Mahmood: Fred Is Looking Strong

Sajid Mahmood endorsed Andrew Flintoff's England Test credentials despite outshining the injury-plagued all-rounder on his County Championship comeback for Lancashire.

Mahmood yesterday took five for 76 against Sussex as both sides suffered batting collapses on the first day at Hove but still clearly believes his team-mate is ready to go back on England duty again.

Flintoff, after a handful of Twenty20 Cup cameos for Lancashire, started his first LV County Championship match since a thigh injury in early May, and managed 15 overs which yielded 43 runs but no wickets.

England's squad for the next Test series against South Africa will be announced on Thursday and the all-rounder, who took an easy catch, will now be looking to shine with the bat today, ready to go in next wicket down after his side ended the first day on 67 for four.

But Bolton-born fast bowler Mahmood, who won eight England Test caps in 2006 and 2007, modestly brushed off praise for his own performance in Sussex's total of 253 to recommend Flintoff to the national selectors.

He said: "All the boys bowled pretty well as a unit and we did well to keep Sussex down to that score on a wicket like that. It was flat and slow and didn't give us any help after they won the toss.

"But I'm very happy to end up with five wickets on the day, and Freddie bowled quick and aggressively and was hitting an area consistently. He's quite economical as well and an asset to any team.

"I'm not sure whether he's at 100% again yet but he looked pretty strong to me and I know he's pleased with how he went."

Mahmood was never going to publicly agree with the suggestion that much of his success on the day was due to a poor selection of shots by the Sussex batsman, although he admitted: "I didn't have anything like the rhythm that I've had when taking five wickets here a few times before."

Sussex opener Chris Nash was ludicrously run out, skipper Chris Adams dragged one on to his stumps and even top-scorer Robin Martin-Jenkins gave his wicket away cheaply after an impressive 70, attempting an outrageous pull shot to South African Francois du Plessis' overpitched ball which bowled him.

Wickets continued to tumble when Lancashire replied, Jason Lewry removing Paul Horton and Mal Loye in successive balls and Du Plessis going cheaply before a brilliant Carl Hopkinson catch saw off Lou Vincent for 38.

Simon Jones Shines With The Ball

Simon Jones continued his bid to catch the eye of the England selectors again with another five-wicket haul as Worcestershire dominated the first day of the LV Championship Division Two match against Leicestershire at Grace Road.

Put into bat, Leicestershire were bowled out for 120 with Jones taking five for 30 in two explosive spells either side of lunch.

Then Vikram Solanki hit an unbeaten 93 as Worcestershire closed on 175 for two to put themselves in a powerful position.

It was the third time 29-year-old Jones has taken five wickets in an innings this season since joining Worcestershire from Glamorgan.

With the wind at his back Jones worked up to his full 90mph pace after Worcestershire won the toss and unsurprisingly decided to bowl on a well-grassed pitch.

Leicestershire were already in disarray even before Jones was brought into the attack.

Kabir Ali trapped Tom New and Hylton Ackerman lbw in his first three overs and Australian paceman Steve Magoffin had Boeta Dippenaar caught behind off a lifting delivery to leave Leicestershire 27 for three in the 12th over.

The introduction of Jones only added to the home side's problems. In seven overs before lunch he picked up two wickets for 21 runs, finding the edge to remove Matt Boyce to a catch behind and having James Allenby caught at slip off his gloves as he tried to fend off a short-pitched ball.

In between Paul Nixon also edged to wicketkeeper Steve Davies off the bowling of Gareth Andrew as Leicestershire went into lunch at 76 for six.

Jones was even more devastating after the interval, picking up three wickets for nine runs in 5.5 overs.

Tom Smith, on a month's loan from Lancashire, was beaten for pace and comprehensively bowled, Claude Henderson had his leg stump uprooted and Nadeem Malik was yorked with another magnificent delivery.

It gave Jones 24 wickets for the season at an average of 10.54 in five championship games with Worcestershire's Director of Cricket, Steve Rhodes, suggesting the fast bowler is now close to being ready for an England recall.

Leicestershire's total of 120 was their lowest in the championship since they were dismissed for 85 by Northants seven years ago.

Although Malik had Stephen Moore caught at slip in the third over, Worcestershire took control again with a second-wicket stand of 139 between Solanki and Daryl Mitchell.

Solanki was the dominant partner with Mitchell finally out for 49 to a great catch at short leg by New off Henderson.

But Solanki was still there at the close having faced 153 balls and hit 13 fours and a six.

Zimbabwe gathers ICC vote support

Support for Zimbabwe appears to be growing in the sub-continent ahead of this week's International Cricket Council meeting in Dubai.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has already stated it will not host a tour by Zimbabwe next year.

And Cricket South Africa has also cut its ties with Zimbabwe because of the political situation in the country.

But India and Pakistan have indicated they will not support any move to expel Zimbabwe from the ICC.

"There is no reason to remove Zimbabwe," said Niranjan Shah, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

"We understand England's position because their government wants Zimbabwe out but we will back Zimbabwe to stay in the ICC."

The Pakistan Cricket Board, meanwhile, has made it clear that it will send its A team on a tour to Zimbabwe in August as scheduled, irrespective of any action taken by the ICC, who have a board meeting on Wednesday and Thursday.

And the Press Trust of India has quoted a PCB spokesman as saying: "We don't think Zimbabwe cricket should face penalties because of political issues in that country. We will not support any sanctions."

Seven of the 10 full ICC members would have to vote in favour of expulsion for such a proposal to go through - and Zimbabwe itself is one of the 10.

If India and Pakistan line up alongside them, it would only require one more vote in Zimbabwe's favour for the proposal to be defeated.

If, however, Zimbabwe Cricket retains its full member status, England's hopes of hosting next year's ICC World Twenty20 tournament could be put in jeopardy.

Although the ICC would not take punitive action against the ECB for preventing Zimbabwe touring in the light of a formal government instruction, refusal to allow a full member to take part in the World Twenty20 could result in the tournament being moved elsewhere.

Such a move would be a huge financial blow to the ECB, with huge crowds expected at the three grounds chosen to host matches. The tournament schedule has already been published and tickets go on sale on Monday.

The UK government will reassess the situation if the ICC insists that Zimbabwe play in the World Twenty20 but is holding a firm line in its calls for a boycott because of the close links between Zimbabwe Cricket and the regime of president Robert Mugabe.

Culture secretary Andy Burnham told BBC Five Live's Sportsweek: "The first step is we'll meet the ECB, listen to their report back of the meeting and consider the arguments.

"If we haven't held sway we would listen to the arguments of the other ICC members but our position is completely clear.

"We think, in the current circumstances in Zimbabwe, it isn't right for any tour to take place."

However, he added: "I would not want to be in a position of overruling a governing body in sport. I vigorously defend the independence of our sporting bodies and will always to that."

Watson's maiden one-day century sets up Aussie victory

Shane Watson collected his maiden Test century to power Australia to a seven-wicket victory in the third one-day international against West Indies on Sunday.

Watson, playing in his first one-day series since the final of the World Cup last year, hit 126 from 122 balls as Australia, chasing 224 runs from their allocation of 50 overs, hit their target. The winning runs came when Xavier Marshall delivered a wide delivery to Michael Clarke down the leg-side that went all the way to the boundary with 57 balls to spare at the Queen's Park Stadium.

The victory gave Australia an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, after they won opening match by 84 runs last Tuesday at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex, and the second ODI by 63 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis Method last Friday at this venue. Watson got into his stride quickly, after Australia suffered an early setback when Shaun Marsh was bowled by Fidel Edwards for a five-ball duck in the opening over of the chase. But Watson found Australia captain Ricky Ponting a stable ally, and they put the visitors firmly on course for victory in a stand of 190 for the second wicket. Watson reached his 50 from 48 balls in spectacular fashion in the 13th over bowled by Sulieman Benn. He cut a succession of long-hops from the beanpole left-arm spin bowler through backward point for three of the 15 fours he struck. But the champagne moment for Watson came in the 32nd over when he pulled his 106th delivery from West Indies captain Chris Gayle -- bowling his part-time off-spin -- through mid-wicket for his 13th four to reach his landmark. Watson's stroke-play overshadowed that from Ponting, but the Australia captain still reeled off a few delightful strokes and reached his 50 when he pushed his 57th ball from Benn into the covers for a single.

