Governance concerns spark a sequence of unintended consequences for English cricket

There is a growing feeling in the English game that external overseas private investment is inevitable (AFP)
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Updated 25 January 2024
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Governance concerns spark a sequence of unintended consequences for English cricket

  • There is a growing feeling in the game that external overseas private investment is inevitable, or it risks being left behind by other nations

Last week in Arab News, Azeem Rafiq expressed his deep concerns about the return of a former chair of Yorkshire County Cricket Club to the club’s helm. Rafiq’s concerns are personal and raw, as have been detailed in several of my previous columns and by himself in a variety of media.

He blew a whistle on racism in 2020. Rafiq and his family have been hounded ever since.

However, his concerns are not limited to the personal attacks that he has endured. They spread more widely to concerns about the future governance of YCCC. In turn, these raise alarm bells about the governance and ownership of English and Welsh cricket at county level. Currently, all but three of the 18 counties are subject to membership ratification of proposals for change. No such checks and balances exist in franchise cricket, where executive power holds sway.

Colin Graves was the savior of YCCC in 2002, when he bailed the club out of bankruptcy. At that time, he was chair of a chain of convenience stores that he founded in 1986. The chain was sold in 2011 and in the following year he became executive chairman of YCCC. In 2015 he moved on to be chair of the England and Wales Cricket Board, leaving in 2020. It was during these two tenures that the racism — which Azeem Rafiq alleged was rife in YCCC — took place.

Rafiq’s revelations sparked a series of crises at YCCC and more widely within British cricket. Internecine strife broke out in Yorkshire. YCCC’s financial affairs deteriorated. In the financial year ended Dec. 31, 2022, a pre-tax loss of $2.83 million (£2.22 million) was reported, of which $2.10 million (£1.64 million) was attributed to actions taken as a result of the crises, including sizeable legal costs. Cash flow challenges became more acute, generating the need for cash injections. One of the club’s ongoing liabilities is the repayment of $19.1 million (£15 million) to the Graves Family Trust.

Who better, then, to come riding to the rescue, once again, than Colin Graves? Apparently, there were other suitors. It was widely reported that Mike Ashley, a previous, contentious, owner of Newcastle United FC had tabled a bid of $29.3 million (£23 million) to take over YCCC. This would have involved the purchase, renaming and leaseback of the stadium, as well as the repayment of the Graves Family Trust loan. It is believed that the deal-breaker was a rejection of Ashley’s request for England team kits to be manufactured under one of his brands. This decision by the ECB paved the way for Graves. On Jan. 10, YCCC’s board agreed to recommend his refinancing plan and submit details to members for ratification at an EGM on Feb. 2. A two-thirds majority is required.

On Jan. 16, Graves issued a manifesto for YCCC’s future. This contained a warning that failure to adopt his plan could lead to far-reaching consequences. He is seeking rule changes that allow him to appoint a new board of directors, seemingly on his terms. In echoes of Donald Trump, he urges the support of members to “make YCCC great again.” This smacks of a desire for absolute power. In emollient fashion, Graves apologizes for mistakes that he or the club have made in the recent past, pledging that all will be welcome at YCCC “regardless of background, community or ethnicity.” This will ring hollow for some parts of the community.

A charity, Sporting Equals, which promotes ethnic diversity in UK sport, issued an open letter in which it expressed concerns that the reinstatement of Graves could potentially undermine the progress that has been made in cricket to combat racism since Rafiq’s allegations. A particular point of irritation is that Graves is on record as saying that, during his time as YCCC chair, no one complained of racism at any level. Furthermore, he is on record as dismissing racist comments to Rafiq as “banter,” for which he received censure from the ECB. An apology was issued subsequently.

If members grant the control that Graves craves, some fundamental consequences may ensue. There have been rumors that an Indian Premier League franchise owner expressed interest in acquiring YCCC. This has set hares running along the lines that Graves will seek to change the mutual membership status of the club. He claims that there are no discussions or plans to achieve this. However, he adds, rather ominously, that “in the changing and challenging arena of both UK and world sport, nothing can be ruled out in the future.” It should be recalled that, during his time as chair of the ECB, The Hundred, a city-based hybrid franchise tournament, was introduced. Graves is on record as saying that he was aware of interest from Indian investors.

