New Delhi, February 17
Aware of the turmoil in Pakistan, the International Cricket Council today asked organisers of the 2011 World Cup to consider shifting venues to another city, even to another country, if situation so demands.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting of the 2011 World Cup Central Organising Committee here, ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat said the turmoil in Pakistan was a "consideration" for the governing body which asked the organisers to consider alternate venues in case of an emergency.

"It's a consideration that we have to give attention to. This is not something we discussed today, except to ask the organisers to consider alternate host city venues within the country as well as alternate country venues in the event of something is not favourable in one of the particular host countries," Lorgat said.

India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will jointly host the event.

Lorgat, however, felt there was still enough time in hand and there was no need to press the panic button.

"I think it's still a long way off to World Cup. It is certainly a consideration to keep note of but it's way too early to be already concerned at this particular stage," he added.

Reminded about visiting teams' reluctance to tour Pakistan and whether he was optimistic about a marked change in the situation in the trouble-torn country, Lorgat said," I'm optimistic by nature. But at the same time, I'm no crystal ball gazer.

"But we are monitoring the situation regularly and we recently got the Board to support that ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) would take on the extra responsibility of monitoring security on an ongoing basis."

Lorgat said of the 15 World Cup venues, eight would be in India, four in Pakistan, two in Sri Lanka and one in Bangladesh.

Lorgat said ICC was in touch with the Indian Premier League Chairman Lalit Modi on deploying ACSU officials during the IPL. "We are in discussion with Mr Modi. They are keen to have ACSU officials in IPL and we also feel it makes sense," he said.

Representatives from all the members boards, including Pakistan Cricket Board President Ejaj Butt and CEO Saleem Altaf, BCCI Secretary N Srinivasan, Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty, Sri Lankan cricket board CEO Duleep Mendis and Bangladesh Cricket Board officials attended the meeting presided by Organising Committee Chairman Sharad Pawar.

ICC Principal Adviser IS Bindra was also present in the meeting.

The committee today appointed Salim Butt of Pakistan as the Managing Director, while setting up a number of working groups to work out the details "so that we can deliver a successful, world class event," Lorgat said.

The ICC official seemed unperturbed by the snapping of cricket ties between India and Pakistan and didn't foresee it affecting organisation of the World Cup.

"This issue must be approached with an optimistic viewpoint, certainly because we still have some time in our hand. I think it's way too early to be presumptuous and assume that things won't work.

"When we come close to the event, obviously we have to pay much more attention to the issues like safety, security and relation between the countries. But I can assure you at this stage we are planning a World Cup for all four countries," he said. — PTI

Dubai: West Indies greats Vivian Richards, Andy Roberts and Michael Holding were today presented the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame caps to formally induct them into the exalted honour list of the world governing body.

The former cricketers were presented with their Hall of Fame caps by West Indies Cricket Board president Dr Julian Hunte on the field of play during the lunch interval on day two of the third Test between the hosts and England at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

Richards, who made the fastest hundred in Test history at the venue when he reached the three-figure mark in just 56 balls against England in 1986, said, “It is a real pleasure to be recognised as one of the legends of West Indies cricket and in a group of players in world cricket. It was special to receive this honour alongside two players I played a lot of cricket with,” he added.

Holding, who was also celebrating his 55th birthday, said, “It is a tremendous honour to become part of this small group of cricketers. It’s not something you set out to try and achieve when you start playing cricket but it is special to be recognised alongside such greats of the game. It is one of those things that will endure a long time after people have forgotten the matches I played in and it makes me proud.”

Local hero Roberts said, “It is a real privilege to be honoured in this way and it was a proud moment to receive the cap.” — PTI 

Christchurch, February 17
New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori says the prospect of facing Indian big-hitters like Virender Sehwag and Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the upcoming home series is "pretty scary" as it will be tough to contain them on the small grounds here.

The last time India toured New Zealand six years ago they went down 0-2 in Tests and lost the one-day series 2-5. But India's current form in all three forms of the game has Vettori worried and he said stopping Dhoni and Sehwag could turn into a nightmare for his bowlers.

"You look at the individual players and some of the world's best are coming," Vettori said.

"Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virender Sehwag batting on the little grounds in New Zealand is pretty scary," the leg-spinner said.

However, Vettori is seeking comfort from India's past record here.

"You balance that with them being notorious for not touring New Zealand all that well," he said.

Johannesburg, February 17
Australian captain Ricky Ponting today vowed that his inexperienced side would do all it can to hang on to their number one spot when they take on South Africa in the Test series, starting here on February 26.

A series win for the Proteas in the three-match series will topple Australia from the top spot for the first time in almost six years but Ponting warned the hosts to expect a fight to the finish to maintain their number one status.

In case of a draw or a win of the series by Australia, Ponting's side will retain the numero uno status.

"Anyone who plays an individual or team sport wants to be recognised as being the best. It's what playing international sport is all about.

"We've been good enough over a long period of time to hang on to this trophy, we know what it takes to hang on to it and we know what it will take over the next few weeks to hang on to it again," Ponting, holding the ICC Test Championship mace, said at a press conference after reaching here from Sydney with his squad.

"(Being number one) does mean a lot to us, it's something we've never taken for granted and it's not meant we've haven't worked as hard as any other team. What's made us stand out is that while we've been recognised as number one we've tried to train as if we're number two. We'll continue to try to do that here," he added.

