Miscellaneous

Salim Malik is to be honoured by the Pakistan Cricket Board despite being banned from the game for life for match-fixing.

All 16 members of Pakistan's 1992 World Cup squad are to receive medals to mark the 10th anniversary of their 22-run victory over England in Melbourne.

They will be presented at a special dinner in Lahore on 30 March.

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The eight members of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) elite umpire panel have given their backing to the extended use of TV technology on a trial basis.

The umpires are currently in South Africa attending an ICC conference and receiving instruction in the latest disciplinary code agreed last week.

On Monday, the ICC announced that the Champions Trophy tournament in September will be used as a testing ground for extending the third umpire's remit to cover all decisions.

India in West Indies

The national selectors, meeting in Mumbai, on Thursday picked a 16-member squad for the upcoming five-Test series in the West Indies.

The squad reads: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Rahul Dravid (vice-captain), Shiv Sunder Das, Wasim Jaffer, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Dinesh Mongia, Deep Dasgupta, Sanjay Bangar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Javagal Srinath, Ajay Ratra, Tinu Yohannan, Ashish Nehra and Anil Kumble.

Australia in South Africa

Leg-spinner Shane Warne will miss the first two matches of Australia's one-day series in South Africa because of a hamstring strain, the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) said.

"Shane's problem is not a major one but, with seven games in 19 days in this series, it makes sense for him to miss the first two matches which take place in the space of three days," Australia physiotherapist Errol Alcott said in an ACB statement released yesterday.

The 32-year-old Warne carried the injury for the final two weeks of Australia's 2-1 Test series victory over South Africa, during which he took 20 wickets at an average of 22.10 in 162 overs.

Warne will be replaced for the first two one-day internationals by uncapped Queensland -off-spinner Nathan Hauritz.

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Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has called on the Australian cricket team to play their Zimbabwe tour games in South Africa. The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed earlier this week that they would go ahead with next month's tour which involves three one-dayers and two Tests in Harare and Bulawayo, in spite of Zimbabwe’s suspension from the Commonwealth.

Downer said the ACB should consider the option of playing the matches in a third country such as South Africa. "It would be a good deal less controversial if they were to do that," he said.

England in New Zealand

England eased to 92 for two in the 30 overs possible before bad light ended the second day in Wellington, having been asked to bat by New Zealand.

Marcus Trescothick's dismissal took the shine off a solid start by the tourists as play finally got underway four sessions late in the second Test.

A wet outfield prevented play until mid-afternoon and the planned 45 overs were cut short by sunset over the Basin Reserve.

England captain Nasser Hussain, 16 not out at the time, had no hesitation in accepting the umpires' offer.

With him was Mark Butcher, back from a thumb injury to take his place in an unchanged XI to make a patient 24 from 60 deliveries.

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Chris Cairns has been ruled out of next month's triangular tournament in Sharjah and also New Zealand's tour of Pakistan after his knee injury was diagnosed as a torn tendon.

The all-rounder, 31, injured his right patella while diving in the field on the first day of the first Test against England in Christchurch.

And New Zealand coach Denis Aberhart said on Friday his recovery would take some time.

The all-rounder had previously been carrying a back injury and only returned to international duty for New Zealand's tour to Australia late last year.

New Zealand tour West Indies immediately after the Pakistan series in May.

Duleep Trophy

West Zone took a vital 158-run first innings lead after dismissing North Zone for 238 runs on the penultimate day of the four-day Duleep Trophy match in Pune on Thursday.

West declared their second innings on 273 for nine, 40 minutes before close, setting North an outright victory target of 432 runs.

In reply, North were 54 for no loss, with openers Akash Chopra (25) and Vikram Rathore (26) at the crease.

Earlier, opener Wasim Jaffer, selected for the West Indies tour, again displayed excellent touch, scoring 58 runs, off 84 balls, with nine fours, while Nayan Mongia slammed 76 runs, which included two sixes and 11 hits to the fence.

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