The year 2021 for international cricket has been very peppy and dynamic. The calendar year took massive strides to cover everything for what was lost in 2020. Both the longest and the shortest formats enjoyed exclusive demands because of the two ICC events. Even the associate nations got their cogs moving eventually because of the qualifiers of the 2021 World T20.

However, as the year unfolded itself, both the top giants and other nations got brimmed with controversies and disputes. Especially teams like India and Pakistan witnessed a tussle inside their governing bodies whereas the ECB and CSA got defamed because of racism.

Barring the good boys of international cricket (New Zealand), almost every other international team experienced controversial acts happening both on and off the field.

Hence in this list, let’s check out the biggest ones:

1. Quinton De Kock refusing to take the knee

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-574626" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Quinton-de-Kock-taking-knee.jpg" alt="Quinton de Kock taking knee" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-574626" class="wp-caption-text">Quinton de Kock taking knee. (Photo source: Disney+Hotstar)</figcaption>

Quinton de Kock in 2021 has become a very consistent and pragmatic batter. For South Africa, the cricketer scored tons of runs across all formats. Even as a T20 freelancer QDK won the maiden “The Hundred Men’s Competition”. But in the 2021 World T20, this ace gloveman encountered massive limelight especially for <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20-world-cup-2021-quinton-de-kock-withdraws-from-sa-vs-wi-game-after-csas-directive-to-take-a-knee/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">withdrawing himself from taking the knee</a>.

In the group stage game against West Indies, CSA had commanded the team to take the knee with regards to the Black Lives Matter movement. But De Kock found it unpleasant especially in a way that the team was told. Personally, the 29-year old felt that his rights were taken away when informed to carry such an act.

Also, during his <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/quinton-de-kock-apologises-to-south-africa-teammates-and-fans-to-take-the-knee-in-rest-of-wc-matches/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clarification statement</a>, De Kock opined that he didn’t understand why he had to prove it with a gesture especially when he lives and learns from people coming from all walks of life. Overall, while eventually both De Kock and CSA made peace with the incident, it was yet another time when CSA was badly admonished on the subject of racism.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-576133" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Azeem-Rafiq.jpg" alt="Azeem Rafiq" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-576133" class="wp-caption-text">Azeem Rafiq. (Photo by Philip Brown/Popperfoto via Getty Images)</figcaption>

Well, there’s certainly no doubt that Azim Rafiq’s latest racism episode has badly jeopardized ECB’s image in world cricket. In December 2020, Rafiq had filed a legal complaint against the Yorkshire club for direct discrimination and harassment on the grounds of race. The cricketer also claimed that during his playing years (2008-2018) the club carried deep roots of racism that also contemplated him into <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-was-close-to-committing-suicide-pakistan-born-english-cricketer-points-out-at-racism-in-yorkshire-club/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suicide</a>.

Though the club tried to resolve this through the process of judicial mediation in June 2021, the incident took a completely different turn in July 2021, when Yorkshire issued an apology based on being a <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/yorkshire-admit-former-player-azeem-rafeeq-was-victim-of-racial-harassment-and-bullying/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">victim of unfair treatment</a> and denied the racism allegations. However, Rafiq then without holding back continued fighting that ultimately made the entire issue public.

Overall, the repercussions of this entire controversy not only made the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/yorkshire-chairman-roger-hutton-resigns-amidst-racism-allegations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">club’s chairman resign</a> but also has prohibited Yorkshire from hosting any international fixtures. Even the former England skipper Michael Vaughan has been alleged in this entire racism episode.

3. Afghan cricket rocked by Taliban takeover

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-555293" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Afghanistan-women.jpeg" alt="Afghanistan women" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-555293" class="wp-caption-text">Afghanistan woman. (Photo by AREF KARIMI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption>

In August 2021, Afghanistan as a state was again taken over by the Taliban rule. The country that loves playing and consuming cricket and other sports received an unfortunate curb from its new government. Precisely the women’s cricket team of Afghanistan was under threat of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/islam-does-not-allow-women-to-play-cricket-or-play-the-kind-of-sports-where-they-get-exposed-taliban/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not being able to play </a>the sport.

Barring this, the Taliban rule had also blocked the live telecast of the IPL 2021’s second half. Because of the presence of female spectators in the stadiums, the content was <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2021s-uae-leg-wont-be-broadcasted-in-afghanistan-due-to-anti-islamic-contest/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">termed to be anti-Islamic</a>. Perhaps apart from cricket, even the other forms of the sport were locked for women to play.

