Cricket&#39;s governing body said Wednesday they would bring together the captains of India and Australia to clear the air after the dramatic second Test was marred by accusations of cheating.

The International Cricket Council said &quot;no further action&quot; would be taken against the skippers in the wake of India&#39;s 75-run victory over Australia in Bangalore earlier this week that was overshadowed by a spiralling war of words.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli`s accused Steve Smith of abusing the decision review system (DRS) after he was seen looking to the Australian dressing-room while considering appealing against his dismissal for lbw.

The rules forbid players from consulting with anyone off the pitch about whether to seek a review from the umpires.

Smith admitted he had been at fault but put it down to a one-off &quot;brain-fade&quot; but an angry Kohli said it was far from an isolated incident, suggesting it had been happening for the entire Test.

The ICC said neither skipper had violated the council`s code of conduct but the match referee would bring both captains together ahead of the next Test &quot;to remind them of their responsibilities to the game&quot;.

&quot;We have just witnessed a magnificent game of Test cricket where players from both teams gave their all and emotions were running high during and after the match,&quot; ICC chief executive David Richardson said in a statement.

&quot;We would encourage both teams to focus their energies on the third Test in Ranchi next week.&quot;

India won the Test after Australia crashed to 112 all out on the fourth-day, bringing the world`s top-two sides into a 1-1 draw in the four-match series. 
 
(AFP)

BCCI had asked the International Cricket Council to probe the cheating allegations against the Australian skipper

Cricket's governing body said Wednesday they would bring together the captains of India and Australia to clear the air after the dramatic second Test was marred by accusations of cheating. The International Cricket Council said "no further action" would be taken against the skippers in the wake of India's 75-run victory over Australia in Bangalore earlier this week that was overshadowed by a spiralling war of words. Indian skipper Virat Kohli`s accused Steve Smith of abusing the decision review system (DRS) after he was seen looking to the Australian dressing-room while considering appealing against his dismissal for lbw. The rules forbid players from consulting with anyone off the pitch about whether to seek a review from the umpires. Smith admitted he had been at fault but put it down to a one-off "brain-fade" but an angry Kohli said it was far from an isolated incident, suggesting it had been happening for the entire Test. The ICC said neither skipper had violated the council`s code of conduct but the match referee would bring both captains together ahead of the next Test "to remind them of their responsibilities to the game". "We have just witnessed a magnificent game of Test cricket where players from both teams gave their all and emotions were running high during and after the match," ICC chief executive David Richardson said in a statement. "We would encourage both teams to focus their energies on the third Test in Ranchi next week." India won the Test after Australia crashed to 112 all out on the fourth-day, bringing the world`s top-two sides into a 1-1 draw in the four-match series. (AFP)

No action against Virat Kohli, Steve Smith in DRS row: ICC

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced its Test and ODI teams of the year 2016 on Thursday.

But for some reason, Virat Kohli, India&rsquo;s Test captain, who is on an 18-match unbeaten streak was omitted from the list of ICC Test team of the year.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Here is the ICC Test Team of the Year 2016! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ICCAwards?src=hash">#ICCAwards</a> <a href="https://t.co/TjqFeMn4MY">pic.twitter.com/TjqFeMn4MY</a>
&mdash; ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/811813662801399809">December 22, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Kohli recently led India to a 4-0 series win over England in a five-Test home series.

He was the man of the series by scoring 655 runs in the five Tests, at a whopping average of 109.16 with the&nbsp;highest score of 235.

He scored 1215 runs in 2016 in 12 Test at an average of 75.93, with four centuries and two half-centuries.

The only Indian in the line-up of the Test team is the off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, with two of Kohli&rsquo;s closest competitors, Kane Williamson of New Zealand and Joe Root of England make it to the team.

However, Kohli makes it into the ODI team of the year, along with Ravindra Jadeja and Rohit Sharma.

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Presenting the ICC ODI Team of the Year 2016! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ICCAwards?src=hash">#ICCAwards</a> <a href="https://t.co/5rH3XozNIj">pic.twitter.com/5rH3XozNIj</a>
&mdash; ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/811816048534126593">December 22, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Warner and Starc are two cricketers who found a place in both the teams.

The Test team is selected on the basis of records between September 14, 2015, and September 20, 2016. Williamson had a great 2015, coming up with an average of 90.15 from 16 innings. While Kohli averages 42.66 off 15 innings in 2015, reports NDTV Sports.

ICC ODI team of the year 2016: Virat Kohli (captain), David Warner, Quinton de Kock (wk), Rohit Sharma, AB de Villiers, Jos Buttler, Mitchell Marsh, Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Starc, Kagiso Rabada, Sunil Narine, Imran Tahir.

ICC Test team of the year 2016: Alastair Cook (captain), David Warner, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Adam Voges, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rangana Herath, Mitchell Starc, Dale Steyn, Steve Smith.

(WION) 
&nbsp;

Kohli was omitted from the ICC Test team of the year but however, makes it into the ODI team of the year

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced its Test and ODI teams of the year 2016 on Thursday. But for some reason, Virat Kohli, India’s Test captain, who is on an 18-match unbeaten streak was omitted from the list of ICC Test team of the year. Here is the ICC Test Team of the Year 2016! #ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/TjqFeMn4MY — ICC (@ICC) December 22, 2016 × Kohli recently led India to a 4-0 series win over England in a five-Test home series. He was the man of the series by scoring 655 runs in the five Tests, at a whopping average of 109.16 with the highest score of 235. He scored 1215 runs in 2016 in 12 Test at an average of 75.93, with four centuries and two half-centuries. The only Indian in the line-up of the Test team is the off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, with two of Kohli’s closest competitors, Kane Williamson of New Zealand and Joe Root of England make it to the team. However, Kohli makes it into the ODI team of the year, along with Ravindra Jadeja and Rohit Sharma. Presenting the ICC ODI Team of the Year 2016! #ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/5rH3XozNIj — ICC (@ICC) December 22, 2016 × Warner and Starc are two cricketers who found a place in both the teams. The Test team is selected on the basis of records between September 14, 2015, and September 20, 2016. Williamson had a great 2015, coming up with an average of 90.15 from 16 innings. While Kohli averages 42.66 off 15 innings in 2015, reports NDTV Sports. ICC ODI team of the year 2016: Virat Kohli (captain), David Warner, Quinton de Kock (wk), Rohit Sharma, AB de Villiers, Jos Buttler, Mitchell Marsh, Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Starc, Kagiso Rabada, Sunil Narine, Imran Tahir. ICC Test team of the year 2016: Alastair Cook (captain), David Warner, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Adam Voges, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rangana Herath, Mitchell Starc, Dale Steyn, Steve Smith. (WION)

No place for Virat Kohli in the ICC Test team of the year 2016

India will end 2016 as the world&#39;s top-ranked Test side after their 4-0 series thrashing of England, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement on Tuesday.

