India in South Africa

Ganguly's trump card Harbhajan Singh and fast bowler Ashish Nehra may not be fit enough to play the first Test beginning at Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Harbhajan is suffering from a groin infection and Nehra twisted his ankle at the nets.
Ganguly also appeared tentative about opening the innings with debutant Connor Williams considering he did not have a bat at all on the tour so far, in which case Rahul Dravid's, utility services will be pressed for once again.

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Even has his coach expressed his unhappiness over the pitch prepared for the first Test the home skipper Shaun Pollock was noncommittal about reading much into the pitch.
Although he said there is more grass on it than normal Bloemfontein wickets he felt one could never say how it would go. Pollock said the South African game plan would be to put pressure on the Indian top order.

Khaleej Times Trophy, Sharjah

Pakistan chased a challenging total and set the scores even in the league matches thus building up an interesting scenario for the final tomorrow.
Sri Lanka put up a 272-9 with solid performances from the middle order. Shoaib Akhtar seemed to have got back his rhythm of old and claimed 3-45 of his 10 overs.
In reply Pakistan hit back with centuries from opener Naved Latif (113) and an unbeaten 118 from Inzamam ul Haq taking them to victory in the last over but with 7 wickets still in hand.

Khaleej Times Trophy, Sharjah

The English Cricket Board named Somerset's Richard Johnson and Martyn Ball to replace Robert Croft and Andy Caddick in the squad to tour India in November.
While seamer Johnson was expected to be a candidate, Gloucestershire spinner Ball, 31, was something of a surprise.
The rest of the squad is N Hussain (Capt), U Afzaal, W Hegg, G Thorpe, A Giles, J Foster, R Dawson, M Hoggard, J Ormond, M Trescothick, M Butcher, M Vaughan, M Ramprakash and C White.

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The English Cricket officials have expressed complete satisfaction with the security arrangements for the forthcoming tour. John Carr, director of cricket operations said he had realized how normal life was going on in India after he had traveled to Delhi and Calcutta and said he looked forward to an exciting Test series.

Miscellaneous

West Indies play their opening three day match of the tour today in Colombo against a Sri Lanka A side. Brian lara who joined the team from London is also expected to play.
He will be playing for the first time since in pulled out of the Zimbabwe tour in June this year. The Sri Lankan A side will be led by veteran Hassan Tillekeratne and will feature some exciting new talent.

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Following the abrupt termination of the contract between WSG Nimbus and the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka, bids were called for from interested parties for coverage rights in Sri Lanka.
The reputed international firm of Chartered Accountants Price Waterhouse Coopers was requested to receive bids and evaluate them and on their recommendation the BCCSL awarded the right to Taj Television who are currently covering the tournament in Sharjah.
A press conference formally announcing the same will be held soon.

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Former Zimbabwe skipper Alistair Campbell has been suspended for two Tests and two one day matches following his comments in a newspaper that the current Zimbabwe team was being torn apart by racial issues.
Campbell said the ZCU not right in the idea of insisting on three black players in every game. He pointed out that there has not been the same commitment within the team. The Zimbabwe Cricket Union were totally unhappy with his comments and suspended him for four games in all.

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The International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed said the 2003 World Cup would be the best ever held so far.
It was reveled that 800,000 spectators would attend the matches while more than a billion would be viewing it on television.
The tournament will be the most lucrative held so far offering £3.5m prize money for the 14 countries and a £1.2m jackpot for the winner of the tournament.

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Australian skipper Steve Waugh will appear for his club Sydney club, Bankstownin an effort to test his recovery from the DVT syndrome he has been treated for, ever since he returned from England after the Ashes series.
This will his only practice match before the first Test against New Zealand begins next week. Waugh said he was confident and ready for the big game.

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Despite a groin strain New Zealand's Nathan Astle piled up a personal best of 233 for New Zealand against Queensland yesterday.
New Zealand put up 444-9 before declaring. This is his highest first class score and he left immediately after he was out to the hospital to have an ultrasound done. The team management was unsure of what exactly was his condition.

SCORES AT A GLANCE

Khaleej Times Trophy
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan (6th match)
Played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Toss: Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: 272-9 in 50 overs (S Jayasuriya 36, A Gunawardene 57, M Jayawardene 84; Shoaib Akhtar 3-45)
Pakistan: 276-3 in 49.2 overs (Naved Latif 113, Inzamam ul Haq 118 not out)

Result: Pakistan won by 7 wickets.
Man of the match: N Latif (Pak)
The final will be played between Pakistan and Sri Lanka tomorrow

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