Organisers hopeful of West Indies' World Cup participation

Organisers are confident West Indies will take part at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand early next year despite the crisis caused by their withdrawal from the tour of India earlier this month.

West Indies, who won the first two World Cup tournaments in 1975 and 1979 and reached the quarter-finals in India in 2011, are always among the most popular teams at the 50-over showpiece.

Caribbean cricket was plunged into turmoil on October 17, however, after the series in India was aborted over a protracted payment dispute between the players and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

India's powerful cricket board (BCCI) responded by suspending all future tours involving West Indies as well as taking legal action against the WICB, which could have a devastating financial impact on cricket in the region.

John Harnden, the chief executive of the World Cup, said there was a contingency plan in place for a West Indies no-show but doubted it would be needed.

"We see that everyone's very focused on resolving the situation as quickly as possible," he told reporters on Tuesday.

"We've got 108 days until the World Cup and from our point of view I've no doubt the West Indies will be here and entertaining the crowd as only they know how."

West Indies are scheduled to open their campaign against Ireland in Nelson, New Zealand on February 16 and also play defending champions India, South Africa, Pakistan and Zimbabwe and the United Arab Emirates in Pool B.

The World Cup runs from February 14 to March 29.

Moin warns Pakistan against complacency

Pakistan cricket team manager and chief selector Moin Khan has cautioned his players to stay focused ahead of the second Test against Australia in Abu Dhabi from Thursday.

"Coach Waqar Younis has been emphasising on staying focused and this is the best advice he has given to his players at this stage. Australia is a dangerous side and has all the potential to bounce back, and as such, we need to avoid complacency and being over-confident," Moin said.

Moin announced that the same squad that won the first Test in Dubai had been retained for the coming match.

The former Test captain pointed out that there was added incentive for Pakistan if they performed well in Abu Dhabi.

"If they win, then they will jump to third behind South Africa and Australia in the ICC Test Rankings. This will be Pakistan's highest ranking for some time. But, this will not come easy and we will have to play really hard and well to earn it," Moin said.

Junaid's knee injury more serious than expected

Left-arm Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan is facing the prospect of being sidelined from cricket for a while after it was revealed that his knee injury was more serious than initially diagnosed.

Junaid was sent home from the UAE without playing any match of the ongoing series against Australia due to a knee injury.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said yesterday that apart from consultation with local orthopedic surgeon in Pakistan, Junaid's reports are also being seen by orthopedic surgeons abroad.

"His final course of action will be decided in couple of days," Dr Sohail Saleem, the senior manager, Medical of the

PCB said.

Saleem said that MRI scans had shown a Grade 3 osteochodral fracture in his knee and there was also intra-substance degeneration within the posterior horn of the medial meniscus.