Australia arrived in South Africa off the back of a first home Test series loss in 16 years, the 1-2 defeat inflicted upon them by South Africa, but Ponting said they have faced a similar situation after losing the Ashes in 2005.

"I look on it a bit like the 2005 Ashes (against England) when we lost there for the first time in a long time. From there we went back to Australia, regrouped and worked hard as a team.

"It meant England came to Australia as favourites, all the expectation and pressure was on them and they didn't live up to it. We'll get stuck into work, make sure we're in the best possible shape for the first game and see where we go from there," he added.

Asked whether his side were going into the series as underdogs, Ponting said, "I had it told to me that we were going away as underdogs. The expectation in South Africa is high and so it should be as they played some excellent cricket in Australia a few weeks ago. That's what makes this series so big and so enjoyable for us," he said. — PTI

St John’s, February 17
England off-spinner Graeme Swann removed opener Devon Smith and nightwatchman Daren Powell as West Indies reached lunch on 132 for three on the third day of the third Test.

West Indies resumed at their overnight score of 55 for one and left-hander Smith was first to go, bowled for 38 after playing an awful shot across the line.

Sarwan was lucky to escape a run-out when he was short of his ground as Stuart Broad threw just wide of the stumps. Swann, in the side ahead of Monty Panesar, then put an end to Powell's longest test innings as Paul Collingwood took a smart catch at slip. He made 22.

At the interval, Sarwan was 13 not out and Ryan Hinds unbeaten on two. England, who made 566 for nine declared in their first innings, lead by 434 runs. — Reuters

England (first innings):

(for 9, declared) 566

West Indies (first innings):

Gayle c Anderson b Harmison 30

Smith b Swann 38

Powell c Collingwood b Swann 22

Sarwan not out 13

Hinds not out 2

Extras: (b-16, lb 1, w-1, nb-9) 27

Total: (three wickets; 42 overs) 132

Fall of wickets: 1-45 2-109 3-130.

Bowling: Anderson 9-0-26-0, Flintoff 9-1-35-0, Harmison 7-1-32-1, Broad 6-2-5-0, Swann 11-5-17-2. 

BRIEFLY

Karachi
Pakistan court lifts domestic ban on six more ICL players: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday lifted the domestic ban on six Pakistani players who had joined the Indian Cricket League, thus clearing 17 ‘rebel’ players in total to play in local tournaments. Imran Farhat, Imran Nazir, Humayun Farhat, Taufiq Umar, Riaz Afridi and Arshad Khan thus joined 11 other Pakistani players who got a similar reprieve from the court last week PCB lawyer Shan Gul said. Of the Pakistani ‘rebel’ players, only Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmed and Azhar Mahmood have not yet filed any challenge against the domestic ban. — PTI

Lahore
Chief selector wants Shoaib to prove fitness: Chief Selector Abdul Qadir has made it clear that Shoaib Akhtar’s comeback into the national side for the five-match ODI series against Bangladesh next month will depend only on the pacer’s form and fitness. Qadir said he was not aware about how Shoaib was proceeding with his form and fitness and will meet the speedster soon. He said a fair treatment will be given to Shoaib to prove his fitness before a decision is taken whether to recall him into the national team. “I’ve no knowledge of Shoaib’s physical condition,” Qadir was quoted as saying by ‘The News’. — UNI

DUBAI
‘Fans boycott feared if Peer had played’: Local tennis fans would have boycotted the Dubai women’s championships if Israeli player Shahar Peer had been allowed to compete this week, organisers said on Tuesday. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has no diplomatic links with Israel, denied Peer a visa for the WTA tournament. “Public sentiment remains high in the West Asia and it is believed that Ms Peer’s presence would have antagonised our fans who have watched live television coverage of recent attacks in Gaza,” a statement read by tournament director Salah Tahlak said. — Reuters

Madrid
Nadal not worried about knee injury: Spain’s world number one Rafael Nadal said today he was not concerned about an injury to his right knee suffered during his loss to Briton Andy Murray in the final of the Rotterdam Open. “It’s muscular fatigue,” he said in Madrid. “It’s not a pain that concerns me. Really, I feel fine.” Nadal lost 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 to world number four Murray in Rotterdam on Sunday. The Spaniard suffered the knee problem from the second set and took a treatment break after the third game. He was loathe to discuss the injury after the match. — AFP

Nuh
Mewat lad to play U19 T20 World Cup: Wasim Akram, resident of Rajpur Kohban village of district Mewat, will be playing for the country in the U-19 T20 World Cricket Tournament to be held at Hong Kong. This was disclosed by the A S Ahlawat CEO of Mewat Development Agency. While talking to The Tribune he said, “Wasim Akram has been selected in the under 19 team of 20-20 World Cricket Tournament to be held in Hong Kong during this month,” and added, “He is the pride of Mewat.” — TNS 

Kangra
Delhi beat Punjab by 7 wickets: Virat Kohli’s unbeaten century helped Delhi beat Punjab by three wickets in the North Zone Ranji Trophy limited overs match at Dharamshala on Tuesday. Punjab won the toss and elected to bat. The second, third and fourth wickets went with the score stagnating at a meagerly 21. Uday Kaul scored a brilliant century before he was out caught by M.Minhas off the bowling of Pradeep Sangwan. He scored 107. Punjab ended with their score at 202 all out in 48.5 overs. Delhi’s response was bolstered by Kohli’s ton as they scored 205 for the loss of three wickets. — OC