The much hyped coaching stint of former England player Geoff Boycott in Pakistan is to be sponsored by US fast food chain McDonalds. "We are in the final stages of signing the deal and Boycott is arriving in Pakistan on February 4," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia said. It is reported that McDonalds in Pakistan will pay out £ 30,000 (around Rs. 2.7 million) for Boycott's 15-day coaching stint. However the PCB has come under fire for what is seen by many here has an unnecessarily generous contract to the former England opener. "We had properly thought out Boycott's coaching programme and don't bother about the negative thinking of the people -- it cannot change our stance," Zia said. "We know it can pay off and we will not crowd him with players. We want to set Pakistan cricket on a strong footing and decisions like this have to be taken." Boycott who arrives in Lahore will train budding players in Pakistan's national academy starting next month and will also pass on tips to the New Zealand-bound Pakistan team.

In the meanwhile former Pakistani coaches Mushtaq Mohammad and Intikhab Alam said they were unconvinced with the Boycott deal. "No player in the world is worth £ 2,000 a day, to me this is a waste of money," said Mushatq, Pakistan's former captain and coach. Intikhab also a former captain and a long-time coach enquired "Who will follow up once Boycott leaves? If Boycott is that valuable why has England never appointed him their team's coach?"

Former Pakistan captain and now a politician Imran Khan was the opinion that Australia's overall talent made them favourites in the upcoming Test series against India. "Australians play with an attacking mindset and have all-round abilities which make them favourites in India," "They have an all-round bowling attack -- their fast bowlers are excellent backed up with spin bowlers." Australia play three Tests and five one-day internationals in India starting from February 17. However he added Steve Waugh's all-conquering side could not be compared to the greatest Test teams ever. "I don't agree they are the all-time greatest side. My all-time great side was the West Indies under Clive Lloyd who had a battery of match winning bowlers," he said. "The Australians at present are the best team in the world and Pakistan and South Africa are the only teams to match them.

Mark Waugh, acting on advice from his lawyers, has refused to be interviewed by the Australian Cricket Board's special investigator Greg Mellick. Mellick and the International Cricket Council's chief investigator Sir Paul Condon had planned to interview Waugh early next month over allegations contained in an Indian police report that he had taken $US20,000 ($A36,000) from illegal bookmaker MK Gupta.

The Australian Cricket Board said today that it was disappointed that Mark Waugh had refused at this stage to cooperate with the ACB and ICC inquiries being held to investigate allegations that he had accepted more money than previously disclosed for information relating to the Australian team. ACB Chief Executive, Malcolm Speed, said that he was disappointed that Waugh's legal team had advised him not to participate.

In the meanwhile ICC spokesman Mark Harrison has played down the significance of Mark Waugh choosing not to speak to the Anti-Corruption Unit. "I think, in a sense, that it is legal posturing from his advisers," Harrison said. "We would like to see Waugh and for him to speak with Greg Mellick (an Anti-Corruption Unit investigator) to form a view about it (allegations in an Indian police report that he took money from a book-maker). However, Harrison has suggested that it is still likely that Waugh will meet with members of the ACU.

Brian Lara may appear for an amateur team Alderley Edge during the next English cricket season. According to a newspaper report, Lara wants to regain his form and confidence at the northwest club, who are based close to the home of Lara's lifelong friend from Trinidad, Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke. Former Lancashire all-rounder Steve O'Shaugnessy, now Alderley's captain, told the newspaper: "I think the approach came via Clive Lloyd (the former West Indies captain), whose son Jason plays for us. Incidentally Alderley play in the premier division of the Cheshire County League and last season reached the quarter-finals of the National Club Knockout tournament, the leading cup competition in English recreational cricket.

Geoff Marsh will be arriving with his own team of "experts" to assist him. Former Australian Test wicket-keepers Brian Taber and Wayne Phillips, along with a doctor Sandy Gordon will form a part of Marsh's team. Marsh has been asked to put forward a plan to improve India's domestic cricket by the BCCI.

AC Muthiah, the BCCI president confirmed that the Board has deferred its action on former president IS Bindra of the Punjab Cricket Association. The final decision will be now taken on February 23 at a special general body meeting. The BCCI has also not accepted Sunil Gavaskar's resignation from the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Also no decision was taken with regard to the appointment of the new NCA director, the replacement for Hanumant Singh.

The working committee members were unhappy with the absence of leading players from the domestic tournaments and warned that the guilty will not be considered for selection.

In form medium pacer Debasis Mohanty from Orissa is determined to make a comeback to the Indian side. He said he wanted to concentrate on domestic cricket and perform well to impress the selectors.

Nikhil Chopra, although cleared by the BCCI's disciplinary committee now available for selection is not India's first choice off-spinner according to chairman of selectors Chandu Borde. As it the case of wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia, Chopra too will have to support his case with performances, he added.

The Pakistan Cricket Board chief Tauqir Zia felt Asian cricket will suffer if India refuses to play Pakistan. Zia has also refiused to accept the ICC's proposed ten-year schedule.

Darren Gough will captain a Combined England XI and Yorkshire side against a Rest of the World XI in a 40-over day-night match at Sheffield's Don Valley Stadium on August 30 as part of his benefit season.

Sourav Ganguly will be awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution to cricket. He received the Arjuna Award in 1997.

Lahore-B beat Karachi by one wicket in a thrilling encounter to lift the Quaid-e-Azam (Grade I) Trophy as the five-day final concluded within three days at Karachi's National Stadium.

South Africa completed their second successive innings victory over Sri Lanka when they won the third and final Test by an innings and seven runs on the third afternoon at Centurion Monday. South Africa won the Test two-nil. South African captain Shaun Pollock was named man of the match and man of the series.

3rd Test: South Africa vs Sri Lanka at Centurion (3rd day)
South Africa: 378 (D Cullinan 48, ND Mckenzie 103, M Boucher 38, S Pollock 111; N Zoysa 4-76)
Sri Lanka: 119 (RS Kaluwitharana 32; M Ntini 4-39) & 184-3 (K Sangakkara 98, RP Arnold 71; J Kemp 3-33).
Result: South Africa won by any innings and 7 runs.
Sri Lanka was made to follow-on

Match report >

Under-19 Test:
2nd Test: India U-19 v England U-19 at Chennai (3rd day)
England U-19: 399 (N Peng 132, IR Bell 61, GJ Pratt 40, GJ Muchall 49, CT Tremlett 61)
India U-19: 122-4 (I Ganda 67, YG Rao 30, K Khadkikar 30; AC McGarry 4-44) & 241-0 (G Gambhir 121 not out, V Mane 115 not out)
India U-19 was made to follow-on

Match report >

Yesterday's News

Compiled by: Mohandas Menon