Unseasonal overnight rain and continuous drizzle washed out any possibility of play and thus crucial practice for the Indians on the second day of their first tour match against Zimbabwe-A at Murare. Poor pitch coverage and mist were also reasons for the loss of the entire day's play. It was total disappointment for the many school children who had turned out at the ground, which was hosting its first match against an international side.

Apparently the daily allowance of US$ 32.00 (Rs. 1500.00) granted to the Indian cricketers on the tour of Zimbabwe does not seem to be enough for the cricketers. With laundry expenses taking up a huge chuck of their daily expenses, the cricketers are left with very little for food and other expenses. The touring cricketers have now requested the BCCI to persuade the Zimbabwe Cricket Union to reciprocate India's gesture of free laundry of up to six pieces of clothing per day. This was offered to the Zimbabwe team when they had toured here last winter and the cricketers have now requested the BCCI to talk with the ZCU and work out something on similar lines. One hopes the BCCI swings into action, as no one wants the players to be worrying about laundry bills when they are looking to erase a 15-year jinx of series wins out of the sub-continent. Meanwhile some of the senior players feel that they should be paid daily allowance of US$ 50.00 (Rs. 2350.00) as prescribed by the ICC norms.

Following a few days of racial tension in Manchester, the Pakistan cricket team have requested for police escort to and from the ground for the second Test that begins in Old Trafford from tomorrow. Disturbances have rocked the streets of Oldham, near Manchester, following tensions between Asians and the local whites, many of whom have been arrested. Nearly 15 civilians and policemen were injured in the riots, which has reportedly been precipitated by far-right groups exploiting racial divides in the country. Meanwhile former Pakistan skipper Imran Khan has called for calm following the rioting in Oldham. He told an Asian TV station that those involved had made their point and hoped that the Test match would pass off peacefully. The organizers have sold out the tickets for the Manchester Test match.

According to Pakistan coach Richard Pybus, the team will do well in the forthcoming Test match at Manchester, since they are now like a wounded tiger. The defeat in the Lord's Test has hurt their pride and this attitude makes Pakistan a dangerous team.

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) has said that it will not look for a new opponent for its one-day series planned in September unless India officially informs them about their unavailability. India have made no bones about the fact that they would rather participate in the Asian Test Championships than visit Australia for a bilateral one-day series. Since the dates of the two series clash, the BCCI may request the ACB to readjust the dates, so that it can also play in the Asian Test Championships. India is scheduled to play in Pakistan from September 13-17 and a home Test against Bangladesh from September 21-25. The one-day series in Australia have been scheduled from September 14, 16, 18. It now seems that this series could be held only after September 25.

The embarrassed cricket officials in India were still unsure of their position after the Sports Minister, Uma Bharati, issued a statement that the BCCI had no right to accept an invitation to tour Pakistan without first consulting the government. Further, India's foreign minister Jaswant Singh, while briefing the media, regarding the proposed visit to India by Pakistan head of state Gen Pervez Musharraf, said the government was still not in favour of resuming cricket ties as he felt games between the two countries were more of a gladiatorial contest. Meanwhile, a BCCI official said the sports ministry's flip-flop was tarnishing India's image in international cricket.

Following reports in the media that the Delhi police wanted him in connection with a finance scam case, banned cricketer Manoj Prabhakar has reportedly gone underground. According to the police, if he does not give himself up, his property will be seized. Prabhakar has been listed as one of the directors of a finance company called Apace that has been charged of collecting deposits from people as investments and have now failed to repay them. Prabhakar's troubles were compounded by the fact that the other directors of the company are also missing.

An artificial synthetic turf pitch, the first of its kind in the sub-continent has been laid out at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium. The pitch called Club Turf, costs about Rs three lakhs (US$ 6300.00) and has been brought to India by a company managed by former England spinner Derek Underwood. Rainwater drains easily from these pitches that are made of polypropylene and is quite simple to be fitted and removed. The synthetic turf, can also be used to play tennis and field hockey and is very popular in countries like Singapore and Malaysia, apart from the United Kingdom.

Singapore are looking to India to refill their empty coffers and clear the name of the nation with respect to match fixing as they are trying to lure India to visit them. The Singapore Cricket Union has overspent on the up-gradation of its facilities, including floodlights at the Kallang ground, and now requires a financial boost. Singapore CU apparently earned more than one million dollars when India last toured there in 1999. Apparently, in reply to the request from Singapore officials, the BCCI has said that they were ready to play cricket anywhere subject to government clearance. Singapore was one of the venues apart from Sharjah and Toronto that was banned by the Indian Government some time ago due to allegations of match fixing taking place on a free and large scale.

Armed bandits robbed the office of the Guyana Cricket Association after locking three employees and a player in a restroom. West Indies fast bowler Reon King and three others were locked in the bathroom and were freed after King managed to kick open the door. However the bandits, who were armed, made away with the jewelry (belonging to the employees), cash and other belongings from the office.

A committee of the BCCI will meet on June 2 to discuss the proposal made by former BCCI President Raj Singh Dungarpur to extend the existing premises of the BCCI office at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai and the setting up of a cricket museum that would showcase Indian cricket history.

The West Indies Cricket Board admitted that changes will continue to be made to the team management until things begin to work smoothly and efficiently. Confirming the sacking of manager Ricky Skerritt, the WICB president Pat Rousseau said it was not a whimsical decision but purely performance based.

Meanwhile the West Indies coach Roger Harper is currently in Zimbabwe to check the facilities (such as dressing rooms, hotels etc) available there before the West Indies cricket team's tour next month.

The Sri Lankan cricketers have been put on a tough fitness drill, since many of them have gained excess weight after the series against England. The players led by skipper Sanath Jayasuriya, have been told to swim and attend aerobic classes regularly so that they can be fit again before the grueling home series against India and New Zealand.