When Watson and Ponting were dismissed within three overs of each other, Australia were 17 runs away from the magic number. Ponting swung a ball from Gayle and was caught at long-on in the 34th over, and Watson scooped a ball from Darren Sammy over his left shoulder, and was caught at fine leg in the 37th over, but Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds remained the rest of the way. Earlier, choosing to field, the Aussies bowled and fielded with typical purpose and dismissed West Indies for 223 in 48 overs. Gayle hit five fours and three sixes in the top score of 53 from 54 balls, but several other batsmen were guilty of getting starts without carrying on.

Marshall made 35, Shivnarine Chanderpaul got 32, Ramnaresh Sarwan gathered 31, and Denesh Ramdin contributed 21. Nathan Bracken was again Australia's most successful bowler with three wickets for 26 runs from nine overs, and Symonds captured two for 42 from seven overs. Australia's bowlers brought their side back into the match, after Gayle and Marshall put on 86 for the first wicket. The Australians had kept things tight early on, but Gayle and compatriot Marshall steadily grew in confidence, and the runs started to flow. Gayle reached his 50 in the 17th over in spectacular fashion. He drove the penultimate ball of Andrew Symonds' first over for a straight four, and then lofted the next ball over long-off for his third six about 12 rows back in the lower deck of the grand stand at the River End of the ground. In the next over, Mitchell Johnson ran Gayle out when Marshall drove straight and the bowler stuck out his left-hand, deflecting the ball on to the stumps with Gayle out of his crease. Wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi then held a fine catch diving to his right to dismiss Marshall off Shane Watson for 35 in the 21st over to leave West Indies 99 for two. But the Aussies met two familiar stumbling blocks in Sarwan and Chanderpaul. The experienced pair added a valuable 61 for the third wicket to stabilise the innings, but their dismissals within four overs of each other left West Indies 168 for four. Michael Clarke had Chanderpaul caught behind top-edging a loose cut in the 33rd over, and in the 37th over, Mitchell Johnson had Sarwan caught at short extra cover, but the rest of the batting offered little or no resistance to the Aussie bowlers. The last two ODIs of the series will be contested on July 4 and 6 at Warner Park in the St. Kitts capital of Basseterre.

India, Pakistan cricket boards support Zimbabwe

Even as the International Cricket Council (ICC) debates Zimbabwe's suspension at its board meeting in Dubai Sunday, the Asian bloc, including the Indian cricket board, has pledged full support to the troubled African nation.

The volatile political situation in Zimbabwe prompted one of its strong ally, South Africa, and England to severe all cricketing ties with it.

The ECB called their 2009 tour last week to Zimbabwe under instructions from the British government over the growing violence in the country.

The ICC, who has so far maintained a clear policy of keeping sport away from the political upheavals in Zimbabwe, is going to re-consider its decision to allow Zimbabwe enjoy the status of Full Member of the governing body in the wake of recent developments.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said it would support Zimbabwe's continuance as full member of the ICC in the board meeting. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it would continue with their 'A' team's tour to Zimbabwe even if it faces sanctions from the cricket's governing body.

The support of Indian and Pakistan cricket boards might come as a respite for Zimbabwe.

'We are very clear that we would like to fully support Zimbabwe on the issue of full membership of the ICC,' Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Niranjan Shah was quoted as saying in The Dawn here.

Shah said the BCCI was aware that some member boards want Zimbabwe's membership to be taken away, but said they have decided to back Zimbabwe on the issue.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on the other hand, said it will continue with its planned tour of their 'A' team to Zimbabwe from August 20, regardless of any sanctions that might be taken against the African nation by the ICC.

South Africa's outgoing ICC president Ray Mali has placed Zimbabwe on the agenda for a two-day meeting of the ICC board.

Bangladesh to face Sri Lanka in Asia Cup today

Bangladesh would face Sri Lanka in the third match of super four leg of Asia Cup at National Stadium here on Monday.

Sri Lanka would book its berth for the final in case of victory in today’s match.

Bangladesh would likely retain its squad whereas Sri Lankan management might give rest to its key players.

Meanwhile, Pakistan would attend the practice session in the evening today.

Indian team had practiced in the morning session at National Bank Sports Complex.

Australia hoping for faster pitch

Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke is hoping for a better pitch in Grenada for Sunday's key third one-day international against the West Indies.

Clarke hit 56 and took three wickets as Australia won on the surface on Friday to go 2-0 up in the five-match series.

But he said: "I think the pitch is probably one of the worst that I have played on in international cricket.

"It seamed early, balls went through the top, and once the ball got older, it was really slow and hard to score."

Clarke added: "Our game plan is to win every game we play, and this would be to hopefully leave West Indies winning 5-0 in this ODI series.

"It obviously is going to be an important match because we know that if we win on Sunday, we essentially have won the series."

West Indies coach John Dyson is looking for much better batting effort from his side after watching them fall well short of a revised target of 204 off 41 overs on Friday.

"It's hard to pin-point what has happened. I thought we did some good things. We bowled very well and fielded very well.

"It's just a shame that we batted poorly. You've seen at times through the series the sort of cricket we can play," Dyson said.

"It's just a shame that we are not consistently playing that type of cricket. That's one of the problems playing against a team like Australia, and also having a squad that is still improving."

The last two matches of the series will be contested on 4 and 6 July at Warner Park in the St. Kitts capital of Basseterre.

Kaneria Bowls Hants To Victory

Danish Kaneria returned the best Twenty20 Cup figures of his career as Essex cruised into the quarter-finals with a crushing 54-run victory over Hampshire at Chelmsford.

The Pakistan leg-spinner claimed four wickets for 22 runs in only 3.3 overs as the visitors were bowled out for 105 in reply to Essex's total of 159.

Kaneria weaved his magic after coming on for the 11th over with Hampshire - who would have progressed at Essex's expense with a victory - 61 for four.

And, helped by some fine work in the field, Essex were able to celebrate victory in the 18th over.

David Masters had put Hampshire on the back foot by removing Michael Carberry and Ian Harvey in consecutive overs, but it was 20-year-old Maurice Chambers who shared the honours with Kaneria.

As well as taking three fine catches in the deep, the young fast bowler stifled Hampshire's progress with four overs costing just 18 runs and earning him the wicket of Sean Ervine.

No-one in the Hampshire side reached 20 but Essex too did not find runs in plentiful supply.

The only batsman to perform with any real freedom was skipper Mark Pettini, who struck three sixes and four fours in gathering 49 from 34 deliveries.

James Foster, with 20 from 16 balls, was the only other Essex player to top 20 before Chris Tremlett brought the innings to a swift conclusion.

He did so by picking up four of the last five wickets at a personal cost of four runs in eight deliveries, three times shattering the stumps as the batsman found his pace and accuracy too much.

That gave Tremlett figures of four for 25 in 3.4 overs - but it soon became apparent his efforts would not be enough to take Hampshire into the knockout stages.

Graham Napier drew first blood when he trapped Michael Lumb lbw in the second over of the innings, and Masters' double strike heaped further problems on Hampshire before Kaneria took his tally of wickets in this season competition to 18.

Essex's reward for their win is a home tie against Northamptonshire next month.

New Zealand Clinch NatWest Series

Kevin Pietersen made a losing start as England captain - and saw his side slump to seventh spot in the ICC one-day rankings - as New Zealand triumphed by 51 runs in the final NatWest Series clash at Lord's.

The Kiwis had comprehensively lost the opening game at Durham but recovered to triumph 3-1 and repeated the scoreline of the winter series with England.

Big hitting by Jacob Oram and Scott Styris lifted New Zealand to a challenging 266 for five after being put in by Pietersen.

