Australian captain Ricky Ponting is trying hard to be in shape for the World Cup by taking cortisones injections to ease the inflammation in his spine and avoid a surgery. Ponting said he had three cortisone injections in his spine on Wednesday as he played throughout most of the summer

Having shown strength of character in turning things around to win the triangular series Down Under, England can win the World Cup if they sustain their brilliant form, according to English spinner Monty Panesar. "I think there is lot of character shown by the England team especiall

Just around 25 cricket fans from Pakistan have applied for visas for the cricket world cup with the tournament organisers yet to decide on setting up a satellite visa outlet in Pakistan. "We had anticipated and informed the organisers that we are expecting some 500 people to

Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds has been warned not to try and rush back from his shoulder injury too soon in order to play in the World Cup. Symonds has been named in Australia's squad despite undergoing bicep surgery only last week and he looks certain to miss the opening matches

All rounder Azhar Mahmood has been added to Pakistan's reserves for the World Cup starting in West Indies next month after clearance from the ICC. National selector Iqbal Qasim said that Mahmood had been included in place of uncapped spinner Mansoor Amjad as cover for pace bowlers Sho

Pakistan Cricket Board would conduct an early dope test on vice captain Younis Khan as the date of his marriage clashes with the pre-scheduled dope tests session. Younis had apprised the PCB of his unavailability for the dope tests session to be conducted in Lahore on Friday, saying tha

Netherlands have named the same squad that played in the World Cricket League for the World Cup in west Indies next month. The team will play its opening match against South Africa on February 16 after playing two warm-up matches. Squad: Luuk van Troost (capt), Peter Borren, Daan van B

Friday Kasteni is the one surprise name in the 15-man Zimbabwe squad for the World Cup. The 18-year-old left-hander has limited experience, but impressed during the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka last year, and has been preferred to 23-year-old Hamilton Masakadza. The latter has been

Ireland today have confirmed their 15-man squad for the World Cup, which starts in the West Indies next month. The 15 who played in the recent world league in Kenya have all been retained. Ireland will be led by Australian-born Trent Johnston and also include Middlesex batsman Eoin M

Canada's cricket World Cup squad includes a forklift driver, accountant, salesman, and teacher. With just two pros among the 15 players named yesterday, Canada will be rank underdogs in its Group C matches against England, New Zealand and Kenya in the Caribbean next month. But coach Andy

Describing Irfan Pathan as a bigger worry for India in the World Cup than Virender Sehwag, former cricketers Ravi Shastri and Wasim Akram said the Baroda paceman should be allowed to open the bowling to help him regain his rhythm quickly. "Irfan is a bigger worry than Sehwag for the te

After being selected for the World Cup, it is time for out-of-form players like Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan to regain their touch as they go into the must-win third cricket one dayer against Sri Lanka here today. The shocking defeat in the last game at Rajkot must have made the home te

Confusion prevailed in the Pakistan cricket circles today after a section of the media reported that fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif had again tested positive for nandrolone in fresh tests carried out by the Pakistan Cricket Board. The newspapers, however, created more confusion

The cricket board brought little relief for the fans of the Bengal Tiger by declaring that the thumb injury suffered by Sourav Ganguly in the second one-dayer against Sri Lanka was not serious. Ganguly is available for World Cup selection, the BCCI said. "It is a minor injury and w

West Indies captain Brian Lara today supported the beleaguered West Indian all-rounder Marlon Samuels, accused of leaking information on team composition to a bookie, today saying the entire team was behind him in this hour of crisis. Lara said that he was unable to contact Samuels till now

Unseasonal showers played spoilsport as the opening cricket one-dayer between India and Sri Lanka, the first international tie to be hosted by the city in more than two years, was abandoned at the Eden Garden here today. The 86-thousand odd Kolkata crowd was seemingly set for some thri

The issues of telecast rights and contract system for cricketers are likely to feature in the BCCI 's working committee meet today. The meeting assumes importance in the wake of the ordinance which has made it mandatory for television rights owner to share the live feed with public

The World Cup may be only six weeks away, but the Sri Lankans are focusing on the four-match one day series against India that begins here on Thursday. "Every series is important. This series is a series in itself and our focus is on it," Lankan vice captain Kumara Sangakkara tol

The Sri Lankan cricket team arrived here on Friday for a four-match ODI series against India, According to the channel, the 15-member Sri Lankan team has come without off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and left-arm pacer Chaminda Vaas, who have been rested as the World Cup is round the corner.

The Indian squad for the upcoming cricket World Cup in the Caribbean would be selected on February 12 in Mumbai. The list of 30 probables for the World Cup would be pruned to final 15 members as February 13 is the last day to submit the names to the International Cricket Council,

Having silenced his detractors with a classy one-day international century, Sachin Tendulkar today said he had been in the game long enough to know about his batting and never paid heed to others views. "I always bat as I feel is the correct way to bat. I have played long enough to

Wednesday's match against the West Indies is a big one for India because it’s one step closer to finalising their team for the World Cup. And it’s equally big for the West Indies because it's their last international match before the World Cup. Harbhajan Singh, the Indian spinn

The Indian squad for the upcoming cricket World Cup in the Caribbean would be chosen on February 11 or 12. "The selectors, who are to meet in Mumbai on February 3 to pick the team for the Sri Lanka series, will decide on the date and the venue, either Rajkot or Mumbai," the BC

According to reports in the Sydney Morning Herald Glenn McGrath's final match in international cricket will be the Sydney Test against England. McGrath's hometown newspaper said they had certified that he would not be playing at the World Cup in March nor will he be continuing his one-da