Indo-Pak tie

Cricketing ties between India and Pakistan could resume on neutral territory following a meeting between the Indian cricket board and the government. Relations between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are cordial. But the Indian government has prevented its team from playing their neighbours in Tests since 1999. But BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya is believed to have held talks with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the subject. And board official Rajeev Shukla, also a member of the Indian parliament, told Pakistani-based newspaper that the government's hardline stance could change. "The BCCI has received a very encouraging response from the Prime Minister," Shukla said. "The sports minister has put the ban in place, but if the prime minister wants, he can reverse the decision." Shukla believes that the best way forward is to propose a series on neutral ground. "The objective should be to break the ice instead of pressing for the series to be played in Pakistan," he said.

ICC contract

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) yesterday sent its players stern letters, in which it pointedly asked if they were ready to represent the country in the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka next month, World Cup 2003 in South Africa, or not at all. The players are yet to sign the controversial International Cricket Council (ICC) sponsorship contract, which would confirm their place in the two tournaments but simultaneously deny them any sponsorship deals that could conflict with the interests of the ICC's official sponsors. The BCCI said it expected the players to reply to the letters by today. Interestingly, the board has scheduled a general body meeting as well as a selection committee meeting tomorrow, which would give it enough time to receive answers from each player and make its team selections accordingly. Meanwhile, the Indian cricketers yesterday informed the BCCI that they had appointed former player Ravi Shastri to speak to the board on their behalf, on the matter of the sponsorship contract.

Morocco cup

Morocco Cup, Tangiers: South Africa 196-8 (50 overs) beat Pakistan 188 all out (48.3 overs) by eight runs Allan Donald took three late wickets to book South Africa's place in the final of the Morocco Cup with an eight-run victory over Pakistan. Chasing just 197 for victory, Pakistan looked well placed at 155 for six in the 39th over, but Donald returned to clean bowl Rashid Latif for 22. And White Lightning was there at the end, bowling Wasim Akram with 11 runs still needed and Waqar Younis in his next over as Pakistan subsided to 188 all out. In-between, Inzamam-ul Haq was out in bizarre fashion for 41, stepping back on his wicket after lofting part-time spinner Ontong for six. Wasim and Waqar had wrought similar damage early in the match, Wasim having Herschelle Gibbs caught behind off the first ball and Graeme Smith lbw for five. Waqar bowled Jacques Kallis at the end of his first over and took a return catch to deal with Justin Ontong, foxed by a slower ball. But half-centuries from Boeta Dippenaar and Mark Boucher turned the innings around, adding 78 before Dippenaar was run out for a patient 55.

Tri-series in Kenya

All-rounder Andrew Symonds will replace injured batsman Darren Lehmann for the Australian one-day team's tour of Kenya starting later this month. The Australian Cricket Board's medical staff recommended the South Australian miss the triangular series with Pakistan and Kenya to allow his fractured little finger time to heal. Lehmann recently sustained the injury playing for English county side Yorkshire. He has been selected for next month's International Cricket Council Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka, subject to a medical clearance. Symonds was expected to join the Australia A squad for the remainder of its series against South Africa A commencing in Potchefstroom on September 4.

Australia's tour of Pakistan

Sri Lanka is willing to host the first Test between Australia and Pakistan at a neutral venue to save the three-Test series from being postponed or canceled. "They have asked us and we seem to be OK on that," Sri Lanka's cricket chief, Anura Tennakoon said, confirming Colombo could be the venue for the first Test. "We have agreed to be the host on principle, but logistics are yet to be worked out," Tennakoon said. The Australian Cricket Board wants to play Pakistan in October at a neutral venue or venues. Australia have refused to play the Tests in Pakistan because of player safety concerns after a series of attacks on foreigners in that country. ACB chief executive James Sutherland said it was the ACB's preference to play the Test series from October 1-29 and, if it didn't go ahead then, that it would have to be postponed for a year or two. That was the situation with the series against Zimbabwe, which was put back two years after Australia refused to tour earlier this year for safety reasons.

Miscellaneous

Duncan Fletcher says that he would like to remain as England coach for another three years. There had been speculation that the former Zimbabwe captain, 53, would step down from the post when his current contract runs out in September 2003. But he said that he would like to finish the job, and sign another two-year deal. "At this stage I'd really like to carry on," he told on Sunday. "With the group of players we have now, our bases are covered and there is a lot of young talent around as well. "As long as we don't start messing around, I think English cricket is in for an exciting two or three years." England face a tough test over the next year, with a grueling schedule beginning with the ICC Champions Trophy one-day tournament in Sri Lanka. A five-Test Ashes tour to Australia also involves a triangular one-day series, and that is before the World Cup, beginning in South Africa in February. Steve Waugh admits he is under pressure for his Test place as he begins a six-week stint in English county cricket with Kent. "I've got to score some runs and perform. There's always a chance I won't be there for the first Test," the Australia Test captain told. Waugh was dropped from Australia's one-day side at the beginning of the year and a whispering campaign has continued to insist that he is past his best in the five-day game. But, despite a modest 314 runs in nine Tests during the Australian Test season, Waugh still boasts a career average of exactly 50. And, against this year's tourists England, Waugh has an even better tally - 2895 runs at 61.59, with nine centuries, the last of which was made despite a calf injury at The Oval last year. He also has his eyes set on a return to the one-day side in time for the World Cup in South Africa, beginning in February. "I didn't have a great season last year but I had 10 straight before that and I'm hoping I'll bounce back," Waugh went on. The president of Rilski Sportist Samokov, newly promoted to Bulgaria's premier league, has been arrested for hooliganism, an interior ministry official said on Sunday. "Yuri Galev has been detained for 24 hours as he has been accused of hooliganism," the ministry spokesman told. Sports daily Meridian Match reported that Galev had verbally threatened the match officials after his team's 3-1 home defeat to Slavia Sofia on Friday. "After the 24 hours, the prosecutor will decide whether Galev can be detained for (a total of) 72 hours," the spokesman said. "(This is provided) the prosecutor has the grounds and the motives to detain Galev for a longer period." Officials at the club could not be reached on Sunday to comment on the arrest. Jack Russell set a new wicket-keeping world record on Saturday, although it's one the former England gloveman doubtless wishes he did not have in his collection. Playing for Gloucestershire against Northamptonshire in the second division of the English county championship, Russell did not concede a single bye in the visitors huge total of 746 for nine declared. His effort surpassed the previous first-class record of Tamil Nadu keeper Reuben Paul who did not concede a bye during the Karnataka innings of 716 at Bhadravasti, India, during the 1996-97 season. Russell, 39, also holds the world record for most dismissals in a Test with 11 catches against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1995-96.

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