Sports & Cricket Headlines

Upset with the defeat against India via Duckworth-Lewis method in fading light, England captain Kevin Pietersen said the November 29 Guwahati tie might also see a similar end and the administrators need to make more "common sense decisions" to avoid such anti-climactic finishes.

A thunderstorm and steady rain held up South Africa's charge to victory on the third day of the first Test against Bangladesh on Friday. Bangladesh were on 67 for three in their follow-on innings, trailing by 221 runs, when play was called off for the day at the scheduled tea break.

Former India wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer lashed out at match referee Roshan Mahanama, saying his lack of "common sense" resulted in the third One-Day International between India and England at Kanpur being decided by the Duckworth/Lewis system. 'Kanpur has good (floodlights) lights and they should have been used,' he said.

The Indian cricket team's tour of Pakistan next year is unlikely to materialise. A top source in the government said there no risk is worth taking if there is even the possibility of 'a scratch to Sachin Tendulkar'.

Simon Katich stayed unbeaten on a well made 67 even though he felt short of partners during Australia's second innings in the first Test against New Zealand at Brisbane on Friday. Australian batsmen struggled to stay at the wicket for long as they ended day two at a score of 131 for the loss of six wickets, scoring at an average of 3.44 runs per over.

South Africa spinner Paul Harris is to see a specialist after fracturing his thumb and will take no further part in the first test against Bangladesh in Bloemfontein, a team spokesman announced on Friday.

Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim has been officially reprimanded for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the first Test against South Africa at Bloemfontein. Mushfiqur was found guilty of showing dissent at an umpire's decision by Alan Hurst of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees at a hearing that took place after play concluded in Bloemfontein on Thursday.

Facing flak from several quarters for his 'third world country' remarks against India, Australian opener Matthew Hayden has insisted that he meant no disrespect to the nation or its people.

Former England captain Mike Atherton has blamed Kevin Pietersen's dangerously indifferent and odd attitude towards spin bowling for his team's debacle in the one-day series against India so far and advised him to urgently change his mentality.

Former Test leg-spinner Abdul Qadir has been named Pakistan's new chairman of selectors, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Thursday.

Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya believes Sri Lanka's new mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis could be a bigger threat than veteran Muttiah Muralitharan in their five-match one-day series starting on Thursday. Zimbabwe, struggling to stay afloat against a background of political turmoil, have not hosted an international side since West Indies won a five-match series 3-1 last December.

Former Pakistan captain and coach Javed Miandad has been appointed director-general of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Miandad appeared in 124 Tests and 233 one-day internationals and is Pakistan's leading Test run getter with 8832 runs.