Karachi born Middlesex batsman Owais Shah is likely to replace injured Graham Thorpe for Sunday's match against Australia at Bristol. Thorpe had injured a calf muscle prior to the first match against Pakistan. Shah, who is also an England A player, has had an impressive run of scores in the English county this season, including a score of 203 against Durham. He has scored over 750 runs and has an batting average nearing 70 runs.

The English Cricket Board will be taking steps to endure stricter security at all games in the NatWest triangular following the dangerous pitch invasion that followed Pakistan's victory at Edgbaston. England batsman Nick Knight was reportedly struck by the swarming crowds. The ECB chief Tim Lamb had talks with his committee members to improve the stewarding at the boundary ropes.

The Australian captain Steve Waugh too has voiced his concern over the pitch invasions that occurred at Edgbaston. He urged the ECB to do something about the problem, which they have been brushing aside. English officials reiterate that running on to the pitch is part of English cricket culture and warn the players that it is their responsibility to get off the ground as fast as possible. Steve Waugh however felt that if the problem was not dealt with, it would be only a question of time before some one got hurt. Many of the players have also expressed similar sentiments.

Pakistan cricket chief Gen Tauqir Zia expressed his delight with the Pakistan cricket team's fight back at Old Trafford which gave them the boost for the rest of the tour. He said he was happy that Pakistan was able to maintain their 14-year old unbeaten record in England. He added that he would be watching the one-day series closely as that would indicate the grey areas in the preparations of the team for the 2003 World Cup.

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB), meanwhile has done away with the post of security manager on tours. The Brisbane based policeman Reg Dickason who toured India with the team earlier this year, is not with the team on their tour of England. The ACB media manager Brian Muttagroyd, said at present the team manager and the media manager were guarding the players. The ACB will however, consider of having a full time security person if the need arises. Incidentally, Sir Paul Condon in his report to the ICC had suggested that every country should appoint a security manager who will guard the players at all times from being approached by mischief mongers.

In a surprise move Zimbabwe chose to play Henry Olonga, who was not in the original squad of 13, after a late thigh strain to pace bowler Travis Friend ruled him out of the first Test match at Bulawayo. Olonga, who had been out of competitive cricket for the past six months had been training with the squad for the past week. Meanwhile the honours of the low scoring first day's play went to India after they dismissed the home side who won the toss for a paltry 173 in just 59 over. India, in reply were trying to steady themselves at 83-3 at stumps. Earlier left-arm pace bowler Ashish Nehra bowled intelligently to claim three wickets, including that of Andy Flower (51) who was India's thorn in the flesh when Zimbabwe toured here last year.

Statistical Highlights - Day 2

Sri Lanka's veteran batsman Aravinda deSilva, who is currently in the team of players training ahead of India's tour next month said he was looking forward to the Test series against India. Sri Lanka last beat India in a Test in September 1985 and DeSilva was then a part of the team, which was led by Duleep Mendis. DeSilva also said that he was not unduly disappointed about losing the contract. He said that his only concern was to have a good series against India.

According to a report, several paid employees of the Sri Lankan Board are also under investigation for financial irregularities during the tenure of the previous Board president Thilanga Sumathipala. Most of the ex-officials of the Board are under scrutiny.

Former first-class cricketer James Sutherland has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Cricket Board (ACB). The 35 year old is currently the General Manager of the ACB's commercial operations. A chartered accountant by profession, Sutherland said he was pleased to be appointed to the post and aware of the responsibilities and challenges that lay ahead of him. Incidentally Sutherland appeared in four first-class matches for Victoria from 1990-91 to 1992-93 as a fast medium bowler.

The West Indies Cricket Board's announcement to host India and New Zealand in 2002 while bypassing the ICC's 10-year schedule, according to which they should be in Pakistan, has upset Pakistan Cricket Board yet again. The PCB had planned a quadrangular tournament in Pakistan featuring India, Zimbabwe, (Zimbabwe would be touring India at the time) and West Indies. The proposal has also been approved by the BCCI when its officials were in Lahore recently for the ACC meet. West Indies' latest announcement means another financial loss to the Pakistani Board. Meanwhile, the BCCI officials too have been put in a fix as now they are scheduled to be touring Pakistan and West Indies at the same time. The West Indies announcements of its home series came despite a letter written by the PCB to the ICC that the West Indies Board was diverting from the agreed 10-year plan.

The King Commission on cricket corruption formed in the wake of match fixing allegations against former South African skipper Hansie Cronje has submitted its final report to the South African government. The ministry of sports and recreation will now authorise the South African Cricket Board to make the report public, which is likely to be within a few weeks time.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Sarfaraz Nawaz is reported to have tipped of Sir Paul Condon and his team about the recent Test series between England and Pakistan being fixed. Sarfaraz has been in London for a while and is scheduled to return only later this month. Sarfaraz has always been known for his rebellious attitude and has not seen eye to eye with many who run Pakistan cricket. However, the Pakistan team manager in England, Yawar Saeed has lashed out against the allegations by saying that his players were not convicts and said he resented his team being treated in this manner.

The Assam Cricket Association has organised a workshop and seminar for coaches in Guwahati. Over 50 coaches from different districts in Assam attended the meet. Theoretical lectures, demonstrations, technical aspects of cricket coaching and audio-video clippings on coaching and sports injuries were among the topics discussed. Kamal Das and his assistants Manoj Bhagawati and Mukut Das, who are part of the proposed Assam Cricket Academy, conducted the workshop.

SCORES AT A GLANCE

India in Zimbabwe (1st Test)
Played at Queens Sport Club, Bulawayo (2nd day)
Toss: Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: 173 (A Flower 51; A Nehra 3-23)
79-3 (SV Carlisle 27 not out, BA Murphy 10 not out; J Srinath 2-18)
India: 318 (SS Das 30, SR Tendulkar 74, R Dravid 44, SS Dighe 47, Harbhajan Singh 66; HH Streak 3-63, B Watambwa 3-94)

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