Then their accurate and nagging attack ensured England never seriously threatened to overhaul their total, despite 69 off 75 balls from Owais Shah, as they were dismissed for 215 in 47.5 overs.

And skipper and spinner Daniel Vettori (three for 32) showed why he is ranked number one bowler in the ICC one-day lists as he ripped out the England middle order

It enabled New Zealand to gain revenge for the 2-0 defeat in the Test series and the thrashing in the Twenty20 international.

Pietersen had scored a superb century at the Riverside but significantly their star batsman has since failed to make a major contribution as New Zealand demonstrated why they are third in the rankings.

Unproven players such as paceman Tim Southee and all-rounder Grant Elliott have stepped up to the mark and made major contributions.

But in contrast England showed once again they have a long way to go before they can be considered a major force in the 50-over version of the game.

Pietersen could be pleased with his contribution in the field as England captain as a temporary replacement for the banned Paul Collingwood.

He switched his bowlers around effectively and saw them maintain a disciplined line and length on a bouncy and pacey pitch until the late Oram and Styris onslaught.

But he was at fault in keeping fill-in bowler Owais Shah in the attack too long when there were other options available, and his last over cost 17 runs.

England had made a confident start in pursuit of their 267 target but once again Ian Bell flattered to deceive after looking well set for a sizeable contribution.

He produced some flowing drives in reaching 27 off 34 balls with five fours before walking across his stumps and being trapped lbw by Mark Gillespie.

Then Southee confirmed the favourable impression he has made in his first limited-over series for his country by removing Alistair Cook and Pietersen in quick succession.

Cook (24) had looked in decent touch before edging Southee through to wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum and he was jubilant after dismissing Pietersen.

The Hampshire player only succeeded in carving the ball into the hands of Oram at backward point.

Bopara raced to 30 off 39 balls but was undone by Vettori's arm ball and was bowled and then Luke Wright (six) perished in a similar fashion.

Vettori collected his third scalp when the out-of-form Tim Ambrose (two) cut into the hands of point and he scored just ten runs in five knocks.

Graeme Swann (12) fell to a fine legside catch by 'keeper McCullum off Kyle Mills who then had another success when Stuart Broad holed out on the mid-wicket boundary.

Any last hope for England was extinguished when Shah was pouched at long-off to give man of the series Southee his 13th victim in five games.

And the New Zealanders celebrated when James Anderson (two) carved Mark Gillespie to backward point.

Pietersen had been well backed up by his bowlers after putting New Zealand into bat.

Anderson should have broken through when Jamie How on four top edged a skier towards long leg but wicket-keeper Ambrose spilled the chance after getting both gloves underneath the ball.

It initially looked as if that miss would prove costly when Broad came into the attack as How pulled him for six but it proved to be his last scoring shot as he carved the next delivery to Bopara at backward point after making 22.

Broad had also undone Ross Taylor (four) who edged a straightforward catch to Ambrose.

McCullum, after making a restrained 23 off 57 balls, was drawn into a false stroke by Anderson and edged to Swann at first slip.

Styris and Daniel Flynn carefully added 53 in 13 overs before the latter on 35 went to drive spinner Swann and was bowled.

The pace of the innings started to pick up with the arrival of Oram whose 52 spanned only 40 balls and contained three sixes and two fours.

He dominated a stand off 77 with Styris until the impressive Swann, who finished with two for 33 from his 10 overs, had him caught at long off by Broad.

His dismissal was the signal for Styris to start to open out and he received good support from Grant Elliott as 65 runs were plundered from the last six overs.

Styris reached his 50 with a six over long leg off Anderson and launched Sidebottom for a massive hit over mid-wicket into the top tier of the stand.

He finished unbeaten on 87 from 91 balls with five fours and three sixes.

Dhoni lambasts Asia Cup schedule

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Saturday lambasted the grueling schedule of the Asia Cup after his side swamped Bangladesh by seven wickets to record their third successive win in the competition held in Karachi.

"We have spent 36 hours playing cricket out of the 84 hours we have been in Karachi. It is too tight. I am not happy with the schedule. Two teams have to play back to back matches while two have got a day off," he said at the post match press conference.

Dhoni said his players were really tired after the matches and he was happy they would now get a couple of days off.

"It was tough out there for us. But I am happy we have kept going. Suresh Raina, Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag have batted really well in the tournament and I hope they keep on doing the same," he said.

Dhoni, however, made it clear that despite the big wins his team would guard against complacency and not get over confident.

"The other teams can`t be written off and they can still come back so we have to be careful and we have to continue to play like this," he added. He said he was not surprised at the way Bangladeshi batsman Alok Kapali had played. Kapali made 115 runs in the Bangladesh total of 283.

"He is an international player and one expects this from an international player. I think he exploited the situation and pitch well and he picked the right areas to hit."

Pietersen blames batsmen as England lose one-day series

Stand-in captain Kevin Pietersen on Saturday blamed England`s batsmen for their 3-1 defeat to New Zealand in the one-day series, which ended with a meek 51-run loss in the fifth match at Lord`s on Saturday.

England, who won the Test series convincingly 2-0, started the one-day matches strongly with a 114-run victory when Pietersen scored a match-winning century and grabbed the headlines with his unique switch-hitting.

Two weeks on and New Zealand were able to turn the series around with wins at Bristol, The Oval and Lord`s after a no result at Edgbaston when they seemed to be heading for a win before he rain prevented a finish.

"It all started alright with the toss and then we did a great job with the ball," Pietersen, skipper in place of the suspended Paul Collingwood, told reporters. "We just didn`t bat well enough, not only today but throughout the series.

"Too many players have got in and not gone on and been the hero. The consistency in the batting has not been there and it`s an area where we need to have a look at." New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori, who led from the front with figures of three for 32, was pleased with how his team came back after the test series disappointment.

"From the second match at Edgbaston onwards we have played some really good cricket," Vettori told reporters. "To win any series is pleasing but to win against a pretty good team away from home and in convincing style means we have a very happy dressing room."

Although Pietersen has not yet been confirmed as England skipper for the next three matches of Collingwood`s ban, he is keen to take on the role again.

"Today was great fun and if I get the opportunity (again) hopefully I will do a good enough job," he said. "I`m a perfectionist and I strive on doing things really well and to the best of my ability and being successful."

"So finishing today without a victory gives me more of an incentive to get the stripes back again for the next game and to try and get a victory under our belts. I don`t want to be an England captain who captains one game and loses it."

Arafat Puts Kent In Quarters

Yasir Arafat took three for 12 as holders Kent Spitfires cruised into the quarter-finals of the Twenty20 Cup with a comfortable 50-run win over south group whipping boys Sussex Sharks at Hove.

Kent's total of 162 for nine did not look enough on a good batting track but Sussex's chase was fatally undermined after they lost key men Murray Goodwin, acting captain Matt Prior and Dwayne Smith in the first four overs - all to former Sussex fast bowler Arafat.

In his first over Arafat uprooted Goodwin's leg stump and in his second he had Prior caught at mid-off off a mis-timed drive before winning a contentious leg-before decision against Smith, who had taken three or four paces down the track trying to work the ball through the leg side.

Opener Mike Yardy held things together with 26 off 17 balls including four boundaries, but when he pulled Robbie Joseph's first ball in Twenty20 cricket straight to deep square-leg Sussex were never in contention.

They did not score a boundary for six overs between the fifth and 11th overs and large sections of the 6,200 crowd had already left when Sussex were dismissed for 112 with three overs unused.

The impressive Joseph finished with two for 24 and also ran out Andrew Hodd while Rory Hamilton-Brown's 36 was a lone act of lower-order defiance for the hapless hosts.

Kent had built the platform for a total in excess of 200 when they reached 86 for two after 10 overs with skipper Rob Key starting to find his range.

But the Spitfires were never quite the same after Key holed out to deep mid-wicket in the 13th over for a run-a-ball 38 as Sussex's spinners applied a mid-innings squeeze.

Slow left-armer Yardy and leg-spinner Will Beer both took one for 27 from their four overs and when Kent tried to press the accelerator in the closing stages they tossed away their wickets, losing their last five for 15 runs.