Virat Kohli&#39;s side humbled England by a innings and 75 runs in the fifth and final Test in Chennai to extend their unbeaten run to 18 matches, the longest they have ever gone without defeat.

The series win took India to 120 points in the ICC standings, 15 points ahead of second-placed Australia, while England&#39;s defeat saw them slip from second to fifth position.

&quot;(India) can&#39;t be overtaken this year since the team rankings are updated only at the end of each Test series,&quot; the ICC said in an emailed statement.

India have also registered series wins against the West Indies and New Zealand this year as part of their unbeaten run.

India have triumphed in five straight series under Kohli, and are now unbeaten in 18 Tests, beating their previous best-ever run of 17 matches which was set back in 1987.

(Reuters)

The series win took India to 120 points in the ICC standings, 15 points ahead of second-placed Australia

India will end 2016 as the world's top-ranked Test side after their 4-0 series thrashing of England, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement on Tuesday. Virat Kohli's side humbled England by a innings and 75 runs in the fifth and final Test in Chennai to extend their unbeaten run to 18 matches, the longest they have ever gone without defeat. The series win took India to 120 points in the ICC standings, 15 points ahead of second-placed Australia, while England's defeat saw them slip from second to fifth position. "(India) can't be overtaken this year since the team rankings are updated only at the end of each Test series," the ICC said in an emailed statement. India have also registered series wins against the West Indies and New Zealand this year as part of their unbeaten run. India have triumphed in five straight series under Kohli, and are now unbeaten in 18 Tests, beating their previous best-ever run of 17 matches which was set back in 1987. (Reuters)

Cricket: India finish year as top-ranked Test side

Russia dealt the International Criminal Court (ICC) a fresh blow Wednesday as the court&#39;s top officials urged nations to support the tribunal hit by a wave of unprecedented defections.

Moscow has never ratified the world&#39;s only permanent war crimes court, but in a heavily symbolic move on the opening day of the ICC&#39;s annual meeting, it said it was formally withdrawing its signature to the tribunal&#39;s founding Rome Statute.

&quot;The court did not live up to the hopes associated with it and did not become truly independent,&quot; Russia&#39;s foreign ministry said, describing its work as &quot;one-sided and inefficient&quot;.

The move came only days after The Gambia on Monday formally notified the United Nations it was leaving the ICC, following in the footsteps of South Africa and Burundi.

&quot;Don&#39;t go,&quot; pleaded Senegalese minister Sidiki Kaba, the president of the ICC&#39;s Assembly of State Parties as he opened an eight-day meeting. &quot;In a world criss-crossed by violent extremism...it is urgent and necessary to defend the ideal of justice for all.&quot;

The tribunal opened in 2002 in The Hague as a court of last resort to try the world&#39;s worst crimes where national courts are unable or unwilling to act.

In his passionate plea, Kaba admitted the ICC was undergoing a &quot;difficult moment&quot;.

With Russia and China having blocked UN moves to refer war crimes in Syria to the ICC for investigation, Kaba acknowledged some believed international justice was marred by double standards. But he offered reassurances, saying: &quot;You have been heard.&quot;

There have long been accusations of bias against African nations. And Kenya, Namibia and Uganda have also indicated they are considering pulling out of the Rome Statute.

&nbsp;

&#39;Legal dilemma&#39;&nbsp;

South Africa&#39;s Justice Minister Michael Masutha told the assembly the decision to quit &quot;was not taken lightly&quot; by his country, which had played a major role in drawing up the founding statute. He argued South Africa had been treated unfairly by the court when it did not arrest visiting Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, even though the ICC has issued an international warrant for his arrest on war crimes charges.

Pretoria had found itself caught in a dilemma, with &quot;conflicting obligations&quot; to uphold both the ICC&#39;s rules and international law granting immunity to heads of state, Masutha said, adding his country &quot;would not become a safe haven for fugitives.&quot;

Chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda insisted however her office would continue &quot;to forge ahead to deliver on its important mandate&quot;. &quot;Without the ICC we will regress into an even more turbulent world where chaos and violence take the upper hand.&quot;

Amnesty International slammed Moscow&#39;s &quot;cynical&quot; move as a bid &quot;to undermine the progress towards international justice&quot;.

But Bensouda told AFP later that Russia&#39;s decision would not impede her ongoing investigation into alleged war crimes during the brief 2008 war between Russia and Georgia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia. &quot;We will continue to do our work,&quot; she said, adding her office would seek &quot;as much information from alternative sources as possible&quot;.

Bensouda has also opened preliminary probes into cases in the Palestinian territories, Colombia as well as Ukraine, and revealed she may be poised to launch her most complex investigation so far.

In her annual report she said there was a &quot;reasonable basis&quot; to believe US troops as well as the Taliban and Afghan forces may have committed war crimes in Afghanistan.

&nbsp;

&#39;Do not betray victims&#39;&nbsp;

If a full-blown investigation goes ahead, US forces would be exposed for the first time to an ICC investigation, although it is highly unlikely any American troops would end up in the dock in The Hague.

Palestinian foreign minister Riad Malik meanwhile pressed the court to launch a full investigation into what he said where &quot;crimes that continue to be committed by Israeli occupation&quot;.

To drop the probe &quot;would send a message to our children...that criminals can get away with their crimes, because we live in a world where might is right&quot;.

