A report from the Reuters news agency claims that the International Cricket Council will announce a decision to freeze payments totalling millions of dollars owed to countries following the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.The ICC, which is meeting in Barbados this week, has apparently taken the decision because Global Cricket Corporation (GCC), the ICC’s commercial partner for the tournament, is demanding almost US$50 million as compensation for loss of earnings during the World Cup. “All the World Cup countries currently have money withheld,” an anonymous source told the agency.It is possible that money will be released, but only if countries give a guarantee to the ICC that it would be repaid should the claim by GCC be upheld – and the outcome of that might not be known for up to two years.”If the auditors believe the ICC should give some money back, they may be able to access it, but only if the ICC get the bank guarantee they want,” the source said. “The ICC are deciding – should they release any money, and if they should release any money, exactly how much.”India have led the calls for the ICC to pay the outstanding monies now, but the source said their demands are likely to be rebuked. “They are saying strict conditions need to be met before any money would be returned to the World Cup countries,” he told Reuters. “India have come to the table banging their fist saying they want their money back. India are making the most noise and the ICC have said no.”The situation is further complicated by the fact that the ICC is already withholding money from New Zealand and England after their refusal to play group matches in Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Day 3 Close West Indians 618 and 39 for 2 lead Free State 264 (Venter 79, du Preez 56, Rampaul 5-55) by 405 runs
ScorecardThe West Indian tourists pressed home their advantage on the third day at Bloemfontein, taking their lead over Free State to an imposing 405 by the close.It might have been worse for Free State, who were tottering at 114 for 7 at one stage, after an incisive spell from Ravi Rampaul, the young but rapid 19-year-old from Trinidad. Free State’s blushes were saved by Kosie Venter, who cracked 79 from No. 7 – he hit ten fours from 124 balls, and helped the last three wickets more than double the score. Dillon de Preez, at No. 10, contributed 56.Brian Lara decided not to enforce the follow-on, despite a lead of 354, but Chris Gayle couldn’t capitalise: he was bowled by Cliff Deacon in the first over of the second innings. Wavell Hinds was also out before the close, by which time the West Indians had added 39 to that lead in 15 overs.

Harbhajan Singh, whose injured right-hand middle finger was operated upon yesterday, has been officially ruled out of competitive cricket for five months.Andrew Leipus, the physio of the Indian cricket team who had accompanied Harbjajan to Melbourne for the surgery, said the ligament rupture on the knuckle of the finger would take two to three months to heal. That will be followed by rigorous physiotherapy for a couple of months. Leipus said, “It will be four to five months, before he can start bowling again.”However, the positive news for the Indian camp is that Zaheer Khan looks good to play in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne after missing out the second Test due to a hamstring niggle. “He had a sprint this morning and felt good,” Leipus said, “He should be okay for the third Test. I’ll be upset if he doesn’t play at Melbourne.”There have question marks over whether Harbhajan should have been allowed to be on the tour, but Leipus said that the team management had banked on him pulling through the series. “He was fine before the tour began, but the injury flared up during the first Test.”Leipus added, “I was aware one day he would require to do an operation. I thought if he gets through the tour I would be happy. Sports medicine is all about balancing, keeping the guy going. He would’ve been better off with an operation then [last July].”Harbhajan will stay on with the team until the end of the tour under the care of Leipus, who said that the follow up and rehabilitation was critical to the success of the operation.

One of the last bastions of male supremacy crumbled this morning with the news that Rachael Heyhoe-Flint has become the first female MCC committee member.”It is a tremendous honour, and I am indebted to everyone who voted for me,” said Heyhoe-Flint, who was one of the first women admitted to the club when the all-male rule was abolished in 1999. “It’s a particular pleasure to know that I’ll be joining the committee at one of the most exciting times in the distinguished history of the club.”As well as Heyhoe-Flint, Mike Griffith, John Fingleton and Andrew Beeson were elected to the new committee which takes over on October 1.

England face a fine of at least US$2m, and could even be suspended from the International Cricket Council, if they fail to meet their obligations to tour Zimbabwe in October and November this year.”Touring teams are expected to fulfil their touring obligations,” Ehsan Mani, the president of the ICC, warned England’s officials at the end of a two-day executive board meeting in Auckland. “Failure to do so would result in a fine of a minimum (£1.1m) and possible suspension from the ICC.”Mani insisted that the ICC’s threat was not aimed specifically at the England & Wales Cricket Board, which has been agonising over the decision to tour. The ECB is expected to argue that the advice it has received from the British government is tantamount to an instruction to stay away, although the ICC does not consider this to be a firm order.”The board has reaffirmed its policy that countries should not be drawn into making political decisions when assessing their future tour commitments,” added Mani. “If a government takes this action, the decision will be accepted by the ICC and there will be no impact on the individual board.”For the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, the ICC’s decision is a welcome development in their bid to persuade England to tour. “This new regulation sends a clear message … to the ECB that it should honour its pledge to tour Zimbabwe later this year,” said the ZCU chairman, Peter Chingoka. “The West Indies has visited our country in recent months, Bangladesh is currently on tour and both Sri Lanka and Australia have recently confirmed their intention to tour, as well as expressed their satisfaction with the safety and security measures we have put in place.”The ECB is not expected to make a final decision until April at the earliest.