Chief beneficiary was left-armer Chris Liddle who finished with four for 28, his second four-wicket performance in this season's competition.

Three of Liddle's victims were snared in the last over when Martin van Jaarsveld, Geraint Jones and James Tredwell fell in the space of four balls, leaving a frustrated Azhar Mahmood stuck at the non-striker's end unable to improve on his 34 off 21 balls which included two fours and two sixes.

Kent hit six sixes in their innings with Arafat, promoted to number three, striking three of them in the same over from Smith.

West Indies all-rounder Smith had earlier agreed to join Sussex on a Kolpak registration until the end of the 2010 season and celebrated with two wickets.

He had opener Joe Denly caught at backward point off the second ball of the innings before ending Arafat's fun after the Pakistan all-rounder had spoiled his figures by smashing 22 in his final over.

Injury rules Gul out of Asia Cup

Fast bowler Umar Gul will miss the remainder of Pakistan's Asia Cup campaign because of injury.

Gul bowled only eight deliveries in Thursday's six-wicket Group B defeat by India before he was forced to leave the field in Karachi with a side strain.

"The doctors have advised Gul needs at least two weeks rest to recover from the injury," said Pakistan chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed.

"He will not be able to take further part in the Asia Cup."

Gul's absence is another blow to Pakistan's depleted fast pace bowling ranks.

They are already without Mohammad Asif, who was detained in Dubai for alleged drug offences, and Shoaib Akhtar, who is currently serving an 18-month suspension.

It is the latest in a long line of injuries suffered by Gul since he made his Pakistan debut in April 2003.

The 24-year-old spent a season sidelined with three stress fractures in his back in 2004 before an ankle injury kept him out of action in the latter stages of 2006.

Patient Aussies crush West Indies

Australia took a 2-0 lead in their one-day series in West Indies as they handed their hosts a thrashing on an awkward batting wicket in Grenada.

After crashing to 35-3 from nine overs batting first, the Aussies built patiently through Michael Hussey (62) and Michael Clarke (56).

They ended with 213-5, before reducing West Indies to 140-8 in 41 overs and winning by 63 runs on Duckworth-Lewis.

The third of five matches is also at St George's, and starts on Sunday.

The West Indies bowlers impressed early on, with Jerome Taylor having Ricky Ponting snapped up by skipper Chris Gayle at short mid-wicket after the two openers had fallen cheaply.

Hussey and Clarke assessed conditions and batted with extreme caution for much of their 29-over partnership.

They added exactly 100 runs, only accelerating in the final stages, while profiting from a number of errors by the West Indians.

Notably, Dwayne Bravo spilt an easy chance at slip to remove Clarke in Sulieman Benn's first over.

Cameron White (40 not out off 39 balls) added a rush of runs at the end, and Australia knew they were on top once Brett Lee had Xavier Marshall edging behind on the first ball of the hosts' run chase.

That gave debutant wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi an immediate dismissal - and Ronchi will play the remaining games in the series after Australia decided to send Brad Haddin home because of his broken finger.

Wickets continued to fall - Clarke taking 3-26 - and the Windies were barely helped when a rain shower reduced their over allowance to 41, with only nine runs ticked off.

The match ended in low-key style, with Shiv Chanderpaul (44 not out) and Benn taking two singles off the final over.

Australia captain Ponting was later fined 30% of his match fee for showing dissent after umpire Norman Malcolm turned down an appeal against West Indies batsman Patrick Browne when Ronchi claimed a catch off the bowling of Clarke.

"A captain needs to set an example and it's not acceptable for any player, let along a captain, to show dissent at an umpire's decision," match referee Roshan Mahanama commented.

Injured Haddin returns home from WIndies tour

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin will return home from Australia's tour to the West Indies after not recovering sufficiently from a broken finger, Cricket Australia said Saturday.

Haddin broke the ring finger on his right hand during the first Test of Australia's tour and played on with the injury through the final two Test matches and the first one-day international.

CA said Haddin will leave Grenada on Friday to continue his recovery in Australia.

Luke Ronchi, who made his international debut in Australia's Twenty20 game against the West Indies last week in Barbados, will remain with the squad until the end of the tour, CA said.

"Brad's injury has now got to the point where it is limiting his capabilities as a player and therefore he is going home to seek appropriate further treatment," Australian team physiotherapist Justin Steer said in a statement.

Pietersen eager to captain against South Africa

Kevin Pietersen has said he will have no qualms about captaining England against South Africa, the land of his birth.

"That would be great," said Pietersen, who will lead England for the first time in Saturday's fifth and final one-day international against New Zealand here at Lord's.

And the Hampshire batsman, who on Friday celebrated his 28th birthday, could get his wish granted as soon as August.

Pietersen only got the job of leading England's one-day side after a slow over-rate at The Oval on Wednesday during New Zealand's dramatic one-wicket win saw regular skipper Paul Collingwood banned for four games for twice being in charge of a team that had fallen behind the clock in the past 12 months.

Collingwood will still be banned when England play South Africa in the lone Twenty20 international on August 20 at the Riverside and the first ODI of a five-match series at Headingley two days later.

Born in Pietermaritzburg, Pietersen controversially quit South Africa in protest at a racial quota policy he believed was hampering his chances of making it as a professional player.

Some English cricket fans may be uneasy with a South African-born captain of their national side - and plenty of South Africans are not thrilled by the prospect either, even though Pietersen's mother is English.

"I get it at every single ground," Pietersen told reporters at Lord's. "At The Oval, the other day, fielding on the boundary, there were a lot of South Africans in the crowd, hammering me. "That's just what I've got to deal with. "At the end of the day, people can see how passionate I am and how much I want to win for England," added Pietersen, who made his debut for English county Nottinghamshire in 2001 before qualifying for his adopted country three years later.

"That's the only thing I think about, winning games for England. I love playing for England, it's the best thing ever."

However, there are still plenty of doubters and they are unlikely to be re-assured by the pen picture of Pietersen in Saturday's matchday programme.

In it he lists his favourite cricket ground as Cape Town's Newlands with South Africa golfer Ernie Els his all-time sporting hero, while his favourite food is off a braai, a South African barbecue.

Pietersen will not be the first South African-born captain of England. Team-mate Andrew Strauss, born in Johannesburg but educated in England, did the job in the absence of Michael Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff while Allan Lamb

led the side in three Tests in the 1990s when Graham Gooch was out injured.

The last full-time captain of England to be born in South Africa was the flamboyant Tony Greig, like Pietersen an immensely self-confident cricketer who knew his commercial worth.

A gifted all-rounder, Greig's background was held against him in when he was stripped of the England captaincy in 1977 after acting as the recruiting sergeant for Kerry Packer's rebel World Series Cricket in Australia.

The Times newspaper described Greig as "English by adoption, which is not the same thing as being English through and through".

However South Africa's cricket isolation because of apartheid had already led to the cancellation of Test series in England and Australia by the time Greig made his England debut in 1972.

By contrast, Pietersen had the option to play international cricket for South Africa. The fact he chose to move abroad explains much of the reason for the animosity between himself and current Proteas captain Graeme Smith, also a white cricketer, who came through the same system in South Africa.

Pietersen, whose pop singer wife Jessica is English said his attachment to England would surive his cricket career - Greig, who became a television commentator, has lived in Australia for over 30 years.

Asked if he would stay in England for the rest of his life, Pietersen replied: "100 percent. Jess is a very English home girl, very tight with her mum, so I won't be leaving, I promise you."

Collingwood Backs Batting Quality

Paul Collingwood has every faith in England's one-day batting as they head into the penultimate match of the NatWest Series against New Zealand today.

England will keep the same top six at the Brit Oval today, Ian Bell's fitness permitting.

Bell is doubtful after tweaking a knee playing touch rugby yesterday which meant Alastair Cook, who was due to be released for Essex's Twenty20 contest last night, stayed with the squad as cover.

After blitzing 307 for five in the crushing victory over the Black Caps at Durham, England have misfired in subsequent matches at Edgbaston and Bristol.