UN human rights chief Zeid Ra&#39;ad Al Hussein warned of &quot;a new trend&quot; of isolationism, adding &quot;now is not the time to abandon the post. This is the time of resolve and strength&quot;.

&quot;Do not betray the victims, nor your own people. Stand by the Rome Statute and the court.&quot;

(AFP)

Russia has never ratified the world's only permanent war crimes court, and called it 'one-sided and inefficient'

Russia dealt the International Criminal Court (ICC) a fresh blow Wednesday as the court's top officials urged nations to support the tribunal hit by a wave of unprecedented defections. Moscow has never ratified the world's only permanent war crimes court, but in a heavily symbolic move on the opening day of the ICC's annual meeting, it said it was formally withdrawing its signature to the tribunal's founding Rome Statute. "The court did not live up to the hopes associated with it and did not become truly independent," Russia's foreign ministry said, describing its work as "one-sided and inefficient". The move came only days after The Gambia on Monday formally notified the United Nations it was leaving the ICC, following in the footsteps of South Africa and Burundi. "Don't go," pleaded Senegalese minister Sidiki Kaba, the president of the ICC's Assembly of State Parties as he opened an eight-day meeting. "In a world criss-crossed by violent extremism...it is urgent and necessary to defend the ideal of justice for all." The tribunal opened in 2002 in The Hague as a court of last resort to try the world's worst crimes where national courts are unable or unwilling to act. In his passionate plea, Kaba admitted the ICC was undergoing a "difficult moment". With Russia and China having blocked UN moves to refer war crimes in Syria to the ICC for investigation, Kaba acknowledged some believed international justice was marred by double standards. But he offered reassurances, saying: "You have been heard." There have long been accusations of bias against African nations. And Kenya, Namibia and Uganda have also indicated they are considering pulling out of the Rome Statute. 'Legal dilemma' South Africa's Justice Minister Michael Masutha told the assembly the decision to quit "was not taken lightly" by his country, which had played a major role in drawing up the founding statute. He argued South Africa had been treated unfairly by the court when it did not arrest visiting Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, even though the ICC has issued an international warrant for his arrest on war crimes charges. Pretoria had found itself caught in a dilemma, with "conflicting obligations" to uphold both the ICC's rules and international law granting immunity to heads of state, Masutha said, adding his country "would not become a safe haven for fugitives." Chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda insisted however her office would continue "to forge ahead to deliver on its important mandate". "Without the ICC we will regress into an even more turbulent world where chaos and violence take the upper hand." Amnesty International slammed Moscow's "cynical" move as a bid "to undermine the progress towards international justice". But Bensouda told AFP later that Russia's decision would not impede her ongoing investigation into alleged war crimes during the brief 2008 war between Russia and Georgia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia. "We will continue to do our work," she said, adding her office would seek "as much information from alternative sources as possible". Bensouda has also opened preliminary probes into cases in the Palestinian territories, Colombia as well as Ukraine, and revealed she may be poised to launch her most complex investigation so far. In her annual report she said there was a "reasonable basis" to believe US troops as well as the Taliban and Afghan forces may have committed war crimes in Afghanistan. 'Do not betray victims' If a full-blown investigation goes ahead, US forces would be exposed for the first time to an ICC investigation, although it is highly unlikely any American troops would end up in the dock in The Hague. Palestinian foreign minister Riad Malik meanwhile pressed the court to launch a full investigation into what he said where "crimes that continue to be committed by Israeli occupation". To drop the probe "would send a message to our children...that criminals can get away with their crimes, because we live in a world where might is right". UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein warned of "a new trend" of isolationism, adding "now is not the time to abandon the post. This is the time of resolve and strength". "Do not betray the victims, nor your own people. Stand by the Rome Statute and the court." (AFP)

Russia withdraws from International Criminal Court

India will become the last Test nation to embrace cricket&#39;s decision review system (DRS) this week, ending their resistance to on-field technology at a time of growing debate about its impact on the game.

While the recent series between England and Bangladesh fuelled criticism that the constant resort to TV replays has undermined umpires&#39; confidence, DRS supporters say the technology is rapidly improving.

While the other nine teams have been using DRS for years, the world&#39;s number one Test side had resisted over doubts about its reliability, sparked by a frustrating trial run in 2008.

India&#39;s master batsman Sachin Tendulkar was long rumoured to be at the forefront of the opposition in the dressing room and World Cup winning skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was also a sceptic.

But opposition has faded since Tendulkar retired and Dhoni stepped down as Test skipper (he remains ODI captain).

India&#39;s agreement to employ DRS for the five-Test series against England that begins this week came after an International Cricket Council (ICC) presentation last month on upgrades in technology.

Announcing the U-turn, the country&#39;s cricket board president Anurag Thakur said India &quot;recognise the enhanced role of technology in sport&quot; and would deploy all the DRS tools in the England series.

DRS comprises three main elements: ball-tracking technology known as &#39;Hawkeye&#39;; a high-audio microphone known as &#39;snicko&#39; which detects the sound of a ball grazing the bat or gloves; and &#39;hotspot&#39; thermal imaging which can also determine where a ball makes contact.

Improved technology&nbsp;

ICC general manager Geoff Allardice said India&#39;s change of heart stemmed from improvements which more accurately predict whether the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps after hitting a batsman&#39;s pads.

&quot;Our aim for a long time has been to make the DRS technology better with an end goal of getting it used more consistently in international cricket,&quot; he said in a conference call from the ICC&#39;s Dubai headquarters.

Allardice said India&#39;s new coach Anil Kumble has been key to the change of heart after being a DRS proponent in his old position as chairman of the ICC cricket committee.

That the former spinner, who took a record 619 wickets for India, is a DRS fan is no surprise given the system is widely seen to have most benefited spinners.

Figures have shown the number of leg before wicket (LBW) decisions in favour of spinners has roughly doubled since DRS came into widespread usage in 2009.

Before, umpires could rarely be persuaded to raise their finger unless the ball was arrowed towards middle stump but batsmen now often have to walk after being hit on the pad by balls heading for off or leg.

