ICC Champions Trophy

Australian Test batsman Mark Waugh says it is important people do not read too much into the results in Colombo. "Whoever wins the tournament, it will give them a bit of confidence for the World Cup. "The way I see it, though, is that it's much closer to a knockout tournament. "You get a bit of time to work out your problems but most of the teams will be trying combinations. Kenya have made a last-minute change to their ICC Champions Trophy squad, calling up batsman Brijal Patel in place of the injured Hitesh Modi . Modi suffered a fractured right first finger when he was facing Pakistan's fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar in Kenya's opening match of the recent one-day series in Nairobi. Patel, who impressed the selectors win an innings of 42 against Australia in the final group match, although Kenya failed to win a game in the tournament. Describing India's just concluded trip to England as the "best overseas tour in the last six years," skipper Sourav Ganguly was confident of his team's success in the ICC Champions Trophy in Colombo. "We have been winning one-day matches and I can't think why we should not do well in the Champions Trophy," Ganguly said after the team arrived here in the early hours on Wednesday. On India's chances of winning the trophy in Colombo in the Sept 12 to 29 tournament, Ganguly said, "We will worry about it when we reach Colombo. As of now the players need rest.

Miscellaneous

Zimbabwe could pull out of next summer's tour of England, if Nasser Hussain's side refuse to travel there for the 2003 World Cup. Zimbabwe are due to play all six of their World Cup ties at home next February, including games against Australia and England. But the International Cricket Council has voiced concerns over the growing political crisis in the country and raised doubts as to whether the matches planned for Harare and Bulawayo can take place. . The sponsorship issue involving players and administrators is not yet over despite the participation of the best teams in the Champions Trophy here, the world's cricket chief said on Wednesday. "We're delighted that all the countries have sent their best teams here but more work has to be done regarding the World Cup (in South Africa next year), particularly with the players," said International Cricket Council (ICC) president Malcolm Gray. Gray said he was pleased with the solution that resulted in the participation of a full-strength Indian squad for the 12-nation limited-overs tournament, starting here on Thursday. The International Cricket Council will send a team of investigators to Zimbabwe later this year to decide whether it is safe to play World Cup matches there. The team will travel to Zimbabwe in November or early December and will talk to a cross section of people and government officials. "Security of players is one of our main concerns at any tournament," ICC's chief executive Malcolm Speed said. Pakistan are due to play a Test series in Zimbabwe at the same time - the only tour currently scheduled for the country. Graham Thorpe marked his return to cricket with a failure - on a day Surrey chairman Mike Soper heaped upon him the highest of praise. Thorpe, playing his first game for two months, made just 19 as the newly crowned champions finished day one against relegated Hampshire on 348 for seven. "I think he's the best left-hander in the world," Soper said of Thorpe, whose marital problems have come before cricket this summer.

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