But Collingwood insisted: "We have got matchwinners in there, we've got people who can go in and nudge it around, we cover all bases and certainly that top six can be a formidable unit when we all click."

Of Bell's injury, he admitted he had initially assumed it was a minor knock, adding: "I thought he was being a bit of a Drogba" - referring to Chelsea striker Didier Drogba who is frequently accused of play acting.

Collingwood continued: "That might be a bit harsh if he's not playing but I think it was just a twisted knee."

England will consider a change to their bowling attack with left-armer Ryan Sidebottom fit again following a back injury as they head into the final two matches of the campaign locked at 1-1.

They have failed to follow up what Collingwood called a 'nigh-on perfect' performance at the Riverside in the two matches since, and stringing victories together has been their biggest failing.

"It would be great if we could do that every single game but you come up against different wickets, reduced games, different conditions all the time and you have got to adapt to them, that is where we are learning as a team," Collingwood said.

"When we turn up at the ground you have to learn new skills in certain conditions.

"We're not 100% there yet, if we're all honest, we need to get a little bit more experience with that but when we're on song, we are on song.

"There is a big buzz around the side and we've got two finals pretty much."

Not since the stunning comeback Commonwealth Bank Series victory in Australia in early 2007 have England won four matches on the trot, and their liberal sprinkling of defeats among the successes - they have lost half their 22 limited-overs matches under Collingwood - has left them on the verge of slipping to seventh in the official rankings.

A repeat of New Zealand's 3-1 victory earlier this year would confirm that new position.

But Collingwood said: "The nature of one-day cricket means you are always going to have some performances not as good as others.

"We are learning and when you go to Sri Lanka and win it proves you can adapt to different conditions.

"The boys are progressing their skills in one-day cricket, we are concentrating on this form of the game and wanting to move it on a hell of a lot.

"We have made strides in this form but you have got to win as well, and if you don't win there are question marks about it. Certainly we know as a unit we are making big progress in this form of the game.

"Once we get consistency nailed down and start winning series back to back I am sure we will climb the rankings.

"We are taking on a team that is number three in the world but hopefully will go into these games as favourites, which will show us where we are."

Teams

England (from): PD Collingwood (Durham, capt), IR Bell (Warwickshire), AN Cook (Essex), LJ Wright (Sussex), KP Pietersen (Hampshire), RS Bopara (Essex), OA Shah (Middlesex), TR Ambrose (Warwickshire, wkt), GP Swann (Northamptonshire), SC Broad (Nottinghamshire), CT Tremlett (Hampshire), JM Anderson (Lancashire), RJ Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), AD Mascarenhas (Hampshire).

New Zealand (from): DL Vettori (capt), JM How, BB McCullum (wkt), RPL Taylor, SB Styris, DR Flynn, GD Elliott, G Hopkins, KD Mills, TG Southee, MR Gillespie, MJ Mason, JDP Oram, JS Patel.

Umpires: S Davis, M Benson.

Match referee: J Srinath.

Pakistan Survive Hong Kong Scare

Pakistan survived an early scare to stroll to a 155-run win in their Asia Cup clash with Hong Kong in Karachi on Tuesday.

Nadeem Ahmed tore through the hosts' upper order, reducing them from from 121 for two to 150 for six, as the minnows threatened an upset in the Group B one-dayer.

But 67 from Younis Khan and a fine eighth-wicket stand of 100 between Fawad Alam and Sohail Tanvir saw Pakistan recover to 288 for nine.

Tanvir, Iftikhar Anjum and Shahid Afridi then claimed two wickets apiece to dismiss Hong Kong to 133 inside 38 overs.

The visitors suffered an early blow in their run chase when opener Tabarak Dar was forced to retire hurt.

And his loss seemed to disrupt the visitors as they slipped from 28 without loss to 45 for four inside five overs.

Zain Abbas and Jamie Atkinson though put on 31 for the fifth wicket before the latter was bowled by Afridi for 18.

Tabarak Dar returned to the crease and made 24, but he was replaced in the treatment room by Abbas (26), and with the most threatening batsman out of the picture, Pakistan cleaned up the tail, despite the best efforts of Najeeb Amar, who made 21.

Pakistan had won the toss and elected to bat first, but Hong Kong stunned their hosts early on when Salman Butt edged a Afzaal Haider delivery behind to Atkinson for a duck just three balls into the innings.

Shoaib Malik and Younis put on 67 for the second wicket before the skipper departed for 35 off 32 balls, brilliantly held by Butt Hussain at backward point.

But if the home fans hoped the visitors would wilt in the face of Pakistan's powerful hitting, they could scarcely have been more wrong.

Ahmed ripped through the hosts' batting line-up, removing Mohammed Yusuf (28), Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq (two) inside six overs.

And when the 20-year-old sent snaffled his fourth victim, sending Afridi back to the pavilion, caught and bowled for four, Pakistan were reeling.

But Alam (63) and Tanvir (59) added some much-needed runs in the latter part of the innings to avoid embarrassment.

Aussies Back On Top

Shaun Marsh struck 81 on his international debut as Australia moved back to the top of the International Cricket Council one-day rankings with a comfortable 84-run win against West Indies in St Vincent.

Marsh continued the excellent form he displayed during the Indian Premier League, where he was the leading run scorer, striking seven fours and a six in his 97-ball innings.

Brad Haddin (50) and Michael Hussey (44) also added a valuable 91-run stand for the fifth wicket, after a mid-innings stumble, to help post 273 for eight.

In reply the Windies lost three early wickets to set them on the back foot and they never fully recovered in the face of some tight bowling to be bowled out for 189 from 39.5 overs.

The victory for Australia, who wore pink ribbons in memory of former player Glenn McGrath's wife, Jane, who lost her long battle with breast cancer on the weekend, lifts the reigning three-time world champions above South Africa at the top of the ICC's ODI rankings.

Brett Lee made the first of three early breakthroughs when Xavier Marshall, who sat out the majority of the Australian innings after injuring his shoulder making a diving save, thick-edged a rising delivery to Haddin when on six.

Skipper Chris Gayle (20) soon followed him back to the pavilion when Nathan Bracken trapped him leg before wicket and two balls later Lee had Ramnaresh Sarwan (two) caught by Hussey at slip.

That left the Windies 29 for three and facing an uphill task.

Dwayne Bravo and debutant Andre Fletcher steadied the ship with a stand of 51, however, it came in slow time as the Australian bowlers maintained a tight line. Bravo eventually succumbed to the tourists' accuracy when he was out lbw to Michael Clarke for 33.

Fletcher (26) then carelessly departed when he failed to recover his ground after defending a Cameron White delivery, allowing wicketkeeper Haddin enough time to pick up the ball and run him out with a neat piece of work.

The wickets continued to fall at regular intervals as the Windies never looked like keeping up with the required rate on a slow wicket at Arnos Vale.

Bracken, who was making his return following knee surgery in March, claimed the final wicket when Sulieman Benn (seven) was caught at long-on by Clarke. Bracken claimed match-best figures of four for 31.

Earlier, Marsh and Shane Watson, who was also making a comeback to international cricket after being out since last year's World Cup, put on 75 for the first wicket before the Queenslander was caught lbw shuffling across the crease by Bravo for a breezy 31 from 27 balls.

Captain Ricky Ponting (six from 20 balls) and his deputy Clarke (nine from 23 balls) fell cheaply trying to engineer shots.

Ponting chased a wide ball from Jerome Taylor only to chop onto his stumps, before Clarke got his angles wrong, gliding a Darren Sammy delivery straight to Denesh Ramdin behind the stumps.

Marsh became just the eighth Australian to bring up 50 on debut when he crunched Bravo through the covers, a shot only bettered by a glorious pull over the square leg boundary from the same bowler earlier in his innings.

But when Marsh was fooled into offering a simple catch to Gayle at cover from a Sammy slower ball the Australians looked in some trouble at 140 for four.

Hussey led the recovery mission in a risk-free 91-run stand with Haddin.