It would be easy to start joining up the dots. One of those dots is visible in Hampshire, where the county cricket club was saved from insolvency by Rod Bransgrove in 2000. He re-established the club as a business entity, developing a hotel, golf course and other entertainment at a new site. Bransgrove stepped down as chair last year, but owns more than 60 percent of shares in the company. Recently, news has broken that the company is in advanced negotiations to sell a stake to part-owners of one of the IPL franchises. As Hampshire is a limited company, there is no requirement to seek members approval.

There is a growing feeling in the English game that external overseas private investment is inevitable. Income levels for most counties are flat, costs are rising sharply and real estate resources are not used optimally. English cricket risks being left behind other cricketing countries. However, to create the opportunity for investment, its ownership structure may have to change. This will mean members having to vote for existing structures, which they long fought to preserve, to be dismantled. Yorkshire may find itself as the surprising testing ground for such action, unwittingly put in motion by a man who, initially, was seeking only an apology for racial abuse.


Napoli’s Osimhen completes 75mln euro move to Galatasaray

Updated 56 min 28 sec ago
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Napoli’s Osimhen completes 75mln euro move to Galatasaray

  • Osimhen spent last season on loan at Galatasaray, scoring 26 goals in 30 league games
  • Negotiations with Galatasaray had been ongoing for several weeks

ISTANBUL: Napoli striker Victor Osimhen on Thursday completed his permanent move to Turkish champions Galatasaray in a 75 million euro ($87.5 million) four-year deal.

A key figure in Napoli’s 2023 title triumph, Osimhen spent last season on loan at Galatasaray, scoring 26 goals in 30 league games as the Istanbul club claimed their 25th Super Lig crown.


He was absent as Napoli, the freshly crowned Serie A champions, resumed training at the start of the week as the finer details of the deal were concluded.

Napoli coach Antonio Conte seemingly did not have the 26-year-old in his plans for his side’s Scudetto defense next term.

Negotiations with Galatasaray had been ongoing for several weeks but up to Thursday had stalled over the terms of payment for the transfer.

Napoli recently recruited Kevin De Bruyne from Premier League club Manchester City.

Osimhen becomes Galatasaray’s most expensive ever player.


Portugal’s Sousa named as Kuwait national team coach

Updated 31 July 2025
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Portugal’s Sousa named as Kuwait national team coach

  • The 55-year-old succeeds Juan Antonio Pizzi
  • Local media reported that Sousa has signed a contract with the KFA until 2027

KUWAIT: Portuguese Helio Sousa has been appointed as coach of the Kuwait men’s team, the country’s football association (KFA) announced on Thursday.

The 55-year-old succeeds Juan Antonio Pizzi, whose contract expired earlier this year.


“Helio Sousa is the coach of the Kuwait national football team. Welcome to Kuwait,” KFA said on X without providing further details.

Local media reported that Sousa has signed a contract with the KFA until 2027, reportedly worth $1.6 million per year.

Sousa previously enjoyed a successful stint with Bahrain, guiding the nation to the West Asian Football Federation Championship title in 2019 before securing their maiden Gulf Cup later that year.


West Ham forward Lucas Paqueta cleared of spot-fixing charges

Updated 31 July 2025
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West Ham forward Lucas Paqueta cleared of spot-fixing charges

  • The English Football Association confirmed Thursday that an independent panel had found the charges unproven
  • The ruling brings to an end a long-running case against the Brazil international

LONDON: West Ham forward Lucas Paqueta has been cleared of alleged spot-fixing after being accused of deliberately receiving yellow cards to influence betting markets.

The English Football Association confirmed Thursday that an independent panel had found the charges unproven.

“Lucas Paqueta denied the charges against him, and the Regulatory Commission found them to be not proven following a hearing,” the FA said in a statement.

The ruling brings to an end a long-running case against the Brazil international, who was charged in May 2024.

The FA had claimed the 27-year-old Paqueta intentionally sought to be booked in four separate games — against Leicester, Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth between November 2022 and August 2023 “in order for one or more persons to profit from betting.”

Blackstone Chambers, representing Paqueta, said it was understood to be the longest case in FA history.

Paqueta was charged with breaches of FA Rule E5 related to integrity of matches and competitions.

The rule sates a participant “shall not, directly or indirectly, seek to influence for an improper purpose the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of, or occurrence in or in connection with, a football match or competition.”

The panel did uphold two charges against Paqueta for failing to answer questions and provide
information to the FA’s investigation. The governing body said it would determine an appropriate sanction at the earliest opportunity.

Full reasons for the verdict have not yet been published.


