Former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin's exile from cricket is expected to be over in the immediate future. The Cricket Club of India (CCI) is planning to call the Hyderabad batsman to coach trainees at its academy in December.
Azhar has been banned for life by the BCCI for being involved in match-fixing.
"We are going to approach him to look after our boys," said CCI chief Raj Singh Dungarpur on Thursday - Day II of the on-going India-West Indies Test.
"He was one of the best batsmen in the world and I'm sure it'll be a big boost for the boys," said the former BCCI president. Details of the deal are yet to be worked out.
"My heart bleeds to find Azhar away from the game. He played 99 Tests and it's so sad to see him short of the memorable 100 mark," Dungarpur said.
The veteran administrator added he has always taken up Azhar's cause and will continue to do so. "But this Indian team is so set that it's hard to replace anyone."
South Africa's sports minister has put pressure on the national cricket board to reinstate race quotas, scrapped just four months ago.
Ngconde Balfour urged the United Cricket Board (UCB) to read a government-sponsored report into the matter and re-assess its decision to scrap quotas in the first-class game.
The UCB argued in July that quotas requiring at least four black players in domestic sides were unnecessary as there were enough black players who could be selected on merit.
But after threats of disruption to the 2003 World Cup, the board committed to select five black players in the national squad.
Balfour said there was no way he could not endorse the report, released on Thursday, which said the decision to scrap race quotas "requires urgent and fundamental reconsideration."
England in Australia
Darren Gough has been ruled out of next week's first Test against Australia in Brisbane.
The Yorkshire fast bowler had made a better than expected recovery from his long-standing knee problems.
This had raised hopes that he would play a part in England's final warm-up match against Queensland in Brisbane at the weekend.
Gough bowled for 30 minutes in the nets on Friday but England coach Duncan Fletcher said that he would not be risked for the opening Test at The Gabba.
Instead, the 32-year-old is likely to return for the second Test in Adelaide, which starts on 21 November.
Meanwhile, opening batsman Michael Vaughan, who is also suffering from a knee injury, has rated himself as 75% fit.
Steve Waugh admits he has little chance of forcing his way back into the side for Australia's defence of the World Cup in South Africa next year.
Waugh, 37, was replaced by Ricky Ponting as captain of the limited-overs side in January following the team's poor performance in the annual home triangular tournament.
At the time he vowed to get back into coloured kit in time for the one-day showpiece, beginning in February.
But time is running out for the selectors to act, with just the triangular tournament against England and Sri Lanka - possibly involving 11 game sfor the hosts - before the World Cup.
The team has prospered without Waugh, winning 12 of 18 matches and reaching the final of the ICC Champions Trophy.
ICC ODI Rankings
Australia are the best one-day cricket team in the world, according to a new ranking system revealed by the game's governing body on Thursday.
Ricky Ponting's side only managed to get to the semi-final stage of the recent ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka, which featured the world's top 12 teams.
Australia 128 pts
South Africa 120
Sri Lanka 117
Pakistan 115
India 106
England 96
West Indies 94
New Zealand 91
Zimbabwe 67
Kenya 22
Bangladesh 11
But the strength of their opponents over the last two years gains them the top spot ahead of South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.
The new table gives ratings for all 10 Test countries plus Kenya, the only nation to hold one-day international but not Test status.
It uses a complicated formula taking into account the following factors:
Results from all ODI matches played over the previous two to three years
Strength of opposition, with greater reward for beating higher ranked opponents
Greater importance is placed on more recent results, with older matches dropped every 12 months
All matches have equal status, with no account taken of venue or margin of victory.
The one-day ranking system is launched 18 months after an ICC league table for Test cricket, which Australia have headed since its inception.
Pakistan in Zimbabwe
Alistair Campbell will captain Zimbabwe against Pakistan in the first Test in Harare on 9 November, replacing the injured Heath Streak.
Campbell, a left-handed batsman of some considerable experience, was captain of Zimbabwe between 1996 and 1999.
But he subsequently resigned after a series of poor performances by the team and a loss of personal form.
He has played 58 Tests and has an average of 26.91, having hit two centuries and 17 fifties in his career.
After suffering an abject humiliation at the hands of Australia, Pakistan get the chance to rebuild their shattered confidence as they head to Zimbabwe.
Waqar Younis' side are used to the regular criticism from fans and media.
A poor run of early season one-day international results was enough to see coach Mudassar Nazar sacked.
"This sort of criticism is nothing new in Pakistan cricket," said Waqar.
"You win 10 matches and lose one and they take shots at the team, management and board."
