sadiq, who said that the English star may not have been happy with the quality of food served to him at breakfast, Hales said: “It was one meal where the order was incorrect…I found it funny, nothing more.”
“The food and hospitality here has been excellent, hope this clears it up,” he added.
Controversy erupted after Hales, who was playing for Islamabad United in the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), posted a picture of his breakfast, writing: “Toast, omelette and baked beans.”
In the photo, two boiled eggs could be seen with a slice of toast and an unopened packet. Fans and social media users thought the cricketer was indirectly trolling the PCB. They also expressed their reservations over the condition of the egg and took shots at PCB for the poor quality of the food.
However, the right-handed batsman was quick to make things clear, clarifying that there was no issue with the quality and that he posted the photo only because he found it funny.
Meanwhile, PSL6 has been postponed indefinitely after seven positive cases of COVID-19 were detected in the bio-secure bubble.