Pakistan T20 captain backs ‘fine’ blend of youth, experience ahead of West Indies series

Updated 31 July 2025
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Pakistan T20 captain backs ‘fine’ blend of youth, experience ahead of West Indies series

  • Pakistan face West Indies in three-match T20I series starting Aug. 1 in Florida
  • Green Shirts will then face West Indies in three-match ODI series from Aug. 8-12

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan T20 captain Salman Ali Agha has expressed confidence in the team’s “fine” blend of youth and experience as they take on the West Indies in the United States for a three-match series starting Aug. 1, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said this week.

The three T20Is, beginning on Thursday, July 31 (1 August, 5 am Pakistan Standard Time) at the Central Broward Park and Broward County Stadium in Florida is the first meeting between the two teams in T20Is since December 2021.

The second and third T20I are scheduled to take place on 2 and 3 August at the same venue with the first ball slated to be bowled at 8pm local time (3 and 4 August, 5 am Pakistan Standard Time).

“We have a fine blend of youth and experience in our squad, and it is highly productive that we are going into yet another T20 series as the build-up toward the T20 World Cup picks up pace,” Agha said. 

Pakistan’s T20 squad comprises experienced cricketers such as Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf along with youngsters Abrar Ahmed, Hassan Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Sufyan Moqim and Saim Ayub. 

“We are really looking forward to playing at this wonderful venue and our time here so far has been exciting,” the Pakistan captain said. “I feel the three T20 will also be entertaining and as a team we are eagerly looking forward to take the field.”

He added that Pakistan will need to play their best game to “outfox a formidable T20 side.”

The ODIs will be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad & Tobago on August 8, 10 and 12, with Mohammad Rizwan set to lead Pakistan as its captain.

Pakistan will take the field in Lauderhill for the second time, having previously defeated Ireland by three wickets at the same venue during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Pakistan has won 15 out of 21 T20s played against the West Indies, while the hosts have won three matches, with three ending without a result.

Pakistan and the West Indies will be looking to bounce back from their recent T20I series defeats against Bangladesh and Australia, respectively.

PAKISTAN SQUADS:

ODI: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufyan Moqim

T20I: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wicket-keeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufyan Moqim


Saudi Motorsport Company earns FIA’s top environmental accolade

Updated 31 July 2025
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Saudi Motorsport Company earns FIA’s top environmental accolade

  • Three-Star rating is reserved for stakeholders that demonstrate ‘best practice and continuous improvement’
  • Saudi Motorsport Company: ‘Receiving the Three-Star rating is a testament to the dedication and vision behind every event we deliver’

JEDDAH: Saudi Motorsport Company has received the prestigious Three-Star rating under the FIA Environmental Accreditation Program, marking a significant step forward in the Kingdom’s drive to combine elite motorsport with international sustainability standards.

The award, the highest recognition granted by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, follows a detailed independent audit that assessed the company’s environmental practices across 17 key criteria.

The rating places the Saudi entity among an elite group of motorsport organizations globally, being certified at the top level.

The audit evaluated the company’s environmental management system using international frameworks, including ISO 14001.

According to the federation, the Three-Star rating is reserved for stakeholders that demonstrate “best practice and continuous improvement,” reflecting a strategic, long-term commitment to sustainability.

The company’s achievement represents a broader shift in how motorsport is being positioned in Saudi Arabia, as a vehicle for both entertainment and environmental consciousness.

It has integrated sustainability across its operations, from event logistics and infrastructure to energy use and resource management.

This approach aligns closely with Saudi Vision 2030, which promotes economic diversification, sustainable development and a more vibrant society. It also reinforces the goals of the Saudi Green Initiative, launched to combat climate change and accelerate the transition toward renewable energy.

Saudi Motorsport Company said in a press release: “Receiving the Three-Star rating is a testament to the dedication and vision behind every event we deliver. It’s not just about hosting races, it’s about doing so responsibly, in a way that contributes positively to society and the environment.”

The certification also signals the company’s intention to become a regional benchmark for sustainability in motorsport, using high-profile events such as the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Dakar Rally, and WRC Rally Saudi Arabia to promote environmental awareness and green practices.

Founded under the umbrella of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, the Saudi Motorsport Company plays a central role in shaping the Kingdom’s motorsport ambitions.

With more than 180 professionals overseeing everything from track operations at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit to international partnerships, the company is positioning Saudi Arabia as a key player in global motorsport.