Overall, in response to the initiatives taken by the Taliban rule, Cricket Australia then took a <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ca-set-to-cancel-australia-afghanistan-test-after-talibans-views-on-womens-cricket/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hard stand</a> by postponing their historic first Test against Afghanistan.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-477767" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mohammed-Siraj-with-security-officials.jpg" alt="Mohammed Siraj with security officials" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-477767" class="wp-caption-text">Mohammed Siraj with security officials. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

There’s no doubt that India’s historic 2021 Test series win in Australia was very tumultuous. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane and his men struggled to stitch a playing XI due to injuries one after another, and off-field the Indian squad found the bio-bubbles and restrictions very strenuous. Before the last Test, the Indians were also criticized for making a fuss about the complex Covid-19 rules in Brisbane.

However, during the third Test match of the series, Indian pacer Mohammad Siraj faced <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/drunk-supporters-racially-abuse-mohammed-siraj-call-him-monkey-complaint-lodged/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">racist chants</a> from the Australian spectators. On the fourth day’s play, when the speedster brought this <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/virat-kohli-reacts-to-racial-abuse-against-mohammed-siraj-and-jasprit-bumrah-in-sydney/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">complaint to his captain</a>, the umpires certainly decided to pause the game for a brief amount of time.

This controversial scenario on the fourth day’s play then brought in an investigation from the local authorities and the NSW police. Around six people from the crowd were identified and were banished from the stadium.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-480342" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Tim-Paine-4.jpg" alt="Tim Paine Australia" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-480342" class="wp-caption-text">Tim Paine. (Photo by PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption>

Three years ago, when the Sandpaper scandal had taken shape, it was Tim Paine who had then helmed the Aussie team from the unfortunate crises. Despite not being well equipped with leadership skills, Paine almost restored the faith of many Aussie fans under his captaincy. Though the team lost twice at home against India, the 2021-22 Ashes seemed to be the last mega challenge before his retirement.

However, just about three weeks ago when the Ashes was about to begin, this Aussie gloveman got configured by a controversial incident that happened way back in 2017. The incident was about Paine being alleged of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/tim-paine-sexting-scandal-here-are-the-text-exchanges-between-australian-cricketer-and-his-female-colleague/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exchanging sexually graphic text messages</a> to a female co-worker. Ultimately with the incident then making rounds in the public domain, even Cricket Australia faced the heat for not handling it well.

Consequently, this sensitive incident not only made Tim Paine <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/tim-paine-steps-down-as-australian-captain-following-off-field-scandal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resign</a> from his captaincy but he later also announced an <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/tim-paine-takes-indefinite-break-from-cricket-for-mental-health-concerns/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">indefinite break</a> from the game.

6. New Zealand cancelling Pakistan tour at 11th hour

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-355031" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/CT_352385.jpg" alt width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-355031" class="wp-caption-text">New Zealand and Pakistan fan cheer during a game. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)</figcaption>

For Pakistan and its cricket fans, resuming international cricket at home has been their paramount dream. The PCB from the last five years has left no stone unturned to host either its neighbours (Sri Lanka) or some overseas nations. However, when a heavyweight team like New Zealand was also all set to join the initiative, an unfortunate set of events made a controversial end of the tour.

The Blackcaps had arrived in Pakistan to play three ODIs and five T20Is in September 2021. The team a day before the first ODI game on September 17th was aptly ready to start the proceedings. However next day when the ODI was supposed to begin at 2:30 pm, the NZ squad hadn’t reached the ground even till half an hour before the scheduled time of play.

While the matter initially was lensed from a Covid-19 scare angle, the NZ cricket board later then issued a clarification statement where the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/new-zealands-pakistan-tour-called-off-due-to-security-concerns/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">abandonment of tour</a> was announced because of security reasons. Overall, despite the PCB and the other security authorities laying a red carpet, the NZ team postponed the tour till 2022.

7. Rohit Sharma replacing Virat Kohli as ODI captain

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-574694" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Rohit-Sharma-and-Virat-Kohli.jpg" alt="Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-574694" class="wp-caption-text">Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

Not long ago before the 2021 World T20, Virat Kohli had stated about <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/a-big-brave-call-twitter-reacts-as-virat-kohli-announces-decision-to-step-down-as-t20i-skipper/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">giving up T20I captaincy</a>. In order to further manage his workload, King Kohli also decided to step down from leading his IPL franchise &#8211; RCB. But the Indian captain while expressing his statement had desired to continue to lead the national team in both ODIs and Tests.

However, a staggering decision by the BCCI to make Rohit Sharma the next ODI captain sparked a mammoth controversy between Virat Kohli and the board. As per the reports, the BCCI president had claimed that the selectors had requested Kohli <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/bcci-had-requested-virat-kohli-to-not-step-down-as-t20i-skipper-but-he-did-not-agree-sourav-ganguly/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not to step down</a> as the T20I captain as they did not want to have a different skipper for two different white-ball formats.

