POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa, Feb 1 AAP – South African veteran Gary Kirsten has admitted he would refuse to play in Zimbabwe if his side was due to visit the strife-torn nation during the World Cup.Kirsten’s revelation comes on the back of reports of an Al-Qaeda cell planning to attack Westerners in Zimbabwe – and South Africa – if the US goes to war with Iraq.Kirsten, whose side is not drawn to play any matches in either Zimbabwe or another trouble spot, Kenya, told a charity function he believed there was a “security issue” around matches in Zimbabawe.The Australian Cricket Board and International Cricket Council (ICC) want Australia’s match on February 24 to go ahead at Bulawayo but they are constantly monitoring a potentially volatile situation.If players are thought to be at risk, Australia will withdraw.The safety of the team and officials is the only consideration. Political and moral questions over president Robert Mugabe’s rule will not come into it.New Zealand has already pulled out of its clash against Kenya after receiving information from independent security sources that terrorist activity was on the boil in Nairobi.”Politics should be left to the politicians,” said Kirsten.”But I would not play in Zimbabwe… there is a security issue.”A US Government report has detailed a plan by Tablik Ja’maat, an Al-Qaeda-linked group of militant extremists, to attack US targets in Zimbabwe if war was declared on Iraq.Other attacks would take place in Pakistan, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey, South Africa and Israel, according to the report.Meanwhile, ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed is trying to determine whether the New Zealand-Kenya game can be re-scheduled.If not, options for the Kiwis include taking the matter to an independent ICC committee of up to five members, appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, or going to the ICC Cricket World Cup events technical committee.New Zealand is set to lose two valuable competition points from a game it would be almost certain to win but its reluctance to travel to a dangerous area is understandable after perilously close shaves with terrorist attacks in the past.A bomb killed 11 French engineers in a bus outside the New Zealand team’s hotel last year in Karachi, Pakistan. In 1987 in Sri Lanka, a bomb exploded in a nearby downtown Colombo bus depot. In 1992 in the same country, an assassination by car bombing, again near the team’s hotel, caused the immediate disintegration of the tour.Australia is scheduled to be in Bulawayo from February 21-25.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has re-scheduled the outstanding fixture between West Indies "B" and India "A" in the Carib Beer 2003 Cricket Series, as well as the semifinals and final.The first-round match between West Indies "B" and India "A", which was postponed because of the visitors’ late arrival in the Caribbean, will now be played at Kensington Oval, starting on Friday."The WICB did not feel it was fair for India `A’ to forfeit the points for missing the first-round match and, now that they have a chance to make it in to the semifinals for the Carib Beer International Challenge Trophy, we had to shift our dates around," said Michael Hall, the chief cricket development officer of the WICB.The staging of the West Indies "B" v India "A" fixture means that the semifinals and final of the Carib Beer International Challenge will be delayed by one week.They semifinals will now start on March 28 and the final on April 4.At Sabina Park, Jamaica: India "A" stepped up their bid for a semifinal place when they squeezed a two-wicket win over Jamaica in a crucial seventh-round Carib Beer Series 2003 Cricket Series match yesterday.The tourists, spearheaded by a decisive unbroken 50-run ninth-wicket stand between Lakshmipathy Balaji and Avishkar Salvi, successfully chased a testing 284-run target to win at 285 for eight shortly after lunch."It’s a great victory, it was really a nail-biting one," said coach Ashok Malhotra.At Albion Community Development Centre, Guyana: Guyana had an impressive 73-run victory over the Windward Islands to secure second place.Set 267 for victory after Guyana declared their second innings on 161 for five at lunch, the Windwards were routed for 193 with 12.1 of the 15 mandatory overs remaining.Apart from Darren Sammy, who hit a fine 53, and skipper Rawl Lewis (45), the Windwards batting folded to the Guyana attack, with leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo, finishing with three for 58 and fast bowler Esuan Crandon three for 59.