Haddin deservedly reached his half-century from as many balls before he was caught in the deep by Kieron Pollard off the bowling of Benn.

Hussey then fell to the same combination following a patient 58-ball innings, that contained just one boundary, as he looked to up the tempo.

Lee (12 not out) provided the late fireworks, including a hefty six over midwicket, to cap a solid batting display.

The second game in the five-match series will be played at St George's in Grenada on Friday.

Flower Calls For ICC Action On Zimbabwe

Five years ago Andy Flower famously donned a black armband to mourn the death of democracy in Zimbabwe - now he is prepared to mourn the death of its cricket thanks to "Robert Mugabe's despicable clan".

Flower, 40, undoubtedly his country's greatest player, visualises a long haul back if, as anticipated, Zimbabwe are banished by the International Cricket Council next week.

Their future in the sport has come under the spotlight after the withdrawal of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai from the second round of the country's general election triggered a sporting sanction from South Africa.

Following further social decline under Mugabe's abominable regime, South Africa's cricket board severed bilateral arrangements with their neighbours and, as a result, the ICC hierarchy have been asked to decide Zimbabwe's fate next Wednesday - and if seven full member countries are in agreement they will be kicked out.

The British Government is, meanwhile, set to nail its colours firmly to the mast today when it hands over a letter to the England and Wales Cricket Board, signed by culture secretary Andy Burnham, outlining plans to ban the Zimbabwe team from entering the country for next year's one-day matches and ICC World Twenty20.

"There will have to be a government change for cricket to move forward there," said Flower, England's batting coach.

"Because the people in charge of cricket there at the moment are part of Robert Mugabe's supporters - they are all in bed with him.

"It's going to take a long time to turn things around as domestic cricket is in such a poor state there. We were never strong but it's in such a poor state now.

"It's very sad. So many people gave up so much time and energy to get us into international cricket in the first place - people who weren't paid.

"They did it for the love of the game and the love of their country. It is now pretty much ruined."

Former Zimbabwe captain Flower added: "I'm no politician when it comes to the ICC but I do know that Peter Chingoka is part of Mugabe's despicable clan and the fact that he's allowed to prance around with the ICC colours on and sit on ICC committees is embarrassing.

"And embarrassing for the ICC to have him on there - he's just not a good enough person to be making decisions about anything, especially not the finances of the ICC for instance."

Flower's powerful 2003 protest alongside black team-mate Henry Olonga grabbed the attention of the world beyond cricket's boundaries.

But the atrocities in Zimbabwe have been covered over in cricket ever since, until South Africa's decision to say enough is enough.

"Things are spiralling out of control so quickly in Zimbabwe now," Flower added. "I hope someone does something to arrest that.

"If suspending Zimbabwe from the ICC is the first step then that's good.

"I support a suspension. We should not have normal relations with a country in such an abnormal state. I don't think they should play in England next year on either the tour or in the ICC World Twenty20."

Zimbabwe are due on a one-day tour here next year and then take part in Group A of the ICC World Twenty20.

When Zimbabwe last toured England in 2003, guidance rather than firm instruction was forthcoming from Westminster, which meant the ECB was forced to proceed or be hit with financial punishment.

Highlighting a change in mood, however, a Government spokesman said: "Under the current circumstances it's the Government's view that the tour would clearly be unwelcome.

"We would also have serious concerns about Zimbabwe participating in the Twenty20 World Cup."

Vettori Pleased With Kiwi Revival

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has praised his side for recovering from their Test setbacks against England as they look to salvage a tangible reward from the tour by winning the NatWest one-day series.

The Kiwis lost 2-0 and then looked to be suffering a hangover as they were beaten in the Twenty20 match at Old Trafford and the opening one-dayer at Durham.

But they have lived up their ranking as number three one-day side in the world in the ICC rankings with their performances in the abandoned game at Edgbaston and the 22-run win at Bristol.

Vettori said: "I am proud of the way the boys have come back, really happy. We've said for a while that we are a good one-day side but the performance in Durham wasn't great at all.

"To bounce back pretty quickly from that has been excellent and, if we can win this series, then it will be an even split between the Test matches and the one-dayers - like it was in the matches with England back home in the winter.

"That is probably indicative of where we are at with our cricket. We know we've got two games to try to win but it would go a long way to redeeming the Test part of the tour.

"It would have been hard now with nothing to play for and it would have made the trip up to Scotland next week even harder as well.

"The fact the series is alive all the way to the end, whether it is to draw it or to win it, is great for the actual games coming up and for us that we can be involved in it to the bitter end."

Vettori is looking for his bowlers to again put the England top six under pressure and they will have the added boost of all-rounder Jacob Oram being fit after missing the opening three games with a hamstring problem.

He said: "I like to concentrate more on the way we bowled rather than how England performed - and we were certainly on top of our game for the majority of the time at Bristol.

"For Tim Southee (four for 38) to step up like that in only his third one-dayer and have a spell like that, and the way Kyle Mills led from the top, enabled us to put England in those pressure situations.

"We've got to look to produce the same again and having Oram back again is a massive boost. He is one of the best one-day players in the world.

"He will be fit to bowl as well as bat and that is going to add another dimension. When you get good players back, the team confidence just goes up even more."

Although Oram is fit to return, his replacement in the squad, Grant Elliott, will retain his place after impressive performances at Edgbaston and Bristol in the previous two games.

The likelihood is that opening batsman Brendon McCullum will don the wicketkeeping gloves at the expense of Gareth Hopkins to accommodate Oram.

Teams

England (from): PD Collingwood (Durham, capt), IR Bell (Warwickshire), AN Cook (Essex), LJ Wright (Sussex), KP Pietersen (Hampshire), RS Bopara (Essex), OA Shah (Middlesex), TR Ambrose (Warwickshire, wkt), GP Swann (Northamptonshire), SC Broad (Nottinghamshire), CT Tremlett (Hampshire), JM Anderson (Lancashire), RJ Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), AD Mascarenhas (Hampshire).

New Zealand (from): DL Vettori (capt), JM How, BB McCullum (wkt), RPL Taylor, SB Styris, DR Flynn, GD Elliott, G Hopkins, KD Mills, TG Southee, MR Gillespie, MJ Mason, JDP Oram, JS Patel.

Umpires: S Davis, M Benson.

English players' poll reveals lure of IPL

Half
of England's leading players would consider quitting international
cricket early to play in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL),
according to a recent survey.

A poll by the Professional
Cricketers' Association said that 50 percent of current England
internationals would consider premature retirement from the highest
form of the game.

The survey comes at a time where Twenty20 is
spawning an extraordinary cash influx into the game with Allen Stanford
prepared to offer a million dollars a man to members of the winning
side in a one-off clash between England and his Caribbean All Stars in
November.

His move followed the creation of the unsanctioned
Indian Cricket League (ICL) and its rival Twenty20 event, the
officially backed Indian Premier League both of which offer players the
chance to earn big money in a relatively short space of time.

More
recently a new 10-million dollar Champions League featuring leading
domestic sides from around the world was also announced.

"The
current imbalance between remuneration for Twenty20 cricket and the
longer forms of the game does present a very real threat to the
existing fabric of the game," a report accompanying the PCA poll said.

"The
financial rewards offered by the Indian leagues will entice players to
retire early from county and international cricket - and senior players
at that. The impact on the strength of our international sides would be
huge.

However, a poll of 334 players in English domestic cricket
revealed strong support for Test cricket with 93 percent saying it
should retain its current status at the summit of world cricket.

ECB seeks clarification on ban on ICL players

England
& Wales Cricket Board (ECB) says there is confusion over Indian Cricket board's decision to ban counties fielding rebel Indian Cricket
League (ICL) players in Twenty20 Champions League later this summer.

ECB is seeking clarification on the issue from other participating
countries of Champions League. BCCI says England can take part in
Twenty20 Champions League on condition that counties will not include
ICL players in sides playing in championship to be held in India in
September.

BCC's stand, ECB sources feel is contrary to understanding between two Boards. It was agreed that ICL players will
be barred from Champions League, not counties.

