Sri Lanka's first fully-fledged cricket academy is likely to be named after Mutthiah Muralitharan.

The Island newspaper quoted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as saying he would suggest to the sports ministry that the academy be named after Muralitharan, who is third on the list of Test wicket takers.

The academy is currently under construction in the central Sri Lankan town of Kandy, Muralitharan's home town.

Former Pakistan skipper Waqar Younis seems reluctant to leave international cricket behind.

His departure as skipper, following Pakistan's recent World Cup failure, was widely expected to signal the end of an illustrious career, after 87 Tests and 373 wickets.

But even if he does retire. He knows one thing for sure.

"I know only that when I retire I don't intend walking away from the game.

"Media work, coaching, helping young cricketers in Pakistan, I hope they'll all be options."

England's Richard Johnson is to undergo a fitness test on Friday to find out if he can play in the NatWest Series final at Lord's.

After taking six wickets on his international debut, in the second Test against Zimbabwe, Johnson, 28, missed the first three one-day internationals of the summer with a knee problem.

But he returned to take seven wickets in six NatWest Series matches.

That included two in seven deliveries during England's emphatic four-wicket defeat of South Africa at Edgbaston on Tuesday before he left the field because his groin was stiff.

Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak was in optimistic mood even though his team's tour of England ended with a crushing seven-wicket triangular series one-day international defeat by South Africa.

Streak, whose own performances never slackened despite the pressures on him, admitted: "Losing is always disappointing."

But he was positive about his team's prospects following a tour which some wanted cancelled because of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's alleged human rights abuses.

"I've seen a lot of talent amongst the guys. There's a lot to work with. Geoff (Marsh, Zimbabwe coach) and I have got a long road ahead but in two or three years' time this could be a good side," said the 29-year-old fast bowler.

"Hopefully we won't lose any more players," added Streak in a reference to the black armband protests by star batsman Andy Flower and paceman Henry Olonga against Mugabe at the World Cup which signalled the end of the duo's international careers.

Jacques Kallis and Shaun Pollock will both be given a short leave of absence from South Africa's tour of England, on compassionate grounds.

All-rounder Kallis's father is gravely ill with cancer while former captain Pollock's wife Tricia is pregnant and so cannot travel to England.

After the final, Pollock and Kallis will be allowed to return home and are expected back by July 18.

That means they will miss South Africa's first warm-up match for their five Test series with England, against Somerset at Taunton commencing on July 15.

But they will be back in time for the second warm-up game starting on July 19.

The first Test begins at Edgbaston on July 24.