In two crucial World Cup games on successive days, the weather gods had the final say, knocking South Africa, England and Pakistan out of contention for the Super Six. On Monday night at Durban, the Proteas were at the receiving end, and on Tuesday morning intermittent rain forced the abandonment of Pakistan’s crucial encounter here at Queens Sports Club against Zimbabwe, which gifted the hosts two points to allow them to pip England for the third Super Six slot from Pool A.It is an irony of fate that two African teams – Kenya and Zimababwe, one from each pool – have gone to the next round, but neither is South Africa, who hoped to be the first side ever to win a World Cup at home. High levels of expectation and unrealistic optimism have again done for a home side.Pakistan’s task was steep anyway, and there was too much rancour and instability in their eleven to to achieve it. But the rain reduced the match to a farce anyway, eventually forcing its abandonment after a delayed start and two interruptions, the last coming when Pakistan were 73 for three after 14 overs, with Saeed Anwar unbeaten at 40.Though Zimbabwe were fortunate to qualify without beating a front line cricketing nation, Pakistan were left to lick their wounds. They too had a dismal failure – not beating any of their three worthwhile rivals, and managing only scrappy wins against minnows.It will remain a point of conjecture whether they would have done any better had rain not deprived them of another two points, and afforded them a late opportunity to beat England on net run-rate. But the fact is that though Anwar stuck around until the final interruption, Pakistan had lost three batsmen rather cheaply.Yousuf Youhana made just 17 and Inzamam-ul-Haq three. Inzamam, Pakistan’s premier batsmen, made the sum total of 19 runs in six innings. That was plumbing the depths, but it pretty much sums up the performance of the big guns – most of them failed to fire throughout the tournament, and never when it mattered.There will be explanations and excuses for Pakistan’s premature exit, but it was not unexpected from a fractious outfit in which everyone was for himself and none for the team.Mercifully the whole sorry business is over. A few prima donnas who held the cricketing destiny of the nation hostage in the last decade will be gone. It is a shame that they are going of their own will; many feel they should have been forced out a long time ago.And if tomorrow comes for the present set-up in the PCB (again a moot point for no Pakistani Board has survived a World Cup failure in the previous two instances – that is, post-1996 and post-1999), it will need to sit down and do a lot of soul-searching before rebuilding a strong team from scratch.

Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya has officially tendered his resignation.Jayasuriya informed the national selectors on Saturday morning that he had offered his resignation to Johnston Fernando, the Sports Minister.”I have tendered my resignation,” said Jayasuriya. “I have given the selectors the chance to opt for a new captain with the 2007 World Cup in mind.”The selectors asked him to take more time to think over the decision during the weekend after a meeting on Saturday morning.Johnston Fernando, the Sports Minister, also asked him to re-consider.However, on Saturday evening, Jayasuriya handed over a formal letter of resignation to the Cricket Board.The Cricket Board are due to make a statement on Sunday, according to Charnika Munasinghe, the media manager.It is unclear as to whether his resignation will be accepted.Fernando suggested afterwards that it might be rejected: “I appreciate Sanath’s freedom to send in his resignation. The authorities also have the freedom to reject or accept it.”Current vice-captain Marvan Atapattu is tipped to lead the side if Jayasuriya does stand aside.Jayasuriya was appointed captain after the sacking of Arjuna Ranatunga in1999. He led the side to a record 10 consecutive Test victories in 2002.

Ricky Ponting could yet play in the final Australia-West Indies Test starting in Antigua tomorrow.The Australian vice-captain, who did not play the last day of the third Test in Bridgetown due to a virus-like illness, has rested since arriving in Antigua.He hasn’t trained at all but was at a team meeting to discuss the match tactical options and his condition will be assessed before the game.