Bishan Bedi, another legendary Indian spinner, is delighted India are finally using DRS.

&quot;Better late than never,&quot; he told AFP, saying India stood to benefit given the number of spinners they employ on their own turning tracks.

&quot;It should be good for the spinners. It cannot humanly be possible to eradicate human error so the more we can reduce it, the better.&quot;

But while India are now on board, the&nbsp;debate about the pros and cons of DRS shows no signs of abating -- particularly after 42 decisions were reviewed in last month&#39;s Bangladesh-England series.

Constant scrutiny

Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena had 16 decisions reviewed, eight of which were overturned by a colleague scrutinising the slow-motion replays.

The constant reviews drained some of the drama from a nail-biting series. It reached its nadir at the end of the first Test when England had to wait several minutes before their victory was confirmed.

Allardice acknowledged the number of reviews going against an umpire was a factor in deciding whether they remain on the elite panel which officiate in Tests, while insisting the ICC wouldn&#39;t &quot;jump to a conclusion on the basis of one single performance&quot;.

India&#39;s former international umpire Krishna Hariharan said it was important players continued to respect the umpires&#39; authority.

&quot;If technology can assist in the betterment of cricket it is definitely welcome, but remember it is always in the hands of the on-field umpire,&quot; said Hariharan who sits on India&#39;s umpire assessment committee.

Some observers say DRS has also undermined a basic tenet of the game, accepting the rough with the smooth.

&quot;There is much rhetoric about the spirit of cricket: but few things have betrayed that spirit more&quot; than DRS, the columnist Simon Heffer wrote in Britain&#39;s Daily Telegraph recently.

(AFP)

India's agreement to employ DRS came after an International Cricket Council (ICC) presentation last month on upgrades in technology

India will become the last Test nation to embrace cricket's decision review system (DRS) this week, ending their resistance to on-field technology at a time of growing debate about its impact on the game. While the recent series between England and Bangladesh fuelled criticism that the constant resort to TV replays has undermined umpires' confidence, DRS supporters say the technology is rapidly improving. While the other nine teams have been using DRS for years, the world's number one Test side had resisted over doubts about its reliability, sparked by a frustrating trial run in 2008. India's master batsman Sachin Tendulkar was long rumoured to be at the forefront of the opposition in the dressing room and World Cup winning skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was also a sceptic. But opposition has faded since Tendulkar retired and Dhoni stepped down as Test skipper (he remains ODI captain). India's agreement to employ DRS for the five-Test series against England that begins this week came after an International Cricket Council (ICC) presentation last month on upgrades in technology. Announcing the U-turn, the country's cricket board president Anurag Thakur said India "recognise the enhanced role of technology in sport" and would deploy all the DRS tools in the England series. DRS comprises three main elements: ball-tracking technology known as 'Hawkeye'; a high-audio microphone known as 'snicko' which detects the sound of a ball grazing the bat or gloves; and 'hotspot' thermal imaging which can also determine where a ball makes contact. Improved technology ICC general manager Geoff Allardice said India's change of heart stemmed from improvements which more accurately predict whether the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps after hitting a batsman's pads. "Our aim for a long time has been to make the DRS technology better with an end goal of getting it used more consistently in international cricket," he said in a conference call from the ICC's Dubai headquarters. Allardice said India's new coach Anil Kumble has been key to the change of heart after being a DRS proponent in his old position as chairman of the ICC cricket committee. That the former spinner, who took a record 619 wickets for India, is a DRS fan is no surprise given the system is widely seen to have most benefited spinners. Figures have shown the number of leg before wicket (LBW) decisions in favour of spinners has roughly doubled since DRS came into widespread usage in 2009. Before, umpires could rarely be persuaded to raise their finger unless the ball was arrowed towards middle stump but batsmen now often have to walk after being hit on the pad by balls heading for off or leg. Bishan Bedi, another legendary Indian spinner, is delighted India are finally using DRS. "Better late than never," he told AFP, saying India stood to benefit given the number of spinners they employ on their own turning tracks. "It should be good for the spinners. It cannot humanly be possible to eradicate human error so the more we can reduce it, the better." But while India are now on board, the debate about the pros and cons of DRS shows no signs of abating -- particularly after 42 decisions were reviewed in last month's Bangladesh-England series. Constant scrutiny Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena had 16 decisions reviewed, eight of which were overturned by a colleague scrutinising the slow-motion replays. The constant reviews drained some of the drama from a nail-biting series. It reached its nadir at the end of the first Test when England had to wait several minutes before their victory was confirmed. Allardice acknowledged the number of reviews going against an umpire was a factor in deciding whether they remain on the elite panel which officiate in Tests, while insisting the ICC wouldn't "jump to a conclusion on the basis of one single performance". India's former international umpire Krishna Hariharan said it was important players continued to respect the umpires' authority. "If technology can assist in the betterment of cricket it is definitely welcome, but remember it is always in the hands of the on-field umpire," said Hariharan who sits on India's umpire assessment committee. Some observers say DRS has also undermined a basic tenet of the game, accepting the rough with the smooth. "There is much rhetoric about the spirit of cricket: but few things have betrayed that spirit more" than DRS, the columnist Simon Heffer wrote in Britain's Daily Telegraph recently. (AFP)

Cricket: DRS makes India debut but debate still rages

India&#39;s top court today decided to reserve its order to pass direction over Justice Lodha committee plea alleging that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is violating the apex court order and committee directions regarding the BCCI reforms.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Anurag Thakur, however, filed an affidavit and told India&#39;s top court that he had not asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO, Shashank Manohar, to state that the appointment of Justice R M Lodha committee would &quot;tantamount to government interference&quot; in the functioning of BCCI, Indian news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

In the affidavit, Thakur said:&nbsp;&quot;I am filing this affidavit pursuant to the order dated October 7, passed by this court on whether I had asked the CEO of the ICC to state that the appointment of Justice Lodha Committee was tantamount to government interference in the working of the BCCI.&quot;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;At the outset, it is denied that any such request was put forth by me to the CEO of the ICC,&quot; Thakur said in his affidavit, according to PTI.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

He told the apex court that he said he took part in a recent ICC meeting where he had pointed out to the ICC chief that he, as the then BCCI president, had taken a view that Justice Lodha panel recommendation on appointment of a CAG nominee in the apex council would amount to governmental interference and may invoke action of suspension of the Board from the ICC.

