West Indies will finally have their wish granted when they would get to play on the hard and bouncy pitch in the fifth and the final One-day International at Sabina Park, Jamaica on Thursday.

Karnataka medium pacer Abhimanyu Mithun and Uttar Pradesh's Praveen Kumar have been named as their replacements.

Suspended off-spinner Shane Shillingford has been cleared to return to international cricket, the West Indies Cricket Board said on Saturday.

Young West Indies off-spinner Ashley Nurse says Saturday's one-off Twenty20 game against India is the biggest match of his life and he is determined to prove his skills in front of a packed Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain.

A depleted Indian team, sans senior players Sachin Tendulkar and regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, arrived in the Carbbean for a limited overs series against the West Indies, starting on Saturday.

Former West Indies captain Carl Hooper says he can foresee the long struggling team bouncing back soon in world cricket as the young talent is surprisingly impressive.

Trinidadian Jack Warner was re-elected unanimously as president of CONCACAF, the confederation for North and Central America and Caribbean soccer, at its congress on Tuesday.

The Indian squad for the one-day series and a Twenty20 match against the West Indies in the latter's backyard will be picked on May 13 in Chennai.

Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez made a century but West Indies restored some of their battered pride with a rain-affected win in the fourth one-day international (ODI) in Barbados on Monday.

The former West Indies captain said he was left with little choice after being ignored by the national selectors for the series against Pakistan.

The West Indies have dropped experienced batting trio Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan for the upcoming One-Day Internationals against Pakistan.

After being treated to some wonderful stroke-play by Shane Watson, which saw the opener etch his name in the record books, Mike Hussey believes that the batsman has the potential to go even further.

ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat on Monday played down the toss controversy during the India-Sri Lanka World Cup final, when the coin had to flipped twice by India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, following a confusion.

More than three months after announcing the sale of its up to 51 per cent stake in the Indian unit to Vedanta, Cairn Energy Plc on November 23 last year had made a conditional application to seek government's nod but refused to accept partner ONGC's rights.

On November 23, Cairn India, made conditional applications, which have come in for questioning following a Delhi high court ruling.

Barely a few days before they kick off their World Cup campaign, former champions West Indies became the latest team to be hit by the injury curse when opener Adrain Barath and wicket-keeper Carlton Baugh were on ruled out of the mega-event starting on Saturday in Dhaka.

West Indies fast bowler Fidel Edwards, who won the second edition of the Indian Premier League with the Deccan Chargers, is hoping to earn himself a contract at this weekend's player auction after overcoming a nightmare 2010.

Ace boxer MC Mary will lead India's charge at the forthcoming Asian Games in Guangzhou, which commences from November 12 and then achieving her bigger goal -- to win gold at the 2012 London Olympics.

Suresh Kalmadi's speech on Thursday night had nothing to do with what happened or did not happen at the Commonwealth Games. It was probably crafted to rescue him from all the inquiries that will hopefully begin soon after our guests leave the country.

A look at India's performance on the second day of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, on Tuesday.

The five-time World champion MC Mary Kom will lead India's challenge in the women's boxing event at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, in November. Mary, who competed in the 48kg division in the last week's historic title triumph in Bridgetown, Barbados, has been selected in the 51kg flyweight division.

A historic fifth successive World Championship gold medal under her belt but star Indian woman boxer M C Mary Kom remains hungry for more and will not consider hanging up her gloves before finishing on podium at the 2012 London Olympics.

Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has expressed 'immense pleasure' and congratulated boxer Mary Kom on her winning the fifth women's world boxing title at Bridgetown, Barbados on Saturday.

Sports Minister M S Gill on Sunday congratulated Indian woman boxer MC Mary Kom for winning an unprecedented fifth successive gold medal at the World Championships, calling her an "exceptional talent".

M C Mary Kom continued her chase for a historic fifth successive World Championship gold by becoming the only Indian boxer to enter the final of the event with a thumping win in the last-four stage in Bridgetown, Barbados.

M C Mary Kom (48kg) remained firmly on course for a historic fifth successive gold by advancing into the semi-finals along with Kavita (+81kg), to assure India two medals at the sixth Women's World Championship in Bridgetown, Barbados.

On a mixed day for India, Laxmi Padiya (81kg) advanced to the quarter-finals but former champion L Sarita Devi (51kg) crashed out with a shock second-round defeat in the sixth women's World Boxing Championships in Barbados.

Anil Kumble's Royal Challengers Bangalore will be the only IPL side in action in the Champions League Twenty20 on Sunday when it squares off against West Indian underdogs Guyana in the second of the two matches in Centurion.

World Twenty20 champions England celebrated their first international since winning the World Cup in Barbados this year with a five-wicket win over controversy-hit Pakistan on Sunday.

India's senior trio of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag were rewarded for consistent performances last season with nominations in three categories for the 2010 ICC Awards, which will be held in Bangalore, on October 6.

Four-time champion and Khel Ratna awardee M C Mary Kom will spearhead the 10-woman strong Indian challenge in the sixth AIBA World Women's Boxing Championship to be held in Barbados next month.

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is set to begin talks on a new five-year, 36.4 million pound deal with the Red Devils before the start of the season. According to reports, Rooney, who is currently on a holiday in Barbados, and United chief executive David Gill will hold a meeting to negotiate the mega contract after July 28.

Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney has defeated attempts by his former management agency to sue him for 4.3 million, labelling their claim "a joke" and an attempt to exploit him.

Going back to basics and ditching his doosra after an international ban has revitalised Johan Botha's career, the South African off-spinner said after his seven-wicket haul in the final Test in Barbados. Botha returned match figures of seven for 102 against West Indies in only his third Test to help South Africa clinch the series 2-0 on Tuesday.

South African paceman Dale Steyn is to be investigated by match referee Jeff Crowe for allegedly spitting in the direction of West Indies spinner Sulieman Benn during the third and final Test in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Schedule of upcoming international matches.

South Africa look certain to wrap up a 2-0 series win after reducing West Indies to 134 for seven on the third day of the third and final Test in Barbados on Monday.

AB de Villiers and Ashwell Prince added 134 for the sixth wicket on Sunday to put South Africa back in control on the second day of the third and final Test in Bridgetown, Barbados. At the close, South Africa were 285 for six in reply to West Indies' 231 with Prince unbeaten on 55 in a disciplined innings containing only three boundaries.

South Africa were 46 for two in reply to the West Indies' modest total of 231 at the end of the first day's play in the third and final Test in Barbados on Saturday. Captain Graeme Smith was unbeaten on 35 at the close, with nightwatchman Paul Harris two not out for the visitors who are 1-0 up in the series.

The second Test between West Indies and South Africa ended in a tedious draw on the final day on Tuesday when the tourists declared and both teams agreed there was no point continuing.