But when Virat Kohli during his latest press conference, didn’t acknowledge any such kind of statements either by the selectors or by the BCCI president, eventually the entire incident was labelled to be Virat Kohli vs The BCCI. In response, the 33-year old also has claimed that he was informed an <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-was-and-i-am-available-for-south-africa-odis-never-asked-bcci-for-any-rest-virat-kohli/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hour and a half before</a> the Test squad was revealed that he would no longer lead the ODI side.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-560228" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/David-Warner-3.jpg" alt="David Warner" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-560228" class="wp-caption-text">David Warner. (Photo Source: Disney + Hotstar)</figcaption>

Sadly in IPL 2021, the orange army endured a horrendous season. The franchise from its tally of 14 games only managed to secure three wins. By finishing last in the points table, the Hyderabad franchise also broke its five-year consecutive streak of qualifying into the playoffs.

However, barring their woeful losses, the SRH management made monumental headlines especially when their regular skipper David <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2021-kane-williamson-takes-over-sunrisers-hyderabads-srh-captaincy-for-the-remainder-of-the-season/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Warner was sacked</a>. Recently while breaking the silence on the events that had unfolded, Warner said that without giving any explanations or reasons, his captaincy was stripped.

In fact, even though when Brad Haddin, SRH’s assistant coach, had revealed reasons for Warner’s training and match practice being a concern, the southpaw explained that he never gave anything less than 100 per cent. Perhaps to add further, Warner said he was training the hardest he ever has. Overall especially considering Warner’s services to the franchise, it was an obnoxious experience for the Aussie batter.

9. Shakib Al Hasan’s hurling at the umpire in DPL

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-524772" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Shakib-Al-Hasan-DPL.jpg" alt="Shakib Al Hasan DPL" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-524772" class="wp-caption-text">Shakib Al Hasan. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Recently in June 2021, Bangladesh’s legendary name Shakib Al Hasan again dwelled himself into a problematic event. While captaining the Mohammedan Sporting Club in the Dhaka Premier League, the all-rounder <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/shakib-al-hasan-uproots-the-stumps-to-show-dissent-at-the-umpires-decision-in-dpl-2021/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">angrily kicked and threw the stumps</a> on two occasions.

As per the video and the reports, the first instance when Shakib lost his cool was because of an umpiring decision that denied LBW to him. Later on, when the umpires also took off the players from the field due to rain, Shakib wasn’t even impressed with this decision either.

Generally, though the umpiring then in DPL was termed to be biased by the BCB itself, the Bangladeshi all-rounder received a truckload of flak for his rowdy behaviour.

However in the end here’s what Shakib’s <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-am-extremely-sorry-shakib-al-hasan-issues-public-apology-after-uprooting-stumps-in-anger-in-dpl-game/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">apologetic statement</a> then said “Dear fans and followers, I am extremely sorry for losing my temper and ruining the match for everyone and especially those who are watching from home. An experienced player like me should not have reacted that way but sometimes against all odds it happens, unfortunately.”

10. Ravi Shastri’s book launch event in London

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-353527" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/CT_356070.jpg" alt width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-353527" class="wp-caption-text">Ravi Shastri (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)</figcaption>

When team India had decided to <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/eng-vs-ind-manchester-test-called-off-due-to-covid-scare-in-indian-camp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opt-out</a> from playing the fifth Test match in Manchester, a lot of critics had blamed the head coach’s <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/reports-bcci-to-seek-an-explanation-from-ravi-shastri-and-virat-kohli-for-attending-book-launch-event/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">book launch event</a> that had happened before the fourth Oval Test. After the book launch event, Ravi Shastri, fielding coach R Sridhar, bowling coach Bharath Arun and physio Nitin Patel were <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/four-members-of-indias-support-staff-in-isolation-after-ravi-shastris-lateral-flow-test-returned-positive/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found infected</a> during the Oval Test as they didn&#8217;t travel with the team during the fourth Test match that India won by 157 runs.

However recently to express his opinion on the controversially cancelled tour, Ravi Shastri said “At the Oval Test, you were climbing stairs used by 5,000 people. So to point a finger at a book launch? But I wasn&#8217;t worried because incubation probably takes weeks. There were about 250 people there and no one got COVID from that party.”

Even on turning out to be Covid-19 positive, Shastri opined that “I&#8217;ve not got it at my book launch because it was on the 31st (August) and I tested positive on 3 September. It can&#8217;t happen in three days. I think I got it in Leeds. England opened up on 19 July and suddenly the hotels were back, lifts were back. No restrictions.”

Overall though now the former head coach has cleaned the air with his remarks, the book launch event was also highly criticized by the BCCI especially for not taking any sort of permission to host.

10 biggest cricket controversies of 2021

The year 2021 for international cricket was very peppy and dynamic, but as the year passed, plenty of controversies erupted and

10 biggest cricket controversies of 2021

Barring the good boys of international cricket (New Zealand), almost every other international team experienced controversial acts happening both on and off the field.

2. Azeem Rafiq racism row