&nbsp;

It&#39;s pertinent to mention that Lodha Committee is a Supreme Court-appointed panel that was formed after the national cricket governing body got embroiled in controversy over alleged siphoning of funds. The panel was formed to overhaul the functioning of BCCI.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;I, therefore, requested him that he being the ICC chairman, can a letter be issued clarifying the position which he had taken as BCCI President,&quot; the affidavit said. &quot;Manohar explained to me at the meeting that when the stand was taken by him, the matter was pending before this court and had not been decided.&quot;

&nbsp;

The affidavit also mentioned that BCCI had later rejected BCCI&#39;s contention that the appointment of CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India ) nominee in the council would amount to governmental interference, PTI reported. &nbsp;The apex court had held that the ICC would appreciate that the appointment would bring transparency in the finances of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

&nbsp;

According to ICC regulations, national boards must not have government interference in its administrative body. A transgression in this regard could lead to de-recognition of member boards, Indian news agency ANI reported today.

&nbsp;

Earlier during the hearing, SC&nbsp;had dismissed BCCI&#39;s response to the status report filed by the Lodha committee following the board&#39;s failure to meet an important deadline with respect to the implementation of a Memorandum of Associations (MoA), as necessitated by the timelines framed by the Lodha committee, according to ANI.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Justice TS Thakur had criticised the BCCI for transferring Rs 400 crore overnight to its state associations, which was against the Lodha panel&#39;s recommendations.

&nbsp;

Insisting that the national cricket board should have maintained transparency, the &nbsp;court had said: &nbsp;&quot;You can&#39;t transfer Rs 400 crore overnight.&quot; BCCI, on the other hand, had refuted allegations of non-compliance with Lodha panel&#39;s recommendations.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The SC-appointed panel, Lodha Committee, last week, accused the BCCI of defying the apex court`s orders and stalling its proposed reforms. It also recommended the ouster of the entire top brass of the cash-rich cricket body.

&nbsp;

The recommendations, which have still not been accepted by the 30-member BCCI committee, include one-state one-vote, age limit of 70 years, cooling-off period of three years which included the tenure of the administrators, continue with the five-selectors and keeping to retaining the powers of the president and secretary as per the earlier constitution of the board.Defending its action, the BCCI said, &quot;a meeting comprising all members took place, and several recommendations of the Lodha Committee were rejected by voting&quot;.

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from PTI, ANI)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Supreme Court reserved its order to pass direction over Justice Lodha committee plea alleging that BCCI is violating the apex court order

India's top court today decided to reserve its order to pass direction over Justice Lodha committee plea alleging that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is violating the apex court order and committee directions regarding the BCCI reforms. The president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Anurag Thakur, however, filed an affidavit and told India's top court that he had not asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO, Shashank Manohar, to state that the appointment of Justice R M Lodha committee would "tantamount to government interference" in the functioning of BCCI, Indian news agency PTI reported. In the affidavit, Thakur said: "I am filing this affidavit pursuant to the order dated October 7, passed by this court on whether I had asked the CEO of the ICC to state that the appointment of Justice Lodha Committee was tantamount to government interference in the working of the BCCI." "At the outset, it is denied that any such request was put forth by me to the CEO of the ICC," Thakur said in his affidavit, according to PTI. He told the apex court that he said he took part in a recent ICC meeting where he had pointed out to the ICC chief that he, as the then BCCI president, had taken a view that Justice Lodha panel recommendation on appointment of a CAG nominee in the apex council would amount to governmental interference and may invoke action of suspension of the Board from the ICC. It's pertinent to mention that Lodha Committee is a Supreme Court-appointed panel that was formed after the national cricket governing body got embroiled in controversy over alleged siphoning of funds. The panel was formed to overhaul the functioning of BCCI. "I, therefore, requested him that he being the ICC chairman, can a letter be issued clarifying the position which he had taken as BCCI President," the affidavit said. "Manohar explained to me at the meeting that when the stand was taken by him, the matter was pending before this court and had not been decided." The affidavit also mentioned that BCCI had later rejected BCCI's contention that the appointment of CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India ) nominee in the council would amount to governmental interference, PTI reported. The apex court had held that the ICC would appreciate that the appointment would bring transparency in the finances of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). According to ICC regulations, national boards must not have government interference in its administrative body. A transgression in this regard could lead to de-recognition of member boards, Indian news agency ANI reported today. Earlier during the hearing, SC had dismissed BCCI's response to the status report filed by the Lodha committee following the board's failure to meet an important deadline with respect to the implementation of a Memorandum of Associations (MoA), as necessitated by the timelines framed by the Lodha committee, according to ANI. Justice TS Thakur had criticised the BCCI for transferring Rs 400 crore overnight to its state associations, which was against the Lodha panel's recommendations. Insisting that the national cricket board should have maintained transparency, the court had said: "You can't transfer Rs 400 crore overnight." BCCI, on the other hand, had refuted allegations of non-compliance with Lodha panel's recommendations. The SC-appointed panel, Lodha Committee, last week, accused the BCCI of defying the apex court`s orders and stalling its proposed reforms. It also recommended the ouster of the entire top brass of the cash-rich cricket body. The recommendations, which have still not been accepted by the 30-member BCCI committee, include one-state one-vote, age limit of 70 years, cooling-off period of three years which included the tenure of the administrators, continue with the five-selectors and keeping to retaining the powers of the president and secretary as per the earlier constitution of the board.Defending its action, the BCCI said, "a meeting comprising all members took place, and several recommendations of the Lodha Committee were rejected by voting". (WION with inputs from PTI, ANI)

BCCI-Lodha Committee standoff: India's top court reserves order

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)&nbsp;president Anurag Thakur allegedly urged the International Cricket Council (ICC), the governing body of cricket, in September to write a letter threatening India&#39;s suspension if there is interference in its functioning.

