Welcome to Twenty Two Yards, a weekly newsletter celebrating cricket's culture and characters.

In this issue:

• Former PAK skipper and PM tossed into jail

• Black gloves are the new fashion staple

• Catch last week’s issue with Ravi Shastri

Imran Khan Goes to Prison

By David Scipione and J. LaLonde

Beneath stones in a damp cell, you might find a rusty red Turkestan Cockroach scampering between inmates' beds at the crowded District Jail Attock.

50 km from Islamabad, a handsome character appears from the shadows. Khan, Imran Khan.

The man whose LinkedIn profile would break Satya Nadella's Microsoft cloud is in deep shit.

Khan's Stats

• 88 Tests

• International Man of Mystery

• 175 ODIs

• International Sex Symbol

• Led Pakistan to win the 1992 World Cup

• Philanthropist

• Prime Minister

• Opened the doors for Wasim, Shoaib, and Babar

Imran Khan is facing a three-year prison sentence and a five-year ban from politics. Khan denies the corruption charges and is appealing the case.

Key Moments

• April 2022: Parliamentary No-Confidence Vote

• November 2022: Assassination attempt. Khan was shot in the leg.

While supporters have taken to the streets to protest, sports media and fans have been lost in the wonder of bazball.

The r/cricket subreddit yields sparse results. The Guardian got to it. The Vice Interview with Isobel Yeung is worth all 16 minutes. ESPNcricInfo had an obligatory note. Wisden has yet to offer its deep dive (but we're hoping for it).

No sledging here; it's just that the silence is shocking. In the world's second-largest sport, involving one of the greatest and arguably the most famous ever to play, we're just hearing crickets in cricket.

Imagine if David Beckham were to wait out a sentence inside the walls of Belmarsh. What if Conor McGregor were tossed into Rikers Island? How would the world react to Lebron dodging rodents in Folsom? Although, these examples are unfair comparisons because Khan was (is) an even bigger sensation.

Before likes, shares, and follows, there was just Imran, reportedly in satin shorts, bedding socialites, and drinking milk.

As the saga plays out, signs point to a tragic ending for Imran Khan. Cricket must decide which legacy they'll remember, the tousled-haired skipper or a PM in turmoil.

Pakistan captain Imran Khan celebrating the 1992 World Cup Final victory over England in Melbourne.

Black Gloves Mark A New Era of Cricket Fashion

By Angus Wilson

Whenever you see a wicketkeeper - whatever the level - take to the field with black gloves on…it’s expected behaviour to call this out amongst your teammates with, “That’s village”.

The stigma remains a little unclear but can be centred around the unprofessional aesthetic, with black colour clashing with the traditional whites all players wear.

However, just like all trends, it appears black WK gloves are coming back full circle and are growing in presence on elite cricket wickets worldwide.

Jack Russell, one of cricket’s finest wicketkeepers (and characters), became famous for donning the same pair of battered black gloves behind the stumps from the 1970-80s.

Ben Foakes (not one for being influenced, given he has no presence on social media) has also advocated for dark glove wear throughout his career.

Yet looking at the current 2023 season, we’re starting to notice the next generation of wicketkeepers donning black gloves….and we’re all for it.

The Slip Corden

• More cricket, less bollywood
  The FT’s (subscription) Ruchir Sharma is calling for more cricket in India and less Bollywood. In particular, regional language films are pulling higher #’s than Hindi films, but cricket is the only thing that brings all of India together.
  

• NYC wants a new cricket stadium

  Mayor Eric Adams is proposing a new 34,000 stadium for the 2024 T20 World Cup coming to the West Indies and possibly the U.S. if venues are ready. Local cricketers have signed a petition opposing the stadium as the temporary stadium would burden their club cricket for all of next season.

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Issue: A legend is imprisoned, and a new era of cricket fashion
Publisher: J. LaLonde
Editor-At-Large: Angus Wilson
Contributing Writer: David Scipione
Contributing Writer: Ollie Goodwin
Illustration: Sidney Secolo