Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will retire from international cricket after the Feb. 19-April 2 World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
The average rating of 7.13 for the India-Sri Lanka match fell to 1.85 for the Australia-South Africa match on Saturday.
ICC's chief pitch consultant Andy Atkinson on Sunday inspected the Feroze Shah Kotla pitch, which was banned for one year from hosting international matches after the abandoned India-Sri Lanka game in Delhi last year.
'Given that they are playing at home and will have full crowd support, India, who are in peak form and whose morale is high, will be the favourites.'
The ICC rejected the BCCI's appeal to lift the one-year ban on Delhi's Ferozeshah Kotla ground, which was deemed 'unfit' after the recent India-Sri Lanka ODI was abandoned due to a dangerous pitch.
The Indian budgetary system has become more transparent over the years, with the government providing significant information on the Budget, a survey has said.
Pakistan's controversial fast bowler Muhammad Asif is confident of playing in the 2011 World Cup despite the pending allegations of spot-fixing and the International Cricket Council's suspension.
While India struggle to get ready for next month's Commonwealth Games in Delhi, organisers for next year's cricket World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have struck an altogether more confident note.
ICC's chief pitch consultant Andy Atkinson on Monday expressed satisfaction over the efforts being made to improve the Ferozeshah Kotla pitch, which was banned for one year from hosting international matches after the abandoned India-Sri Lanka game last year.
Terming India as one of the favourites to lift the World Cup, former Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist on Wednesday cautioned the co-hosts not to get bogged down by the weight of expectations, instead enjoy playing in front of the home crowd.
Experienced Matt Prior on Wednesday got the nod ahead of Steve Davies as the lone wicketkeeper in England's 15-man squad for the February 19-April 2 Cricket World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. An out-of-form Paul Collingwood, who was dropped for Sunday's first ODI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, also found a place as did injured fast bowler Stuart Broad.
A fourth consecutive World Cup title triumph might not be enough to heal the scars left by the recent Ashes hammering Australia suffered against England, captain Ricky Ponting said on Tuesday.
Pakistan's ability to host an international tournament without any security problems will be examined when the Asia Cup begins on Tuesday.
Australia have named left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty ahead of off-spinner Nathan Hauritz in the team for the first of seven One-Day Internationals against England.
The subcontinent will be ready in time to host the World Cup though five venues were still undergoing work, the International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Haroon Lorgat said on Saturday.
Australia named paceman Brett Lee and batsman David Hussey in a 14-man squad for the first of seven one-day internationals against England, brightening their chances of making the cut for next month's World Cup.
Jacques Rudolph was surprisingly recalled by South Africa when he was included in its preliminary squad for next year's World Cup.
The Old Trafford stadium has been made a 'No Fly Zone' for India's semifinal clash against New Zealand, in Manchester, on Tuesday.
Andy Atkinson, the International Crcket Council's chief pitch consultant, expressed satisfaction with the progress of work at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai but remained mum on Delhi's Ferozshah Kotla ground.
When the first flight arrived at Kushinagar airport on Wednesday, it was not Gota or Mahinda who stepped out, but another Rajapaksa. Namal Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka's minister of sports.
An Olympic medallist's wish is anybody's command. Domino's Pizza has pledged free pizza for life to India's silver medallist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, after the champion said she wished to eat pizza after her feat at the Tokyo Olympics.
'India are very, very patient but if you are willing to be patient and bowl all day you will take wickets'
The PCB will rest the fast bowler to allow him to recover from his rib-cage stress fracture injury.
Contradicting his home association, star batsman Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday said Match Referee Alan Hurst did the right thing by abandoning the fifth and final India-Sri Lanka ODI because the Ferozeshah Kotla track was not fit for an international game.
The bickering within the Delhi and District Cricket Association over the Ferozeshah Kotla pitch fiasco took an ugly turn on Tuesday with board member Kirti Azad storming out of the body's annual general meeting, claiming he was insulted for raising the issue.
Stung by the fiasco at the Ferozshah Kotla which led to the abandonment of the fifth and final India-Sri Lanka ODI, the Cricket Board on Sunday disbanded its Grounds and Pitches Committee with immediate effect.
The Kolkata police on Friday met the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) officials to inquire into the Eden Gardens power failure that disrupted the India-Sri Lanka day-night fifth One-Day International for about 25 minutes on Thursday. The meeting was attended by officials from private power utility CESC, state PWD and Joint Commissioner of Police Debashish Roy who would submit his report in three days.
Shaharyar Khan believes India is the only Asian country that can single-handedly host the 2011 World Cup.
Sanjay Nayar is said to be joining Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co as its CEO and Country Head in the country.
Former India batsman Sanjay Manjerkar said Test cricket is an "outdated concept" and it's time to take Twenty20 cricket more seriously.
Mani Shankar Aiyar says the Congress party and not then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was responsible for unlocking the Babri Masjid gates and claimed that the "Bharatiya Janata Party-planted" Arun Nehru was behind it.
Former Mumbai Ranji Trophy captain Milind Rege will oversee the readiness of all eight venues in India that will conduct the matches.
They also pelted stones at the fishermen before driving them away
Hosts India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will play their knock-out matches at home if they advance to the quarter-final stage of the World Cup, International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Haroon Lorgat said on Friday.
A statistical look at the previous World Cups.
The 2011 World Cup, to be held in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, will be officially launched in Mumbai on July 14, 2009 with the bigwigs of the International Cricket Council in attendance.
Already retired from Test cricket, Sri Lankan opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya hopes to play in next year's World Cup in the subcontinent before ending his illustrious international career.
Shahid Afridi is likely to be retained as the One-day captain for the ICC World Cup 2011 after chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt held discussions with the team management in New Zealand and chief operating officer in Lahore.
Former captain Mashrafe Mortaza will not take part in next month's World Cup. The injured fast bowler was left out of Bangladesh's 15-man squad named on Wednesday. Mortaza, 27, injured his knee during a domestic match last month and selectors felt he would not have regained full fitness in time for the Feb 19-April 2 tournament being co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Paul Collingwood is to quit Test cricket after the fifth Ashes encounter, the England batsman said on Thursday, going out on a high after helping to retain the famous urn in Australia for the first time in 24 years.
