ACC to discuss soft opening of India-Pakistan cricket ties

The Asian Cricket Council will discuss the soft opening of the cricketing ties between Pakistan and India and steps to win one-day status for United Arab Emirates and Nepal in its meeting next week, an official said on Sunday.

"The ACC development staff meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on July 2 and 3 will discuss the soft opening of the resumption of ties between Pakistan and India already initiated at junior level," ACC Development Officer Zakir Hussain Syed said.

India took the first step towards restoring the ties by clearing an Under-19 team tour to Pakistan for a triangular tournament in September.

'A' teams from Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka are also due to take part in a tri-nation series in Sri Lanka in August and a Pakistan "A" team will tour India in November. 

"The resumption of ties, albeit at junior level, is a good sign and it's a matter of time that all cricket will be revived which will help the development of the game in the continent."

The ACC meeting, to be chaired by chief executive Ashraful Haque of Bangladesh, will also discuss steps to help UAE and Nepal win the right to play one-day cricket. 

"UAE in particular and Nepal in general have developed their cricket and we will help them further to win one-day status from ICC," Syed said.

Kallis hopes hundreds will boost his father

Jacques Kallis hopes his back-to-back hundreds in two days have given his father Henry "a lot of thoughts to fight with" in his battle against cancer.

Kallis, speaking after his one-day international best 125 not out had set up South Africa's 46-run triangular series win over Zimbabwe at Canterbury on Sunday said, "It's been difficult with my father and last week my uncle died so from a family point of view it doesn't get any worse than that.

"It was a difficult decision for me to come on this tour," added Kallis, 27, who made 107 in South Africa's six-wicket defeat against England in their first match of the series at The Oval on Saturday.

"Right up until the last minute I wasn't 100 percent sure I was going to come on tour," explained Kallis, who missed the tour of Bangladesh.

"But my sister got a transfer to Cape Town and I know that my father would want nothing more for me than to be successful on a cricket field," added Kallis after posting his 10th one-day international hundred.

Kallis, 27, who has adopted his father's age, 65, as his shirt number, said of his performances: "It's right up there with the best feeling I've ever had." 

He added: "My father didn't know about the shirt number but my sister told me it made him feel proud."

Kallis said his father's illness had given him a changed outlook. "I think it probably has put new perspective in my life. People are dying. If I can go out there and enjoy it and give other people enjoyment that's important."

Caddick future in doubt

England paceman Andy Caddick is unlikely to play again this summer because of a back injury.

Caddick was hoping to make his comeback in the forthcoming Test series against South Africa after a stress fracture in his right foot put him out of the recent two-match series against Zimbabwe.

But it has been revealed that wearing an air-cast to support his foot may have aggravated an old back problem which has affected him on and off for the past two years.

"There is a distinct possibility that Andy could be out for the season, but we should know more after he sees a specialist in Bristol on Monday," said Somerset chief executive Peter Anderson.