CA closes Moeen's 'Osama' probe for lack of fresh details
Melbourne, Sep 24: Cricket Australia (CA) on Monday announced the closure of the probe into English all-rounder Moeen Ali's allegations of being addressed as "Osama" by an Australian player during the 2015 Ashes series, after no new details emerged.
"We have followed up with the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) and our team management and confirmed that the incident was investigated at the time, with a response provided to Moeen," a CA spokesman was quoted as saying.
"Moeen elected not to progress the matter any further and we have not been able to ascertain any new additional evidence through our enquiries.
"As such, the matter is considered closed," he added.
Earlier, the CA had launched an investigation after Moeen said he was called 'Osama' in reference to Islamic terrorist Osama Bin Laden, during the first Test of the 2015 Ashes at Cardiff.
Reiterating the CA's zero-tolerance approach to such comments, the spokesperson said: "We take a zero-tolerance approach to remarks of this nature, they have no place in our sport, or in society and any allegations raised with us are treated seriously and respectfully."
"Representatives of our country are expected to uphold a high standard of behaviour and values, and they are fully aware of the consequences should they fail to do this," he added.
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Mercury plunges in Kashmir after brief respite, Shopian freezes at minus 6.4 deg C
Srinagar (PTI): Night temperatures in Kashmir dropped several degrees below the freezing point, even as a thick layer of fog engulfed parts of the valley, with Srinagar recording a low of minus 4.1 degrees Celsius, officials said on Saturday.
Shopian was the coldest recorded place in Jammu and Kashmir as the mercury there settled at a low of minus 6.4 degrees Celsius, they said.
The mercury had on Thursday night settled above the freezing point at most places in the valley, providing huge relief to the residents from the biting cold conditions.
However, temperatures dropped across Kashmir on Friday night, bringing back the freezing cold, the officials said.
On the Friday night, the minimum temperature in Srinagar -- the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir -- settled at minus 4.1 degrees Celsius, a sharp drop from 0.4 degrees Celsius the previous night, the officials said.
The gateway town to the valley, Qazigund, recorded a low of minus 4.2 degrees Celsius, while the mercury settled at minus 3.5 degrees Celsius in north Kashmir's Kupwara, and minus 0.2 degrees Celsius in south Kashmir's Kokernag, the officials said.
Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius, while Gulmarg lodged minus 2.6 degrees Celsius and Konibal town in Pulwama district recorded minus 5.2 degrees Celsius, they said.
The meteorological department said the weather would remain generally cloudy but dry on December 6-7, and a brief spell of light snowfall at isolated places in the higher reaches of north and central Kashmir is likely on December 8.