48.4 overs Sri Lanka 201 (Kaluwitharana 54, Dillon 3-39) v West Indies 91 for 5 in 25 overs Chaminda Vaas and Prabath Nissanka exploited heavy overcast skies and cutdeep inroads into the West Indies top-order with the new ball. Despite beingasked to defend a below-par 201 after a stop-start display with the bat,their efforts left Sri Lanka with the upper-hand mid-way through with WestIndies on 91 for 5 after 25 overs.West Indies anticipated the major threat to come from Muttiah Muralitharan,a fact reflected in Brian Lara’s surprise decision to drop down the order,but it was Vaas and Nissanka who caused the problems with penetrativeopening spells.Vaas led the way with an immaculate first over, swinging the ball away fromthe left-handed Chris Gayle, who would not have survived had MahelaJayawardene clung onto a low chance at first slip. But Sri Lanka did nothave to wait long for their first wicket, as Nissanka bowled Wavell Hindsbehind his legs for a duck (2 for 1). Hinds could do no wrong against theAustralians, scoring two successive match-winning tons, but he paid thepenalty here for shuffling too far across his stumps.Gayle could not capitalise on his first over reprieve as he nicked acarbon-copy outswinger from Vaas in the next over (4 for 2). Ricardo Powell,promoted up the order as Lara relinquished his normal No. 3 spot, startedwith a firm legside clip but he never settled. Vaas, now swinging the ballsharply back into the right-handers, trapped him leg-before on the back legwith an inswinger which would have knocked back his middle stump (15 for 3).When Ramnaresh Sarwan crunched a boundary through the offside, MarvanAtapattu moved Kumar Sangakkara into a short square-point position. And nextball, Sarwan blazed a similar square-drive off the middle of his bat, onlyto see Sangakkara cling onto a fine head-high reaction catch (19 for 4).A short break for rain provided the West Indies with a chance to regroup,and after the interruption Lara started the repair-work with Marlon Samuels.The pair had to negotiate increasing variations in bounce, but they saw offNissanka and Vaas and became increasingly confident as the sun started toshine once more. Lara was the more circumspect of the pair, although he didproduce the shot of the day: a spanking cover-drive.Muralitharan was eventually introduced into the attack in the 18th over ofthe innings to resume a longstanding rivalry with Lara, the man he rates asthe best player of spin in the world. But it was Dharshana Gamage, Sri Lanka’s new bald-headed seamer, who broke through. Samuels, on 29, wasthreatening a destructive innings, but he was caught behind off a thick edgeas he tried to force powerfully through the offside (73 for 5).West Indian hopes were left resting on the shoulders of Lara, West Indiesfinest batsman and the last recognised specialist, who has laboured hard forhis runs. He was unbeaten on 22 from 72 balls, batting with Ridley Jacobs,who was on 11.Sri Lanka Innings48.4 overs Sri Lanka 201 (Kaluwitharana 54, Dillon 3-39) v West IndiesWest Indies dismissed Sri Lanka for a below-par 201 in 48.4 overs in thefirst game of a three-match series on a slow Kensington Oval pitch. It was astop-start innings dominated by Romesh Kaluwitharana at the top of theorder, who scored 54 from 75 balls, and later by Kumar Dharmasena, whochipped in with 40 valuable runs in the lower order.West Indies clasped a clear advantage after Sri Lanka had slipped to 112 for5 after the loss of Kaluwitharana, but Tillakaratne Dilshan and Dharmasenarescued the innings with a consolidating 59 partnership for the sixthwicket. However, West Indies finished the innings strongly, runningthrough the Sri Lanka tail in the final overs.Whether the total will be enough to test a West Indies batting line-upbrimming with confidence after three straight wins against Australia isunlikely, but Sri Lanka will take confidence from the low-scoring recenthistory at the venue, and the prospect of assistance for their key matchwinner, Muttiah Muralitharan.Sri Lanka were forced onto the back foot in first over after a poor decisionfrom Billy Doctrove. Sanath Jayasuriya greeted Doctrove’s raised finger witha resigned smile, knowing that Mervyn Dillon’s third ball had missed theedge by a fair distance (0 for 1).But Marvan Atapattu, who had top scored with 99 against a Shell Academy XIin Sri Lanka’s only practice match, and Kaluwitharana played positively.They were made to hop around on a pitch offering some early life -especially Kaluwitharana who was hit on the helmet by Corey Collymore andlater floored by a blow to his midriff – but also found the boundary as 46runs were added in 54 balls.Brian Lara conjured up a breakthrough with a surprise bowling change,calling on Marlon Samuels’ offbreaks in the 10th over. A similar move hadworked against the Australians, when Samuels had dismissed Adam Gilchristafter opening the bowling in Grenada, and it foxed Atapattu too, who clippedback a simple return catch. He had scored 22 from 36 balls (46 for 2).Lara kept ringing the changes as he replaced Dillon with Collymore. Were itnot for the fumbling hands of Ricardo Powell at second slip, Kumar Sangakkarawould have gone third ball. He continued to ride his luck, frequentlyplaying and missing. But he also showed his class, clipping one sweetboundary through the legside and another majestic cover drive. At the otherend Kaluwitharana chipped in with some flamboyant strokes.Sangakkara’s luck ran out in the 21st over as David Bernard, the fifthbowler used, claimed his first wicket in one-day cricket. Sangakkara wascaught on the point boundary by Ramnaresh Sarwan after a wild swing to oneof Bernard’s straighter deliveries – he bowled five wides in his firsttwo-over spell (83 for 3).With Sri Lanka’s shaky middle order exposed, Lara swung back onto theoffensive. Dillon was hauled back into the attack and afforded two slips. Anunconvincing Mahela Jayawardene survived Dillon’s burst, but did not outlast long, succumbing to the innocuous medium pace of Wavell Hinds as he top-edged a pull (106 for 4).West Indies stole a clear initiative soon afterwards with the run-out ofKaluwitharana, who reached his 23rd one-day fifty before becoming boggeddown after the departure of Sangakkara. Slipping on the turn as he pushedfor a second run, Kaluwitharana could not beat Hinds’s throw from theboundary despite a desperate dive (112 for 5).Dharmasena and Dilshan (27) started their repair job slowly, nudging singlesand twos. They were fortunate that West Indies’ throwing radars were notworking properly, the fielders missing the stumps on half a dozen occasions.Gradually they started to tick along more easily and Sri Lanka were set fora competitive total on 171 for 5.But they lost their way after Vasbert Drakes flattened Dilshan’s stumps, asthe last five wickets folded for 30 runs, leaving the full house at theKensington Oval with high hopes of another West Indies victory.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has given John Wright a contract extension to coach the Indian team until at least September 2004.Wright, former New Zealand captain and opening batsman, has coached India since November 2000, and saw his side recover from a disastrous tour of New Zealand last summer to be the beaten finalist at the 2003 World Cup. That effort has earned him a three-month bonus, as well as a contract extension.Jagmohan Dalmiya, the BCCI’s president, said Wright’s contract would see the side through to the International Cricket Council’s Champions Trophy, being played in England in August-September next year.Andrew Leipus, India’s physiotherapist, has also had his contract extended, while South African Gregory King has been appointed as the team’s new trainer.India face a tough programme in the upcoming season, which opens with a home series against New Zealand. That will be followed by a tour of Australia, and a home series with Pakistan – subject to government approval. Bangladesh are due to host India in April next year before the Champions Trophy.

