The hosts have suffered a body blow with Jacques Kallis pulling out of the squad because of a back strain.
Girard said the submarine deal reflected not only the industrial capability of French companies but also their experience.
Half centuries from Ashwell Prince and Jacques Kallis guided South Africa to 259 for 6 wickets against Pakistan on the first day of the second Test.
The seven-times Formula One world champion made clear that he could not see the attraction of NASCAR.
He expressed hope that it will also benefit a large number of Hindi-speaking umpires and those giving training in this field, to whom the rules in English are hard to understand.
The drivers want to put safety measures at test sessions on a par with grands prix.
Riding on a superb all-round show, Gemini Arabians registered a massive 78-run win over Libra Legends in the opening match of the Masters Champions League Twenty20 tournament at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday. Put into bat, Gemini Arabians posted a massive 234 for three in their allotted 20 overs and in response the Libra Legends could manage only 156/8. The hero of the Gemini win was the pair of Kumar Sangakkara (86 runs 43 balls, 6x4, 7x6) and opener Richard Levi (62 runs, 43 balls, 4x4, 3x6). Together, they stitched together an 84-run partnership for the second wicket after skipper Virender Sehwag (21) got the tournament off to a rollicking start with a six off the first ball.
London beat back a strong challenge from favourites Paris as well as Madrid, Moscow and New York to win the race to stage the lucrative sports extravaganza.
Two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders will open their campaign against Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 11th edition of IPL on Sunday.
Paceman Vernon Philander became the fastest South African to take 100 Test wickets on Friday but India can claim the ascendancy at lunch on the third day of the first Test at the Wanderers.
Proteas coach Russell Domingo has said that the three-match ODI series against No.1 ranked India will be a good gauge of the progress his squad has made in recent months, according to reports.
The South African all rounder became the first player to score 8,000 runs and take 200 wickets in both Test and one-day cricket.
List of players who have claimed hat-tricks in the Cricket World Cup.
Chasing 243, South Africa started with their nose in front -- they were expected to reach 250, so the initial pressure index (PI) was 93.
The IOC has threatened to ban athletes from competing at future Olympics if their governments don't sign the WADA anti-doping code within the next year.
India's Dinesh Karthik has been shortlisted for the Emerging Player of the Year award.
South Africa were 70-3 in their second innings, a deficit of 33 runs, at stumps on day 2 in the first Test.
India's captain moved three spots up and behind Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis in the latest rankings for Test batsmen.
The statement said there would be efforts to put in place an ambitious policy of scholarships and exchange programs.
In a major defence deal, India on Monday decided to acquire six highly advanced French Scorpene submarines worth $3 billion.
French President Jacques Chirac has said that he was planning to visit India early next year.
Cheteshwar Pujara scored a sparkling unbeaten 135 as India took a stranglehold over South Africa in the first Test in Johannesburg on Friday. The top-order displayed remarkable application on Day 3, as the tourists, after dismissing the hosts for 244 in the first innings, swelled their overall lead to 320.
Chirac said that such a move will allow companies like Areva SA to supply nuclear plants to meet India's growing energy needs.
They have been badly handicapped by injuries to their captain Graeme Smith and all rounder Jacques Kallis.
The midfielder will captain France in an international friendly against Ivory Coast on August 17.
French President Jacques Chirac said Zidane is a man who represents at the same time all the most beautiful values of sport, the greatest human qualities one can imagine, and who has honoured French sport and, simply, France.
The Indian vice-captain and the Australian pace spearhead lead the newly-introduced ICC player rankings.