British media reported conflicting versions on Indian Board's decision. BCCI
secretary Niranjan Shah was quoted as saying that Pakistan had already
been invited to replace England and former BCCI president Inderjit
Singh Bindra, an influential member of IPL governing council said only
three countries are confirmed and Pakistan could be fourth if English
counties refuse to drop ICL players from their teams.

BCCI though left ball in court of three participating nations - Australia,
South Africa & Pakistan - to reach a consensus on issue during
International Cricket Council's (ICC) meeting in Dubai next week.

"This is a venture between four countries and we are awaiting Australia to
come up with rules and regulations. We are expecting that to take place
next week in Dubai," an ECB spokesman was quoted as saying.

The finalists of ongoing Twenty20 Cup in England in August will qualify for
Champions League. But only three of 18 counties - Essex, Middlesex
& Somerset - do not have players who have signed ICL contracts and
it is more likely ECB will face a situation where they will have to
take a firm stand on whether to play or boycott it.

The likelihood is that two counties qualifying from England will have ICL
players, and if they are subsequently withdrawn from Champions League,
counties will face legal implications.

ICL lawyer Jeremy Roberts says legal action against ECB would be inevitable as "It would be a
restraint of trade." ECB could invite alternative counties to represent
England if leading ones insist on keeping "rebel" players.

Gibbs to lose his IPL earnings?

Things are going from bad to worse for Herschelle Gibbs. After being discarded from the national side due to poor form, the opening batsman may have
to fork out a major part of his IPL earnings to pay alimony to his wife, Tenelle Gibbs. Tenelle has accused her husband of having become "verbally abusive, aggressive and erratic", according to the Daily Mercury.

Gibbs charged with alchohol abuse, faces a claim of maintenance for 96,950 rands per month. The couple got married in the West Indies last June and Tenelle said she
has got accustomed to the lavish lifestyle in the past one year. According
to an affidavit filed to the Cape Town High Court, Tenelle has said the
cricketer 'embarrasses me at social gatherings often while under the
influence of alcohol.' Gibbs allegedly also sent "disregarding" text
messages and stopped her access to his bank accounts. Tenelle
Gibbs' submission says her husband had an IPL contract for 4.75m rands
until 2010; a 2m rands contract with Cricket South Africa, and a 1.2m
rands contract with Glamorgan Cricket in the UK. In addition to this,
there were also unspecified earnings from sponsorships.

Shadows loom large over Champions Trophy

The
Pakistan Cricket Board might have welcomed ICC's green signal for
hosting the Champions Trophy, scheduled to be played from September
11-28, but mounting security concerns of teams has forced the benign
tournament into danger.

Australia,
who boycotted their tour to Pakistan earlier this year, have been
vociferous in their reluctance and Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds
have voiced their apprehensions. The Sydney Morning Herald claimed most of the leading Australian cricketers would pull out of the event if Pakistan do go on to host it.

New Zealand
too are unsure about the tournament. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief
executive Justin Vaughan will fly to London this week to discuss the
Kiwis' concerns over security. Kiwi captain Daniel Vettori said
Pakistan would be one of the "hot topics" of Vaughan's visit.

"If the
Australians have got concerns, I'm sure a lot of other teams will as
well. Guys will want to raise concerns if they have them (before
Vaughan), and hopefully we'll have some answers to all those issues,"
Vettori had said before an ODI game against England.

Media reports suggest that even senior England players are unwilling to go by the governing body's assertions. Daily Telegraph
claimed that "messages have been bouncing back and forward between
English and Australian players" in West Indies, for a concerted action
on the issue.

With
threats of pull-outs growing louder, the PCB is relying heavily on the
ICC officials' presentation about security arrangements being made for
the tournament in the chief executive's meeting this week.

"The (chief
executives') meeting in Dubai will be a good platform for the world's
cricket bosses to know about the sort of arrangements we are making for
the Champions Trophy,'' PCB's chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi,
told The News.

However, it
may be recalled that Australia refused to tour Sri Lanka for the World
Cup in 1996 due to security concerns, and with other teams too feeling
uneasy, this years Champions Trophy has shadows looming large over it.

Humble Elliott Eyes Further Progress

Grant Elliott has vowed to make an even bigger
impression for New Zealand in the final two games of the NatWest series
with England.

Elliott, drafted into the squad as cover for the injured Jacob
Oram, returned three for 23 on his one-day debut at Edgbaston and then
made a restrained but vital 56 off 102 balls to rescue his side in the
win at Bristol.

The 29-year-old, who played one Test against England in the
winter, admits it took time to make the step up from the Surrey League,
where he featured for Weybridge, to international cricket.

But he felt more at home by the conclusion of Saturday's 22-run win which levelled the series.

Now he is keen to help the Kiwis clinch the series in the final two games at The Oval on Wednesday and Lord's on Saturday.

Elliott said: "I played five days on the trot before I joined up
with New Zealand - three with Sussex Seconds, one for Weybridge and
then a charity game, but I didn't feel as if I was ready to hit the
ground running.

"When you play league cricket, you don't face the sort of
bowlers you are going to face at this level. It was a matter of putting
the work in during the nets.

"You feel a little bit underdone, a bit under-cooked. I think
of myself of a batter who bowls. I felt that I struggled with the bat
at Bristol although I don't think the conditions were that easy.

"But I felt things were clicking towards the end of my innings. Now I just want to build on that and take things forward.

"If I do get an opportunity to play again on Wednesday, I want
to build on that and make sure I get 80 off 80 balls instead of 50 off
100 balls."

Elliott is confident he can adapt to whatever approach is needed out in the middle despite his lack of international experience.

"I am quite a restrained batter. I am used to the longer version of the game," he explained.

"But when batting in the middle order, you have to know when to
play your shots and to back yourself and when maybe to just pull in the
reins a bit, take singles and be content with four an over instead of
going for the big shots.

"At Bristol I was toying with the fact that maybe I should have
gone after things a little bit earlier and tried to force a bigger
total.

"But then we got the message to have a go at the 48-over stage
so I kept pushing the ones until then and Kyle Mills did a great job at
the end with 47 of 40 balls. That was crucial."

Elliott is starting to feel at ease with his role with the
Black Caps after the South Africa-born player admitted to being
emotional when he made his Test debut in March.

"I wouldn't say I am a fully fledged international - I've played one Test and two one-dayers," he added.

"But I feel at ease when I am out there which is a good thing. I don't think I'm panicking.

"I've got quite a calm mind whereas, when I played in the Test,
the moment was quite big for me, quite emotional, because it was
something I always wanted to do as a child."

Humble Elliott Eyes Further Progress

Grant Elliott has vowed to make an even bigger
impression for New Zealand in the final two games of the NatWest series
with England.

Elliott, drafted into the squad as cover for the injured Jacob
Oram, returned three for 23 on his one-day debut at Edgbaston and then
made a restrained but vital 56 off 102 balls to rescue his side in the
win at Bristol.

The 29-year-old, who played one Test against England in the
winter, admits it took time to make the step up from the Surrey League,
where he featured for Weybridge, to international cricket.

But he felt more at home by the conclusion of Saturday's 22-run win which levelled the series.

Now he is keen to help the Kiwis clinch the series in the final two games at The Oval on Wednesday and Lord's on Saturday.

Elliott said: "I played five days on the trot before I joined up
with New Zealand - three with Sussex Seconds, one for Weybridge and
then a charity game, but I didn't feel as if I was ready to hit the
ground running.

"When you play league cricket, you don't face the sort of
bowlers you are going to face at this level. It was a matter of putting
the work in during the nets.

"You feel a little bit underdone, a bit under-cooked. I think
of myself of a batter who bowls. I felt that I struggled with the bat
at Bristol although I don't think the conditions were that easy.

"But I felt things were clicking towards the end of my innings. Now I just want to build on that and take things forward.

"If I do get an opportunity to play again on Wednesday, I want
to build on that and make sure I get 80 off 80 balls instead of 50 off
100 balls."

Elliott is confident he can adapt to whatever approach is needed out in the middle despite his lack of international experience.

