North West Frontier Province-Baluchistan defeated Sind by nine wickets on the third day in their Pentangular Cup third round match here at the National Stadium, Karachi.Shakeel-ur-Rehman tore through the Sind batting line-up by grabbing six wickets for only 57 runs as the Sind team capsized for a paltry 149.Needing 53 to win the match, KRL achieved the target in just 9.1 overs with the loss of Test opener Yasir Hameed for 14. Shoaib Khan remained not out on 21 while Adnan Raees scored 8.Earlier, Sind resumed on their overnight score of 41 and lost their third wicket with the addition of only two runs. A fourth wicket stand of 52 between Shahid Qambrani and captain Faisal Iqbal threatened a decent lead but Sind never really covered as soon as Faisal was dismissed for 17. Qambrani did top-score with 69 and shared a 25-run eighth wicket partnership with Mohammad Sami (10), but the other batsmen failed to provide any support.Along with Shakeel’s heroics, Faisal Irfan accounted for three Sind batsmen while Nasir Jalil picked up the remaining wicket.Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) ended day three of their Pentangular Cup match against Punjab on 382 for the loss of eight wickets, still 151 runs behind Punjab’s total, at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex.Resuming on their overnight 104 for no loss, Azhar Ali and Saeed bin Nasir added another 66 runs before allowing Punjab their first breakthrough. Azhar Ali scored a well-deserved century before being dismissed by international Rana Naved while Nasir managed 88 and was picked up by Imran Khalid.None of the other batsman bar Bilal Asad could capitalise on the good start as wickets fell at regular intervals. Asad, on the other hand, held one end together and scored 82 before becoming the second of Khalid’s four victims. Mohammad Wasim, captain and former Test player, could only manage six as Shehzad Butt and Akhtar Ayub managed an unbroken partnership of 20 to see out the day without further damageImran Khalid remained the pick of the Punjab bowlers and took four wickets for 81. Rana Naved claimed a brace while Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Hafeez got one wicket each.

Brian Lara has vented his frustration at the lack of support WestIndies have received over the past two days of their contest againstAustralia at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. In a match that ought to have been the plum draw of the Super Eights- an inaugural fixture at a brand-new venue against the reigningworld champions – a pitiful crowd was in attendance.Despite localsuggestions the match had been a sell-out, the 20,000-capacityground was barely half-full for the first rain-affected day, withperhaps half that many when the sun came out for West Indies’run-chase. “It’s very disappointing,” Lara said. “You’d back yourself to thinkthat at least every single game that West Indies plays is going to bea full house. We were received very well in Jamaica, where we got agood crowd against Pakistan and Ireland, but I thought I would be ableto close my eyes here, and for the rest of the tournament, and justsee our people come out and support the World Cup and support WestIndies.”The attendance figures don’t square with local anticipation of the match. One disgruntled fan suggested that the fault lay with the local organising committee, whose marketing of the game had fallen way short of what was required for such a big occasion. “There’s noculture of buying [tickets] online in the Caribbean,” he told. “Instead there were queues around the block for the fewkiosks at the ground, and everyone assumed the seats would have gone.”Stephen Price, the tournament’s commercial director, told 11,100 tickets had been bought in advance for this game, and a further 700 on the morning of the match. He denied that the pricing or the marketing strategy had been at fault for the poor attendance, but added that plans were in place to distribute the spare tickets to local schools and tournament sponsors. They were unlikely, however, to be implemented in time for Thursday’s match against New Zealand.”Centres in each of the territories put tickets on sale at the same time as they went online,” Price said. “We also utilised a global network of 50-plus agents. Tickets were easily accessible, and with a significant amount of entry-level prices, starting at US$25, which is the equivalent to a category two ticket in a regular bilateral series. But in some cases, the fans have not attended.”Price said there had been an attempt to change the Caribbean culture into one that buys early instead of leaving everything to the last minute. “Tickets went on sale ten months ago,” he said. “For a normal bilateral series, they would go on sale two weeks in advance. But there have been the same number of kiosks as ever. The queues may have been long in the late evening, but in the early morning they were empty. People could have come out at lunchtime, or in their own time. To claim otherwise is just an excuse.”

