Imran opposes India ties

Imran Khan, former Pakistan captain turned politician, says his country should not resume cricketing ties with India.

The two countries are to discuss the issue on Friday in a meeting in the Pakistani capital Rawalpindi.

Imran said the Indian refusal has cost Pakistan millions of dollars.

"Pakistan played in India as per their bilateral agreements but India did not fulfil its obligations. Why should Pakistan play there again?" Imran asked.

His comments came on the eve of a meeting between Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi and Pakistan Cricket Board president Lt Gen Tauqir Zia.

India's tour of West Indies

West Indies captain Carl Hooper expects star batsman Brian Lara to be fit for the first Test against India after three months sidelined with injury.

Lara dislocated and fractured his elbow in a one-day match against Sri Lanka in December after running into fielder Marvan Atapattu.

And, although he took part in a 22-man training camp this week, he had been expected to miss the opening of the five-Test series as he completed his recovery.

England in New Zealand

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming believes aggression will be the key if his side are to wrest the Test series from England's grasp when the third and final match starts on Saturday.

England lead the series 1-0 after they won the first Test in Christchurch by 98 runs and the second match in Wellington was drawn.

"Sometimes it can be easier if you have to win," Fleming said. "England can get away with a draw and win the series, but we have to win so aggression is the key.

"I'd rather be in England's position than in ours, though." Fleming said victory in Auckland would cap off a successful season for New Zealand.

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England opener Marcus Trescothick believes a win in the third Test against New Zealand will cap a successful winter for Nasser Hussain's men.

England need a win or a draw in Auckland to land their first Test-series win since victory in Sri Lanka last March.

That victory extended England's winning streak to four Test series.

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New Zealand wicketkeeper Adam Parore has revealed he is to retire from all cricket after the final Test with England.

The 31-year-old, who suffered a big fall-out with the selectors earlier this month, has decided to finish with the game and is understood to be considering business opportunities.

"Adam is a gifted player who has worked hard at his game and his fitness," said Martin Sneddon, chief executive of New Zealand Cricket.

Waqar retains Pakistan captaincy

The Pakistan Cricket Board has kept faith in Waqar Younis and retained him as captain for the forthcoming home series against New Zealand.

Coach Mudassar Nazar has also hung on to his post despite the humiliating home defeat by Sri Lanka in the Asian Test Championship final.

"We have appointed Waqar as captain for the home series against New Zealand," Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia told BBC Sport Online.

"And, although I foresee him leading Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup, we stick to our policy of appointing the captain series-by-series."

"We want to keep a check on the team's performance, Waqar's fitness and his performance, so it's better to go series-by-series."

Australia in South Africa

Captain Ricky Ponting has said his players were not involved in the decision to cancel next month's tour of Zimbabwe.

Ponting said his one-day team had stayed away from the political implications of the ACB's decision after the Board accepted advice that it was not safe for its players to visit the African nation.

"We haven't thought of ourselves in that way. We're a cricket team and we're being led by our Board the best way they think," Ponting said.

"We haven't felt a part of the whole thing at all. We've just been over here playing cricket and leaving all that other stuff to the ACB to handle for us.

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