New Zealand 595 and 53 for 1 beat South Africa 296 and 349 (Rudolph 154*, Martin 5-104) by 9 wickets
Scorecard

Everything fell into place for New Zealand on the final day of the second Test at Auckland. They registered their first victory over South Africa at home, and will now travel to Wellington with an excellent chance to win a series against them for the first time.Chris Martin picked up his second five-wicket haul of the match, Chris Cairns got to 200 Test wickets, and South Africa were bowled out for 349. Jacques Rudolph delighted with a few flowing drives on his way to an unbeaten 154, but New Zealand were left to chase a meagre 51. Stephen Fleming ensured a quick finish, blasting 31 off just 11 balls.The day began with South Africa still 22 behind, and Shaun Pollock did exactly what Mark Boucher had done last evening: needlessly poked at one that angled away, and edged to Fleming at first slip (290 for 7). Nicky Boje hung around for 56 minutes, while Rudolph unfurled a few silken drives at the other end. Boje has been a thorn in the flesh for New Zealand in the past, with two one-day hundreds, but Cairns forced him onto the back foot and managed to find the outside edge (327 for 8). With this, Cairns became the second New Zealander after Richard Hadlee to complete the double of 3000 runs and 200 wickets.Cairns then undid Nos. 10 and 11 with two well-disguised slower balls: Makhaya Ntini spanked one down square leg’s throat, while David Terbrugge patted another straight to short cover.

The New Zealand openers began their chase with a few streaky shots, as the South African bowlers attacked with a barrage of short balls. Mark Richardson was hit on a few occasions and was dismissed after making 10. He ducked a short one from Ntini, but the ricochet off the back of the bat went to Boje at gully (20 for 1). However, Fleming uncorked the champagne with six fours and it was fitting that he sealed the victory with a straight six.After all, it was Fleming who had inserted South Africa on the first morning, and watched Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs put together a first-wicket stand of 177. But New Zealand dominated every session after that, and Cairns and Jacob Oram were brutal in the final session on the third day. Martin’s two crucial spells, when he ripped through the South African middle order, turned the tide, and he will be expected to play a major role in seamer-friendly conditions at the Basin Reserve.For South Africa, Rudolph showed tremendous composure in the second innings while Jacques Kallis, Gibbs and Smith were all in good touch. But it was their bowling that let them down, and the game was surrendered on the run-filled third day.One moment in the final stages encapsulated South Africa’s helplessness in the match. Richardson defended one back back to the bowler and Pollock picked it up and threw it back instinctively. When Richardson got his pads in the way, Pollock let out a huge appeal for lbw. At least, he saw some humour at the end of it all.

Sri Lanka 713 for 3 dec beat Zimbabwe 228 and 231 by an innings and 254 runs
ScorecardPreview – Zimbabwe face another uphill struggleDay 1
Bulletin – Ebrahim’s 70 lifts Zimbabwe to 228Day 2
Bulletin – Atapattu and Sangakkara pile on a record standDay 3
Bulletin – Sri Lanka show no mercy
Verdict – Whatever this was, it wasn’t Test cricket
Quotes – Disappointed I didn’t get more, says Sangakkara
News – Ebrahim banned for one match
Day 4
Bulletin – Sri Lanka complete victory by a massive margin

South Zone bundled out North Zone for 105 and stomped to a nine-wicket victory at Vishakapatnam, clinching the Chandra Tripathy inter-zonal junior women’s cricket tournament. Thatscricket.com, a sports website, reported that both teams entered the match with equal points, and according to the rules, the winner of the match would win the tournament.North Zone began well enough, putting on 51 for the first wicket, before a devastating collapse triggered by Savitha Nirala and Kritika, both of who took 3 for 13. The only resistance North provided came from Anureeth Kaur, who scored 46.South Zone had little trouble overhauling the total. Rashmi Shivshankar was an early casualty, but with 207 runs in her last three innings, she had done enough to establish South’s stronghold on the tournament. Karuna Jain and Sindhu Ashok then scored 42 and 38, and took the team to 107 in 25.5 overs, with nine wickets to spare.After the match, there was more to celebrate for South Zone as Shivshankar won the the best batswoman award, Kritika the best bowler and to top it all, Jain was awarded the Eve of the tournament prize. There was consolation for North Zone, though. Kaur won the best allrounder award.