India&#39;s Supreme Court has asked the 41-year-old administrator to file an affidavit explaining his conversation with ICC chief executive officer Dave Richardson regarding the alleged request. The court has given Thakur 10 days&#39; time to file the affidavit.&nbsp;

DNA, on September 10, had carried a report about how Thakur had asked ICC to write a letter to BCCI saying it would suspend the board if there was any intrusion.

As per ICC regulations, any interference by government in the functioning of its member boards is not tolerated.

However, ICC chairman Shashank Manohar had told Richardson to ask for a formal request from Thakur in this regard. But the matter died there as BCCI could not put in a formal request as it would have invited contempt of court proceedings against it.

Richardson later came on record saying that Thakur was not happy with the ICC&#39;s refusal to write the letter.

&quot;Mr Thakur actually criticised the ICC for not sending the letter,&quot; he was quoted as saying.

The BCCI, which is the governing body for cricket in the country, and the Indian judiciary have been at odds in recent months, as the former has refused to implement changes recommended by the Lodha Committee.

The Lodha Committee was instated by the Indian supreme court in order to overhaul the administrative structure of the cricket board. The panel recommended several changes, including&nbsp;age limit of 70 years for all office bearers&nbsp;and a tenure limit of nine years with a cooling off period. The BCCI is yet to accept these suggestions.

(The report first appeared in DNA)

It is suspected Anurag Thakur asked the ICC for the letter to help evade the Lodha Committee recommendations

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Anurag Thakur allegedly urged the International Cricket Council (ICC), the governing body of cricket, in September to write a letter threatening India's suspension if there is interference in its functioning. India's Supreme Court has asked the 41-year-old administrator to file an affidavit explaining his conversation with ICC chief executive officer Dave Richardson regarding the alleged request. The court has given Thakur 10 days' time to file the affidavit. DNA, on September 10, had carried a report about how Thakur had asked ICC to write a letter to BCCI saying it would suspend the board if there was any intrusion. As per ICC regulations, any interference by government in the functioning of its member boards is not tolerated. However, ICC chairman Shashank Manohar had told Richardson to ask for a formal request from Thakur in this regard. But the matter died there as BCCI could not put in a formal request as it would have invited contempt of court proceedings against it. Richardson later came on record saying that Thakur was not happy with the ICC's refusal to write the letter. "Mr Thakur actually criticised the ICC for not sending the letter," he was quoted as saying. The BCCI, which is the governing body for cricket in the country, and the Indian judiciary have been at odds in recent months, as the former has refused to implement changes recommended by the Lodha Committee. The Lodha Committee was instated by the Indian supreme court in order to overhaul the administrative structure of the cricket board. The panel recommended several changes, including age limit of 70 years for all office bearers and a tenure limit of nine years with a cooling off period. The BCCI is yet to accept these suggestions. (The report first appeared in DNA)

BCCI chief in soup for wanting ICC letter threatening to 'suspend India'

The head of India&#39;s powerful cricket board has voiced opposition to controversial plans for a two-tier Test system being considered by the game&#39;s governing body, a report said today. 
 
Anurag Thakur, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), told a newspaper that smaller nations would lose out on revenue and the chance to compete against the top teams. 
 
&quot;The BCCI is against the two-tier Test system because the smaller countries will lose out, and the BCCI wants to take care of them. It is necessary to protect their interests,&quot; a Chennai-based daily, quoted him as saying. 
 
&quot;In the two-tier system, they will lose out on a lot, including revenue and the opportunity to play against top teams. We don&#39;t want that to happen.&nbsp;We want to work in the best interests of world cricket and that is why our team plays against all the countries.&quot; 
 
The International Cricket Council (ICC) first discussed the proposal to split Test cricket into two divisions at a meeting in Edinburgh last month, and is due to debate the plan further in September. 
 
Under the scheme being considered, the top seven-ranked teams would join a de facto premier league designed to boost interest in Test cricket.&nbsp;The other three lowest ranked sides which are currently the West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, would then join a second division, which would also include the likes of Afghanistan and Ireland. 
 
Although England, Australia and New Zealand have all come out in favour of the proposal, India&#39;s opposition could well mean it is now dead in the water. 
 
Former BCCI president Shashank Manohar is head of the ICC and India, which is the game&#39;s financial powerhouse, has a history of ensuring that its stance prevails on key debates within the global body. 
 
The plan has been fiercely opposed by the likes of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, which is at risk of falling outside the top seven after sliding down the rankings in the last year. 
 
The smaller Test teams financial survival largely depends on their ability to sell television rights to matches against teams such as India and England. 
 
(AFP)

Although England, Australia and New Zealand all favour the proposal, India's opposition could well mean it is now dead in the water

The head of India's powerful cricket board has voiced opposition to controversial plans for a two-tier Test system being considered by the game's governing body, a report said today. Anurag Thakur, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), told a newspaper that smaller nations would lose out on revenue and the chance to compete against the top teams. "The BCCI is against the two-tier Test system because the smaller countries will lose out, and the BCCI wants to take care of them. It is necessary to protect their interests," a Chennai-based daily, quoted him as saying. "In the two-tier system, they will lose out on a lot, including revenue and the opportunity to play against top teams. We don't want that to happen. We want to work in the best interests of world cricket and that is why our team plays against all the countries." The International Cricket Council (ICC) first discussed the proposal to split Test cricket into two divisions at a meeting in Edinburgh last month, and is due to debate the plan further in September. Under the scheme being considered, the top seven-ranked teams would join a de facto premier league designed to boost interest in Test cricket. The other three lowest ranked sides which are currently the West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, would then join a second division, which would also include the likes of Afghanistan and Ireland. Although England, Australia and New Zealand have all come out in favour of the proposal, India's opposition could well mean it is now dead in the water. Former BCCI president Shashank Manohar is head of the ICC and India, which is the game's financial powerhouse, has a history of ensuring that its stance prevails on key debates within the global body. The plan has been fiercely opposed by the likes of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, which is at risk of falling outside the top seven after sliding down the rankings in the last year. The smaller Test teams financial survival largely depends on their ability to sell television rights to matches against teams such as India and England. (AFP)

India's cricket board opposes two-tier Test plan: report

Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin dethroned Pakistan&#39;s Yasir Shah to top the International Cricket Council&#39;s (ICC) test rankings after his match-winning display against West Indies in the first test. 
 