"I am quite a restrained batter. I am used to the longer version of the game," he explained.

"But when batting in the middle order, you have to know when to
play your shots and to back yourself and when maybe to just pull in the
reins a bit, take singles and be content with four an over instead of
going for the big shots.

"At Bristol I was toying with the fact that maybe I should have
gone after things a little bit earlier and tried to force a bigger
total.

"But then we got the message to have a go at the 48-over stage
so I kept pushing the ones until then and Kyle Mills did a great job at
the end with 47 of 40 balls. That was crucial."

Elliott is starting to feel at ease with his role with the
Black Caps after the South Africa-born player admitted to being
emotional when he made his Test debut in March.

"I wouldn't say I am a fully fledged international - I've played one Test and two one-dayers," he added.

"But I feel at ease when I am out there which is a good thing. I don't think I'm panicking.

"I've got quite a calm mind whereas, when I played in the Test,
the moment was quite big for me, quite emotional, because it was
something I always wanted to do as a child."

PCB Allay Security Fears

The Pakistan Cricket Board have dismissed fears over security when the country hosts the Champions Trophy in September.

Several Australia and New Zealand players have announced this week that they would refuse to travel to Pakistan regardless of assurances on safety from the International Cricket Council.

However, a delegation of ICC officials, including security experts, visited Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi - the three venues - and declared they were satisfied with the arrangements.

ICC president Ray Mali has predictably given Pakistan a boost by saying the PCB was well prepared to host the tournament.

PCB director of cricket operations Zakir Khan told The News the board is yet to receive official communication on the matter from either Australia or New Zealand.

"We've been hearing through media reports that there may be concerns among some of the players about the Champions Trophy," Zakir said.

"But we are not taking any of it seriously unless there is an official confirmation from the boards of those countries."

An ICC official claimed the world body was ready to deal with any reservations which teams or players had about playing in Pakistan.

"We will deal with any team's concerns and reservations when the need arises (but) let's not answer hypothetical questions at this stage," said ICC communication manager Samiul-Hasan.

"The ICC and the PCB have set high standards for the tournament and we will ensure the event fits those standards."

The ICC will make a final decision on whether Pakistan will host the tournament at their executive meeting in Dubai on June 29. Sri Lanka is the alternative host nation.

PCB Allay Security Fears

The Pakistan Cricket Board have dismissed fears over security when the country hosts the Champions Trophy in September.

Several Australia and New Zealand players have announced this week that they would refuse to travel to Pakistan regardless of assurances on safety from the International Cricket Council.

However, a delegation of ICC officials, including security experts, visited Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi - the three venues - and declared they were satisfied with the arrangements.

ICC president Ray Mali has predictably given Pakistan a boost by saying the PCB was well prepared to host the tournament.

PCB director of cricket operations Zakir Khan told The News the board is yet to receive official communication on the matter from either Australia or New Zealand.

"We've been hearing through media reports that there may be concerns among some of the players about the Champions Trophy," Zakir said.

"But we are not taking any of it seriously unless there is an official confirmation from the boards of those countries."

An ICC official claimed the world body was ready to deal with any reservations which teams or players had about playing in Pakistan.

"We will deal with any team's concerns and reservations when the need arises (but) let's not answer hypothetical questions at this stage," said ICC communication manager Samiul-Hasan.

"The ICC and the PCB have set high standards for the tournament and we will ensure the event fits those standards."

The ICC will make a final decision on whether Pakistan will host the tournament at their executive meeting in Dubai on June 29. Sri Lanka is the alternative host nation.

Southee sets up New Zealand’s victory

Teenage quick Tim Southee's career-best haul paved the way for up an unlikely 22-run win for New Zealand in the third one-day international here Saturday as they levelled their series with England at 1-1.

Southee's figures of four for 38 took New Zealand to the brink of victory as England, chasing just 183 to win, were bowled out for 160.

The 19-year-old was responsible for a middle-order collapse that saw England lose three wickets for no runs in eight balls as they slumped to 64 for six. He then returned to have Paul Collingwood lbw for a top score of 34 when the England captain looked as if he might win the game off his own bat.

New Zealand, who were in deep trouble after collapsing to 49 for five, were indebted to Grant Elliott, who top scored with 56 in only his second match at this level and a rapid, career-best 47 from man-of-the-match Kyle Mills.

It was another impressive effort by the 29-year-old South Africa-born Elliott who took took three for 23 on debut during Wednesday's controversial no-result at Edgbaston following his call-up into the squad last week from south-east English club side Weybridge.

And the medium-pacer finished the match with 22 balls to spare when Chris Tremlett skied to New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori.

This was New Zealand's first major international win on a tour which saw them beaten 2-0 in the Test series before suffering thrashings by nine wickets and 114 runs in the lone Twenty20 and first one-dayer respectively

"Our performance today was one of our better ones. It's the sort of victory you remember defending 180-odd," said Vettori.

"Obviously this has been a tough tour but this still gives us a chance of winning the series. If we'd lost here we were 2-0 down and it would have been tough to get everyone up for the last two games."

Reflecting on Southee's display, Vettori said: "Everyone knows he is going to be a really good bowler and one-day cricket is about giving him experience . We just have to keep putting our faith in him as he is a natural talent."

Defeat capped a bad double for England against New Zealand on a day when their rugby union side were whitewashed 2-0 by the All Blacks after being overpowered 44-12 in the second Test in Christchurch.

But unlike that match, Collingwood's side gave themselves every chance of victory only for their batsmen to let them down. "We were in a very strong position and were very happy keeping them to 182," said Collingwood, who put on 65 for the seventh wicket with Graeme Swann.

"We kept losing wickets and it was a disappointing run-chase."

And when Collingwood was lbw to Southee, England were 152 for eight.

That left them 31 short of a target which, with no frontline batsman at the crease, proved beyond them. England were making progress when Southee, in only his third ODI, struck.

Ravi Bopara went for 27 when a cut was well-held by a diving Jamie How at backward point before the dangerous Owais Shah fell for a three-ball nought, undone by a good length delivery which bounced and was caught by Styris at second slip

Tim Ambrose also exited for a 'duck', Taylor holding a first slip chance at the second attempt.

Earlier, New Zealand's scored 50 runs off their final five overs, with paceman James Anderson conceding 18 runs off his last.

Mills's runs came off just 40 balls with two sixes and five fours.

As a result England, who saw fast bowler Stuart Broad take two for 14 in an unbroken 10-over spell, had to chased a much bigger total than looked likely when New Zealand were five down.

Elliott faced 102 balls with three fours before he was caught by Luke Wright after hooking Anderson, who saw Brendon McCullum smash 16 off the first five balls of his second over before the opener was caught by Kevin Pietersen, leaping at mid-off, off the sixth.

England's reply then began shakily when Mills removed Wright and Pietersen to leave them 19 for two.

Asif to pay legal bills if found guilty: PCB

Mohammad Asif will have to pay up the money that the Pakistan Cricket Board spent on defending him in the drug possession case in Dubai if he is found guilty in the internal inquiry to be conducted by the PCB.

A three-member fact-finding committee has been instituted by the PCB which will submit its recommendations on the matter to the Board in two weeks' time, PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf said after a governing body meeting in Lahore on Saturday.

Ashraf said Asif would be ineligible to play until the committee completes its inquiry and submits its report. The PCB chief said strict action would be taken against the lanky pacer if he is found guilty, including being asked to reimburse the money spent on him by the Board.

"The governing body unanimously decided that if Asif is found of having committed any wrong or used drugs in this case severe action would be taken against him and all such players. And all such expenses incurred on his case would be paid by Asif," Ashraf said.

Asif returned from Dubai on Friday after the public prosecutor and attorney general didn't press any charges against him.

He was detained at the Dubai airport on June 1 while returning from India to Pakistan for allegedly carrying contraband drugs.

Asif, later, denied that the substance recovered from him was any drug and claimed it was a medicine prescribed by a Hakeem one month ago in Pakistan.

The pacer also insisted that he never used drugs or banned substances in his life.