India A 181 and 70 for 0 (Das 22*, Jaffer 32*) trail Warwickshire 537 by 286 runs
ScorecardIndia A’s impressive tour was in danger of coming to an ignominious end, as Ian Bell swung his way through their batting with career-best figures of 4 for 12 from nine overs. India, whose batsmen have been the star performers of an unbeaten tour, were forced to follow on and salvaging a draw is now the best they can hope for.India had resumed at 5 for 0 in reply to Warwickshire’s formidable 537, and had reached 117 for 1 when Bell began his wicket-spree. With Graeme Wagg chipping away at the other end, India folded for 181, with four batsmen recording ducks. Only Parthiv Patel, with a composed unbeaten 46, was able to keep his head.They faced a tricky 20 overs in their second innings, but Shiv Sunder Das and Wasim Jaffer prevented any further mishaps by reaching 70 for 0 at the close. But Bell, who made a fine 75 in Warwickshire’s innings, has yet to be unleashed for a second time.

Shane Warne might have plenty of things to worry about at the moment, but his cricketing future need not be one of them. Bob Merriman, the chairman of Cricket Australia, has said that the many controversies emanating from Warne’s personal life will not affect his standing with the board.Speaking to the Herald Sun newspaper, Merriman said: “We are certainly looking forward to February 10 next year [when Warne’s ban expires] and Shane Warne coming back as a strong player. He has co-operated in respect to the issues the board has control on. We don’t have control of any player’s private life. He has certainly reacted in all the areas we have asked him to. It is [now] really a matter for the selection committee.”Merriman indicated that the Australian board does not intend to concern itself with a player’s personal life. “The board has not taken a view on that,” he said. “We have not discussed player X or player Y, but certainly a hell of a lot of work has been generated in the board office because of the issues of the last four months.”Obviously we are hopeful that issues in his private life remain private, like any person. That’s probably a pious hope given the high-profile sports person he is.”

When it comes to selection meetings in India, all but the most naïve among us know better than to be surprised. To echo the Smashing Pumpkins, … and every other night. The Rest of India team chosen to take on Mumbai for the Irani Trophy fulfilled the surprise criteria with the inclusion of Rohan Gavaskar and Amit Bhandari, though most of the 14 picked themselves.Sourav Ganguly leads perhaps the strongest Rest of India team to be assembled in over half a decade. Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Parthiv Patel and Virender Sehwag – fitness problems now in the past – were certainties to be selected, while the likes of Yuvraj Singh, Laxmipathy Balaji and Amit Bhandari could look back on a successful Challenger Trophy as the reason for their inclusion.Sanjay Bangar, whose grit in adverse English conditions presumably still lingers in selectorial memory, was chosen ahead of Shiv Sunder Das and Gautam Gambhir as Sehwag’s opening partner. In the scramble for middle-order places, it was Sridharan Sriram, Hemang Badani and Mohammad Kaif who missed out, with Yuvraj and Gavaskar the beneficiaries.With Ashish Nehra still well short of fitness following the operation on his ankle, Balaji and Bhandari will battle for the chance to share the new ball with Zaheer Khan. Balaji was easily the outstanding pace bowler in the Challenger Trophy, while Bhandari did his cause no harm in not getting slaughtered by Sachin Tendulkar in the final.Murali Karthik was included to provide a third slow-bowling option, while Patel edged out Ajay Ratra and Thilak Naidu for the keeper’s slot.Rest of India squad Sourav Ganguly (captain), Sanjay Bangar, Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Parthiv Patel, Zaheer Khan, Laxmipathy Balaji, Amit Bhandari, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Murali Karthik, Rohan Gavaskar.Wisden Comment: Tough test for Gavaskar