India's tour of West Indies

Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is likely to play in the first Test against the West Indies despite injuring a shoulder on Sunday.

"So far he is available for selection," Indian team manager Gautam Dasgupta told the Reuters news agency.

"Most probably he will play." Indian physiotherapist Andrew Leipus said a final decision on Harbhajan's fitness could only be made after medical reports arrived on Tuesday.

"Things are looking bright so far, but we can't guarantee (his fitness) until the reports come in," Leipus said.

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The West Indies have responded to a run of five successive Test defeats by shaking up their squad for the opening match of the home series against India.

Wicket-keeper Junior Murray and opening batsman Stuart Williams have been recalled at the expense of former vice-captain Ridley Jacobs and Daren Ganga.

And there is a first chance for Dominica-born fast bowler Adam Sanford, who has taken 41 wickets in eight matches during the West Indies domestic season.

The 13-man squad also includes batting star Brian Lara, who has recovered from a dislocated elbow suffered during a one-day game in Sri Lanka last December.

Sharjah Cup

Match One: Sri Lanka 242-9 (50 overs) beat Pakistan 201 all out (45.5/49 overs).

Sri Lanka made tough work of what at one stage looked set to be the simplest of wins in the tournament opener in the Emirates.

Old hands Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan were the stars for the winning team, but a lone hand from Abdur Razzaq almost spoilt the party.

Razzaq, who was previously hit for 22 by Jayasuriya in a single over - though he recovered to take 2-49 in nine overs - hit 56 with two sixes and a pair of fours.

Australia in South Africa

Captain Ricky Ponting will change his batting order for tonight's final match as Australia try to remain unbeaten in the one-day series against South Africa here.

Ponting hinted that the likes of Michael Bevan, Ian Harvey and Shane Watson will receive an opportunity after limited batting time during the first six games.

Bevan missed three matches with injury while Harvey and Watson rotated the all-rounder's role before both playing in Saturday's emphatic three-wicket victory in Port Elizabeth.

Australian selectors will also play Queensland batsman Jimmy Maher in a match that won't affect the series result with the tourists having built a 5-0 lead.

"There are a few guys that haven't played much on tour and hopefully they'll get a bit of a chance to do a bit more in this game," Ponting said.

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Australian one-day captain Ricky Ponting said Saturday's memorable win in Port Elizabeth would go a long way to breeding more success in his side's World Cup defence in South Africa next year.

Ponting said the fact that Australia had gone to a 5-0 series lead on grounds that will host World Cup matches from next February augured well for its prospects in the tournament. He also said his side would draw particular confidence from Port Elizabeth, which will host a cup semi-final, with Australia and South Africa the possible combatants.

"To be around, know all the conditions and play good cricket on the grounds is going to hold us in good stead for the World Cup," he said. "There is a World Cup semi here, so that will be a good confidence thing if we come back here."

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It's been a long, painful summer for South African cricket. Although the team won the VB Series in Australia, they lost two Test series to the Aussies for a combined defeat of 5-1, and their record in the one-day internationals against the best team in the world is no better.

Taking the VB matches against Australia together with the seven-game series on home soil, there has been one win for South Africa - at the MCG back in South Africa - followed by a miserable eight defeats.

Oh, there was also the tied match at Potchefstroom - in case that's any consolation. The long season finally concludes with a day-night match at the Newlands on Tuesday.

Miscellaneous

South African cricket captain Shaun Pollock dismissed a report that players would boycott the opening game of the World Cup, describing it as devoid of any truth.

The Johannesburg based Business Day has reported that the team may issue a "no-show ultimatum" of next year's opening game against the West Indies unless the administration of the game was overhauled.

"I've heard absolutely nothing mentioned," responded Pollock as his side prepared for the final limited overs clash against Australia at Newlands.

"Nobody has commented on it. I don't believe there is any truth in it."

Although Pollock is adamant that such drastic action is out of the question, it does not mean that the players are completely happy with the current situation.

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