The 29-year-old picked up figures of 7-83 in the second innings as the visitors cruised to an innings-and-92 runs victory inside four days in Antigua. 
 
Leg spinner Yasir, who became the first Pakistani bowler in 20 years to top the test rankings, dropped to fifth after managing just one wicket in the second test defeat against England at Old Trafford. Ashwin, who also tops the all-rounders ranking, is followed by England&#39;s James Anderson and Stuart Broad, who both moved up one place respectively. 
 
Joe Root&#39;s magnificent 254 in the 330-run victory against Pakistan has helped him move into the second place in the test rankings for batsmen, behind Australian Steve Smith, who retains top spot. England&#39;s test skipper Alastair Cook, also moved back into the top 10 at ninth place on the back of a century and an unbeaten 76 in the second test. 
 
(Reuters) 
 
&nbsp;

Ravichandran Ashwin picked up figures of 7-83 in the second innings of the first test against West Indies in Antigua

Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin dethroned Pakistan's Yasir Shah to top the International Cricket Council's (ICC) test rankings after his match-winning display against West Indies in the first test. The 29-year-old picked up figures of 7-83 in the second innings as the visitors cruised to an innings-and-92 runs victory inside four days in Antigua. Leg spinner Yasir, who became the first Pakistani bowler in 20 years to top the test rankings, dropped to fifth after managing just one wicket in the second test defeat against England at Old Trafford. Ashwin, who also tops the all-rounders ranking, is followed by England's James Anderson and Stuart Broad, who both moved up one place respectively. Joe Root's magnificent 254 in the 330-run victory against Pakistan has helped him move into the second place in the test rankings for batsmen, behind Australian Steve Smith, who retains top spot. England's test skipper Alastair Cook, also moved back into the top 10 at ninth place on the back of a century and an unbeaten 76 in the second test. (Reuters)

Indian off-spinner R Ashwin regains number one spot in ICC test rankings

The International Cricket Council (ICC) will apply for the inclusion of women&#39;s cricket at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Durban, South Africa, said&nbsp;the governing body. 
 
Cricket has struggled to venture into new markets away from its traditional strongholds and the influential Indian board&#39;s reluctance to embrace multi-sports events as a means to increase exposure has hindered growth. 
 
Following a presentation by the Commonwealth Games Federation, the ICC board agreed to apply for a women&#39;s competition at the Durban Games during its annual conference in Edinburgh on Saturday. 
 
&quot;It will enhance the profile of the sport and create additional exposure and experiences for female cricketers,&quot; ICC chairman Shashank Manohar, a former head of the Indian board, said in a statement. 
 
South Africa won the men&#39;s event when cricket took place at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia, the only time the sport has been included in the programme. 
 
The Asian Games remains the largest multi-sports event that features cricket and the last two editions included both men&#39;s and women&#39;s competitions. 
 
The ICC has also been exploring the possibility of getting cricket added to the Olympic programme. 
 
&quot;There will be further discussions on cricket&#39;s potential participation in the Olympic Games following further meetings with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) later in the year,&quot; the governing body said. 
 
President of the Italian board Simone Gambino told ESPNcricinfo on Friday that cricket would be included in the 2024 Olympics should Rome win the bid to host the Games. 
 
(Reuters)

South Africa won the men's event when cricket took place at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia, the only time the sport has been included in the programme

The International Cricket Council (ICC) will apply for the inclusion of women's cricket at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Durban, South Africa, said the governing body. Cricket has struggled to venture into new markets away from its traditional strongholds and the influential Indian board's reluctance to embrace multi-sports events as a means to increase exposure has hindered growth. Following a presentation by the Commonwealth Games Federation, the ICC board agreed to apply for a women's competition at the Durban Games during its annual conference in Edinburgh on Saturday. "It will enhance the profile of the sport and create additional exposure and experiences for female cricketers," ICC chairman Shashank Manohar, a former head of the Indian board, said in a statement. South Africa won the men's event when cricket took place at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia, the only time the sport has been included in the programme. The Asian Games remains the largest multi-sports event that features cricket and the last two editions included both men's and women's competitions. The ICC has also been exploring the possibility of getting cricket added to the Olympic programme. "There will be further discussions on cricket's potential participation in the Olympic Games following further meetings with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) later in the year," the governing body said. President of the Italian board Simone Gambino told ESPNcricinfo on Friday that cricket would be included in the 2024 Olympics should Rome win the bid to host the Games. (Reuters)

ICC wants women's cricket at 2022 Commonwealth Games

Nadia Murad, a 23-year-old Yazidi&nbsp;woman from Iraq, endured a three-month nightmare as a sex slave of the Islamic State (IS) group. 
 
After her harrowing escape with the help of a fake religious ID nearly two years ago, Murad has a message for world leaders striving to crush the extremists: IS leaders must stand trial for genocide. 
 
&quot;Genocide must be recognised,&quot; Nadia Murad told AFP through a translator in Geneva, on the side of a human rights event held in the Swiss city. 
 
As Iraq wages an offensive against Islamic State, with government forces retaking full control of the jihadist bastion of Fallujah on Sunday, UN investigators are making a renewed push for justice for the jihadists&#39; victims. 
 
The Yazidis, neither Muslim nor Arab, are an ancient religious minority of more than half a million people concentrated near the Syrian border in northern Iraq. 
 
The Islamic State despises the Kurdish-speaking gropu because Yazidis are not &quot;people of the book&quot;, meaning their faith does not adhere to the theological tradition that begins with Abraham of the Old Testament and extends through the Koran. 
 
In 2014, IS jihadists massacred Yazidis in the Iraqi city of Sinjar, forcing tens of thousands of them to flee, and capturing thousands of girls and women as spoils of war. 
 
