NatWest series (India, Sri Lanka and England)

Indian batting star Sachin Tendulkar is set to play in today's one-day international against England despite the death of his grandmother.

Indumati Tendulkar died on Monday, aged 92, at the family home in Bombay.

Her grandson was given the option of missing the scheduled practice session at The Oval but chose to take part.

It is a case of history repeating itself for Tendulkar, whose father Ramesh died during the 1999 World Cup.

He missed a game against Zimbabwe in order to attend the funeral, but returned in time for India's next game against Kenya and made a match-winning century. On this occasion, he will not be flying home.

Team captain Sourav Ganguly confirmed they were content to abide by whatever decision Tendulkar chose to make.

"It's a personal thing, a sentimental issue and it is up to Sachin what he wants to do," he said.

________________

England and India already know that they will meet in the NatWest final, but today's match at The Oval offers the opportunity for both sides to gain a psychological edge.

India are yet to be beaten in the tournament, having won three matches and had the best of last week's rain-hit meeting with England at Chester-le-Street.

Even that match was not wasted by the tourists, for whom Sachin Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 105 - his first one-day century against England - before bad weather intervened.

England, however, must pick themselves up from a limp loss to Sri Lanka on Sunday, when they collapsed from 100 for two to 206 all out, chasing 230 for victory.

The hosts' other loss was at Lord's, where Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh steered India out of early trouble to a six-wicket victory with seven balls remaining.

________________

The England and Wales Cricket Board has no plans to revise the scheduling of the NatWest Series despite complaints from Sri Lanka at having to play games at different venues just 24 hours apart.

"Changing the itinerary is not something we would consider," ECB media relations manager Andrew Walpole told.

"The schedule for the NatWest Series has been in place for three years and we see no need make any adjustments.

"We understand the logistical difficulties teams face in playing matches one day apart and we are always mindful to take into account the constraints facing them."

Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore openly criticised the one-day triangular tournament after his side were forced to play in Birmingham and Manchester last weekend.

India's tour of New Zealand

New Zealand have announced two-Tests and seven one-day internationals against India in December and January.

The series aims to help the teams fine-tune just before the 2003 World Cup. New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden said both Tests would be played before Christmas, with the one-day international (ODI) series starting on Boxing Day in Auckland.

Snedden said: "Given the time frame that we are working within and the desire of both teams to gain some valuable World Cup preparation by playing an extended one-day series, we have decided to allow for this by scheduling the two Test matches before Christmas."

It will be the first time New Zealand have hosted a seven-match one-day series.

The first Test will be on 12 December in Wellington and the second begins on 19 December.

Tri-Series in Morocco

South Africa have named a provisional squad of 18 players for next month's triangular one-day series in Morocco, also involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

There are no surprise names in the squad, more than half of whom will be working with coach Eric Simons for the first time.

But the announcement will provide a boost to veteran pace bowlers Allan Donald and Steve Elworthy, who were passed over for the one-day home series against Australia in March.

Coming after a decision to scrap racial quotas in selection, five of the squad are considered by the South African board to be "players of colour".

Players will attend a training camp in Centurion from 17-19 July.

World Cup 2007

The West Indies Cricket Board is asking Caribbean governments for financial help in an effort to develop stronger teams and prepare for the region to host the 2007 cricket World Cup.

Stung by a series of West Indies losses, the board approached Caribbean Community leaders at a summit last week seeking an unspecified amount to prepare for the World Cup, Community spokesman Leonard Robertson said.

Cricket board President Wes Hall said the assistance also would help boost youth cricket programs throughout the region.

A subcommittee of four prime ministers led by Lester Bird of Antigua and Barbuda is to meet with the cricket board soon to discuss assistance, Robertson said. A date for the meeting had not been set.

National leaders met with cricket board officials Friday on the last day of three-day Caribbean Community summit in Guyana. Leaders listened to a presentation by Chris Dhering, who is in charge of preparing for the 2007 World Cup. He told them region would need at least eight modern stadiums to host matches.

All playing fields would have to meet strict criteria laid down by the London-based International Cricket Council. Host countries have until Sept. 1 to submit applications for their venues.

"It is an enormous venture that would require help from governments and so we have started the consultation with them," Dhering said after his presentation.

SA abandons cricket quotas

South African cricket chiefs have taken the surprise step of scrapping the racial quota system for senior cricket.

The decision was taken by the United Cricket Board of South Africa's General Council and from now on the national team and senior provincial sides will be picked entirely on merit.

The proposal had been drawn up at a weekend conference involving 150 cricket officials near Pretoria.

"Transformation will continue apace in cricket as we endeavour to take the game to everyone who wishes to play it and administer it in our country.

"But we now believe that cricket people are mature enough to take responsibility for that process," said UCB president Percy Sonn.

Bangladesh's tour of Sri Lanka

Bangladesh have been forced to ring the changes for their forthcoming tour to Sri Lanka, their first under coach Mohsin Kamal.

The 15-man squad includes five players new to senior international cricket, Abdul Hannan Sarkar, Tarek Aziz Khan, Alamgir Kabir, Talha Zubair and Ehsanul Haque.

Khan, Kabir and Zubair have all been included because of injuries to seam bowlers Mohammad Sharif, Shariar Hossain and Mashrafee-bin-Mortuza, who all miss the tour.

Bangladesh's itinerary includes two Tests and three one-day internationals and Kamal, who has taken over from Australian Trevor Chappell, acknowledged they would be up against it.

"I know Sri Lanka will be tough to beat but we do not suffer from an inferiority complex.

"We have been trying to work on the mistakes of the past and hopefully we will do well this time. The important thing is for us to fight all the way," the former Pakistan fast bowler said.

Women's cricket

England, India and New Zealand: TRI-SERIES
July

10 England v India, Granville Ground, Jersey
11 India v New Zealand, Granville Ground, Jersey
12 England v New Zealand, Granville Ground, Jersey
16 England v New Zealand, Racecourse Ground, Durham
17 India v New Zealand, Racecourse Ground, Durham
19 England v India, Riverside Ground, Durham
20 Final, Riverside Ground, Durham

ENGLAND WOMEN v INDIA TESTS
August

8-11 1st Test, Shenley Cricket Ground
14-17 2nd Test, County Ground, Taunton

Yesterday's News .........................  News Roll archive