The commentator Mark Nicholas was disappointed the match was not a sell-out and said the locals were frustrated by the long queues. “A lot of them gave up and said ‘no, I’m not prepared to wait two hours’,” he said. “It’s been one of the problems confronting spectators. The huge amount of security, that’s one thing, the other is the long lines for tickets and long lines for food.”Nicholas said the remoteness of the site – “you can only park a mile away despite huge areas all around” – was a problem when comparing it to the previous venue. “The old ground was in the middle of St John’s and it was very popular,” he said. “There was a great party feel to the place, but it’s going to be very difficult to rekindle that here.”The controversy dampened an occasion that oughtto have been a proud moment for West Indies and for Antigua. “It’s avery good stadium, it’s beautiful and it’s a tribute to the man, SirVivian Richards,” Lara said. “It’s been an awesome effort by theAntiguan people getting this ready, and it’s going to be wonderful forWest Indian cricket moving on. The infrastructure is good, so now it’stime for the manpower.”Not everyone was impressed with the positioning of the new ground. Built on a greenfields site 20 minutes outside of St John’s,many fans had to walk for several kilometres to reach the entrance, or pay for a shuttle service. An impassioned West Indian supportertold a local TV station that it was the spectator’s right to expect tobe able to park outside a new and purpose-built ground, while otherscomplained that the spontaneity that had existed at the old AntiguaRecreation Ground was missing from the new venue.But Lara said there would have to be a change of attitudes allaround as West Indian cricket gets used to its new era. “When you’retalking about the improvement of facilities the spectators also haveto adapt,” he said. “It’s not enough to be able to stay in the sameareas or stadiums just because the atmosphere was great. We’ve hadsome wonderful times at the ARG, but now we move on to the Sir Vivstadium and it is something to be proud of over the years.”Some of these stadiums were dilapidated. Georgetown andother grounds have been around for donkey’s years. I’m sure peoplewill adjust. I may have been disappointed with the crowd today but Ithought the party stand wasn’t bad here or in Jamaica. People aregoing to enjoy it, and I think the cricketers are very happy that wehave facilities that are second-to-none. If you go to the MCG orLord’s the facilities are great. It’s nice to know we are gettingthere.”

Jamaican police are insisting that Bob Woolmer was murdered amid reports that Pakistani investigators have suggested otherwise due to lack of conclusive evidence. Karl Angell, director of communication for the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), said that the investigation was based on credible evidence.”The pathologist did an autopsy. He said to us in a written report that the man died from asphyxiation occasioned by manual strangulation, based on that our investigation proceeded but we have always said that the investigation is an open investigation and all angles are being looked at,” Angell told .Mir Zubair Mahmood, one of the two investigators sent by the Pakistani government to assist with the police probe in Jamaica, told reporters that there is no evidence to suggest that the Pakistan coach was murdered. However, according to Angell, Mahmood denied speaking to any reporters with such claims.”Mahmood has indicated to us that a report was submitted to his boss that he had no discussion with any journalists or with anybody else regarding the report,” confirmed Angell. “In private conversation with the Constabulary Force, Mahmood said that he is pleased with the way the investigation was going and he made no such deductions.”The complete report from the pathology and toxicology results is being analysed with the help of the Scotland Yard and are yet to be released.

