Heather Knight leaves role as England women's cricket captain after 9 years following poor results
London, Mar 22 (AP): Heather Knight is stepping down as captain of the England women's cricket team after nine years as part of an overhaul following poor results.
“Captaining my country for the last nine years has been the biggest honor of my life and I will look back on my tenure with an enormous sense of pride,” Knight said in a statement put out by the England and Wales Cricket Board on Saturday. “I have loved the challenge of leading the team, but all good things come to an end and it's time for me to go back into the ranks and focus on being the best batter and teammate that I can be."
The decision comes a day after head coach Jon Lewis was removed.
The ECB confirmed that Knight will continue to be available for selection, adding that her successor will be appointed shortly.
The 34-year-old Knight has captained England 199 times since 2016 and led the side to a World Cup victory on home soil in 2017 and to two other ICC tournament finals.
She is England's second-most successful women's captain with 134 wins and guided the team to a record-breaking run of eight consecutive one-day international wins.
“Heather has been an outstanding leader as England Women's Captain," said Clare Connor, deputy chief executive of the ECB. “She has led the team by example as a role model off the pitch, and through the runs she has scored on it, often in the toughest conditions.”
Connor also credited her for playing a key part in the growth in popularity of women's and girls' cricket, calling her a powerful role model "to young professional female players and to recreational players alike.”
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I will not apologise, don't fear this mob: Kunal Kamra on stand up show row
New Delhi, Mar 24 (PTI): Stand up comedian Kunal Kamra on Monday said he will not apologise for his controversial remarks he made about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a show.
In a statement on X, Kamra, 36, said, "I will not apologise. What I said is exactly what Mr. Ajit Pawar (1st deputy CM) said about Mr. Eknath Shinde (2nd Deputy CM). I don't fear this mob & I will not be hiding under my bed, waiting for this to die down."
Kamra's stand up show has kicked up a major political storm in Maharashtra with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis saying he should apologise for his comments and opposition leaders coming out in the comedian's defence.
On Sunday night, Shiv Sena members damaged the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, where his alleged "gaddar" (traitor) jibe at Shinde was filmed, as well as a hotel in whose premises the club is located.
My Statement - pic.twitter.com/QZ6NchIcsM
— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) March 24, 2025