The UN Commission of Inquiry (COI) for Syria earlier this month said it had compiled evidence proving that IS was perpetrating a genocide against the Yazidis. 
 
With Iraqi leaders hailing their recent victories over IS in Fallujah and weighing a new operation to flush them out of their northern strongholds like Mosul, Nadia Murad insisted that the need for accountability should not be forgotten. 
 
Forced Islam conversion 
 
She was taken by the Islamic State from her home village in August 2014 and brought to Mosul. 
 
&quot;The first thing they did was they forced us to convert to Islam,&quot; she said. &quot;After conversion, they did whatever they wanted to do.&quot; 
 
During a speech held in December 2015 at the UN Security Council, Murad recounted her so-called &#39;marriage&#39; to one IS captor, who subjected her to horrific abuse. 
 
&quot;I was not able to take any more rape and torture,&quot; she told. She decided to flee. 
 
On the run in Mosul, Murad said she was terrified that no one would help her, but she ultimately found shelter with a Muslim family in the city. 
 
&quot;They made me a fake Islamic ID,&quot; she said, which she used to cross the border into Iraqi Kurdistan. 
 
She lived in a camp for displaced people and, with the support of theYazidi&nbsp;welfare organisation Yazda, relocated to Germany, where she now lives with her sister. 
 
&#39;Roadmap for prosecutions&#39; 
 
The United Nations and several other Western institutions&nbsp;suggested last year that the IS assault on the Yazidis amounted to a premeditated, genocidal effort to exterminate an entire community. 
 
The evidence presented by the UN Commission of Inquiry earlier this month was more conclusive. 
 
COI member and former international prosecutor Carla del Ponte described the commission&#39;s report as &quot;a roadmap for prosecutions&quot;. 
 
Supported by witness testimony, the commission found that IS &quot;sought to erase the Yazidis through killings, sexual slavery, enslavement, torture and inhuman and degrading treatment&quot;. 
 
Referring heinous, mass crimes to the International Criminal Court often meets obstacles in the UN Security Council for political reasons. 
 
But COI members expressed hope that the&nbsp;Yazidi&nbsp;case could be investigated by The Hague-based International Criminal Court. 
 
Nadia Murad, one of 376 people and organisations nominated for this year&#39;s Nobel Peace Prize, broke down in tears as she told a UN audience the extent to which her people felt abandoned by the international community. 
 
Speaking at a Human Rights Council event in Geneva last week, she said that anger would intensify if the IS attempt to exterminate the Yazidis did not lead to prosecutions. 
 
&quot;For you to regain the trust of the Yazidis will take a lot of work,&quot; she said. 
 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

Nadia Murad was held captive as a sex slave. She survived rapes and tortures, and now urges the world to trial IS for genocide

Nadia Murad, a 23-year-old Yazidi woman from Iraq, endured a three-month nightmare as a sex slave of the Islamic State (IS) group. After her harrowing escape with the help of a fake religious ID nearly two years ago, Murad has a message for world leaders striving to crush the extremists: IS leaders must stand trial for genocide. "Genocide must be recognised," Nadia Murad told AFP through a translator in Geneva, on the side of a human rights event held in the Swiss city. As Iraq wages an offensive against Islamic State, with government forces retaking full control of the jihadist bastion of Fallujah on Sunday, UN investigators are making a renewed push for justice for the jihadists' victims. The Yazidis, neither Muslim nor Arab, are an ancient religious minority of more than half a million people concentrated near the Syrian border in northern Iraq. The Islamic State despises the Kurdish-speaking gropu because Yazidis are not "people of the book", meaning their faith does not adhere to the theological tradition that begins with Abraham of the Old Testament and extends through the Koran. In 2014, IS jihadists massacred Yazidis in the Iraqi city of Sinjar, forcing tens of thousands of them to flee, and capturing thousands of girls and women as spoils of war. The UN Commission of Inquiry (COI) for Syria earlier this month said it had compiled evidence proving that IS was perpetrating a genocide against the Yazidis. With Iraqi leaders hailing their recent victories over IS in Fallujah and weighing a new operation to flush them out of their northern strongholds like Mosul, Nadia Murad insisted that the need for accountability should not be forgotten. Forced Islam conversion She was taken by the Islamic State from her home village in August 2014 and brought to Mosul. "The first thing they did was they forced us to convert to Islam," she said. "After conversion, they did whatever they wanted to do." During a speech held in December 2015 at the UN Security Council, Murad recounted her so-called 'marriage' to one IS captor, who subjected her to horrific abuse. "I was not able to take any more rape and torture," she told. She decided to flee. On the run in Mosul, Murad said she was terrified that no one would help her, but she ultimately found shelter with a Muslim family in the city. "They made me a fake Islamic ID," she said, which she used to cross the border into Iraqi Kurdistan. She lived in a camp for displaced people and, with the support of theYazidi welfare organisation Yazda, relocated to Germany, where she now lives with her sister. 'Roadmap for prosecutions' The United Nations and several other Western institutions suggested last year that the IS assault on the Yazidis amounted to a premeditated, genocidal effort to exterminate an entire community. The evidence presented by the UN Commission of Inquiry earlier this month was more conclusive. COI member and former international prosecutor Carla del Ponte described the commission's report as "a roadmap for prosecutions". Supported by witness testimony, the commission found that IS "sought to erase the Yazidis through killings, sexual slavery, enslavement, torture and inhuman and degrading treatment". Referring heinous, mass crimes to the International Criminal Court often meets obstacles in the UN Security Council for political reasons. But COI members expressed hope that the Yazidi case could be investigated by The Hague-based International Criminal Court. Nadia Murad, one of 376 people and organisations nominated for this year's Nobel Peace Prize, broke down in tears as she told a UN audience the extent to which her people felt abandoned by the international community. Speaking at a Human Rights Council event in Geneva last week, she said that anger would intensify if the IS attempt to exterminate the Yazidis did not lead to prosecutions. "For you to regain the trust of the Yazidis will take a lot of work," she said. (AFP)

Islamic State must stand trial for genocide: Yazidi woman survivor

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