After consistently hitting half centuries since his comeback, Sourav Ganguly today said he would try to convert his fifties into hundreds if he got a chance in the two-Test cricket series against Bangladesh.”I was the highest run getter in Tests in South Africa recently. The good thing is I have been consistent. Here if I get to the eighties I will surely try to convert them into 100s,” Ganguly told reporters after the nets.Asked how he was feeling on his “comeback”, Ganguly said “I don’t think of it as a comeback. We [Sachin Tendulkar and he] were not dropped, but officially rested. This also gave a few youngsters to perform.”Ganguly said he had no preferences for batting order or bowling during the Test. “I always work hard at the nets. It’s the decision of the team and what the situation demanded,” he said when asked if he would bowl in the Test. About opening the innings, he said “that is again up to the team management. If they deem fit I’m game.”On his huge popularity in Bangladesh, Ganguly said “I don’t consider Bangladesh as a different country. I captained in my first Test here. So, Bangladesh will always be special.”At nets Ganguly looked a picture of concentration when Rudra Pratap Singh, Romesh Pawar and three local bowlers bowled at him. Initially, he looked a bit tentative, but later his form returned. He also stepped out a few times to lift the spinners. Cricket Manager Ravi Shastri stood all along watching Ganguly. At first, he stood at the umpire’s position and then watched him from the point region. Ganguly also bowled at the nets to Wasim Jaffer and Sachin Tendulkar.Ganguly also vehemently denied that he was linked with the breakaway Indian Cricket League and also lashed at the media for being irresponsible with their reporting. “It’s not true. I think there are too many stories going around in Indian cricket,” said Ganguly. “Anybody speaks anything and that’s getting printed. The time has come to clarify things because this is not good for the individual as well as the team. I have not had any discussion with anyone, nor am I willing to have any discussions.”

India will send an A-team to tour Zimbabwe later this month, replacing the West Indies who cancelled their trip on safety grounds earlier this week. They will play two four-day and two one-day matches from July 22.”We are excited to have the replacement tour,” Dave Everington, Zimbabwe Cricket’s senior manager for cricket operations, said. “Our boys have been in camp for a fortnight so it was a huge blow to them when the West Indies A tour was cancelled. With India A coming, it means those vying for a place in the Zimbabwe Select side have something to fight for again.”It is believed that Zimbabwe Cricket is also in talks with the Kenyan board with a view to participating in a triangular tournament including India A in Kenya in August.The programme to expose the young Zimbabwe players to top-level three or four-day matches in preparation for the resumption of Test participation will also see Sri Lanka A touring in October.”There are areas the guys still need to work on so that the next time we play an international opposition we will be better skilled and better prepared,” Kevin Curran, the national coach, said. “The guys are working hard. They will undergo a skills session next week.”

Ramnaresh Sarwan is on the verge of recovering from a shoulder injury sustained during the tour to England. Sarwan damaged his right shoulder while attempting to stop a boundary during the 2nd Test at Headingley, after which he returned home.”It’s coming along pretty well. It’s about 90 per cent now,” Sarwan told . “I’ve been doing some weights and a bit of throwing. I’ve been impressed with the way things have been going so far.”Sarwan’s rehabilitation process includes running, cycling, icing and heating. While he has slight pain when he does push-ups, he has been told it would go within a week, paving his way for a return to domestic cricket.”It’s frustrating to get injured on such a frequent basis, but it’s very important that you try and stay mentally strong. You are playing sport and these things do happen. It helps you to become stronger.”Sarwan suffered a small hairline fracture in his right foot during a Test match in Pakistan last year and had to miss the five-match ODI series. He also missed this year’s Carib Beer series after he had injured his hand while batting for Guyana.The Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa will see Sarwan’s return to international cricket. “It would be great if the West Indies Cricket Board – and even if Digicel can take part a bit – to actually have a camp where we can have a couple of games before we go off, probably four or five games.”If we have a ten-day camp or a 15-day camp, it would be good to have a few games to give the guys a feel of what Twenty20 is about.”

Sussex have strongly denied media reports linking Mushtaq Ahmed with a move to Warwickshire at the end of the summer.A terse statement from Sussex made clear that no formal approach had been made by Warwickshire and that “if an approach has been made directly to the player the club is unaware of this and the approach would therefore it would be deemed an illegal under the current ECB regulations”.With the number of overseas players allowed reduced to one per county from 2008, Sussex have to chose between, Mushtaq and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan. The county stated that they were in discussion with Mushtaq regarding his future.

