India's tour of West Indies

The West Indies cricket selectors have retained an unchanged squad for the 2nd Cable & Wireless Test against India to be played at the Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad, from April 19 to 23, 2002, according to windiescricket.com, the official website of the West Indies cricket Board.

The West Indies final XI will be selected on the afternoon of 18 April. The first Test against India in Guyana ended in a draw.

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India, who played second fiddle to the West Indies in the rain-hit first Test which ended in a soggy draw, are hoping against hope that their star off spinner Harbhajan Singh recovers from his shoulder injury and is fit to play in the second match of the five-Test rubber starting at Port-of-Spain, Trinidad on Friday.

The visiting team's skipper Sourav Ganguly said after the drawn series opener that Harbhajan, bowling star of India's famous 2-1 series win over Australia at home, would play in the match. "I am confident he would be fit, " the Indian captain added.

New Zealand's tour of Pakistan

New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent has been given the all-clear for the forthcoming tour to Pakistan.

Vincent was forced the miss the Sharjah Cup one-day tournament after suffering a bruised lung when he was hit by a ball from England's Andy Caddick during a recent Test match in Auckland.

But he will now travel to join the squad, along with uncapped wicket-keeper Robbie Hart, in time for Sunday's opening one-day game against Pakistan in Karachi.

"It was always our stated intention to have Lou join the squad as soon as he was fit," said chairman of selectors Sir Richard Hadlee.

Miscellaneous

South Australia coach Greg Chappell confirmed he would continue to preside over the state team for the coming season but refused to commit to a longer deal.

The former Australia captain signed a one-year extension that will keep him in Adelaide for the 2002-03 domestic season, prolonging his term to five years.

But Chappell was reluctanct to opt for an extended contract. "I didn't feel I was in a position to sign for an extended position so we've agreed on the one year," he said.

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England cricket captain Nasser Hussain said younger players will get the opportunity this summer to claim a place on the winter tour of Australia and in the 2003 World Cup squad.

``There is youth out there with talent and we want to give it a chance,'' Hussain said at his Essex county club ground. ``I'm not going to name names but a few will hold their hands up this summer.''

Hussain called for an increase in the number contracted to the England team to at least 15 from 12 to better cope with the growing volume of matches and to allow more prospects to be nurtured.

The progress of all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, 24, and wicketkeeper James Foster, 22, on the winter tours of India and New Zealand showed the benefit of bringing younger players through, he said.

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