Luke Wright, the Sussex allrounder who is part of England’s Twenty20 World Championship squad, has been called into the one-day squad to cover for Andrew Flintoff, Ravi Bopara and Chris Tremlett.England are still hopeful that Flintoff will be available for the sixth one-day international against India, at The Oval, on Wednesday after he was ruled out of the fifth match at Headingley with a sore left ankle.Bopara took a blow on his right thumb when he tried to take a return catch off Gautam Gambhir during India’s innings. He immediately left the field, one ball into his second over, and went to hospital for x-rays where a dislocation and minor fracture were confirmed. He batted after taking a painkilling injection, but bowling and fielding will be the problem.Meanwhile Tremlett, who missed the Headingley match with an injury to his right foot, had an injection on Monday and won’t be available at The Oval. He will be reassessed ahead of the final ODI, at Lord’s, on Saturday.However, Ryan Sidebottom has been cleared to rejoin the squad after recovering from the side strain he picked up during the final Test at The Oval. He was denied match practice on Sunday when Nottinghamshire’s Pro40 match against Lancashire, at Old Trafford, was washed out.Flintoff is expected to rejoin the England squad for training at The Oval on Tuesday. “I feel for him,” said coach Peter Moores. “He has been great since he has been back. He has had a real buzz about him, a real energy and people have seen that when he has been on the field.”You could see he had his passion back which is what he is like when he plays his best cricket. He has been a real boost for the squad and has been involved in deciding how we should play in one-day cricket, which has been really helpful for myself, Paul Collingwood and the team.”The people I have spoken to so far are still pretty optimistic and he may be okay on Wednesday, then he can get on and play the sort of cricket he loves to do. All we can do is go through the right processes and keep our fingers crossed that the ankle will settle down. It isn’t too major and he can get himself away, then it becomes a manageable problem.”Both Flintoff and Bopara are now in doubt for the Twenty20 squad which will fly out to South Africa the day after the final ODI against India on September 9. England’s first game is against Zimbabwe, at Cape Town, on September 13.

Shoaib Akhtar will be required to undergo some form of counselling as part of the punishment announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).Shoaib was banned for 13 matches and has to pay a fine of approximately US$56,000 for a number of disciplinary breaches, including his spat with Mohammad Asif. But Nasim Ashraf, chairman of the PCB, revealed today that Shoaib will have to undergo behavioural counseling as part of his punishment.”He has to have some form of counseling as part of his punishment. That is absolutely compulsory,” said Ashraf.While disappointed with the episode, Ashraf said it was now time to move on. “We are very clear and consistent in that there will be no compromise at all on discipline. Shoaib got the maximum punishment. He has apologised to everyone and he will be under probation for two years. Anymore breaches and he could face a life ban. Let’s move on now.”Ashraf also said no action would be taken against Shahid Afridi, the third player in the dressing room incident which resulted in Shoaib hitting Asif with a bat. Shoaib had alleged that Afridi had instigated the matter and insulted his family.But Ashraf said, “There was no substance found in Shoaib’s allegations against Afridi. There is no proof of anything and the matter should no be closed.”

Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden are among an extensive list of Australia’s frontline players who have signed with the Indian Premier League, according to a report in the . The paper said the BCCI had outlaid more than $2 million to secure the stars for the Twenty20 tournament.Andrew Symonds, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson were also reportedly on the list. The IPL has already attracted Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, with Simon Katich and Jason Gillespie also set to play.The paper reported that Neil Maxwell, a player agent, will hand the groups’s IPL contracts to Lalit Modi, the BCCI vice-president, in Dubai on Sunday. Next year’s tournament is likely to take place in April, meaning several of the Australian-contracted players might be unavailable as the team will tour Pakistan and West Indies around that time.Australia’s states also have questions over who an Australian player would represent if their Indian franchise and their home state both reached the Champions League following the IPL. “We’re still very much at the thrashing-out stage, but I’ve been led to believe that if that happens, someone like Brett Lee’s first commitment would be to his home state,” Dave Gilbert, the chief executive of Cricket New South Wales said.”These sorts of things must be spelt out at the start, so there can’t be any grey areas. It would be good to get this worked out as soon as possible.”