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CHENNAI (Reuters) - Sports Minister Manohar Singh Gill has criticised cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and spinner Harbhajan Singh for not attending a function to receive the Padma Shri award from the president this week.

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - The enthusiastic public response for the Indian Premier League (IPL) parade has convinced the league's chairman that the tournament's move to South Africa has already been a success.

DUBAI (Reuters) - Pakistan has been stripped of hosting rights for the 2011 World Cup because of the 'uncertain security situation' in the country, the International Cricket Council said on Friday.

The Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board will be holding discussions with the team management on the disappointing fourth place finish in the recently-concluded Regional Four Day Competition

Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin came good again to provide Australia a strong start on a belter of a track in Johannesburg

Bermuda's fall from grace has intensified in the aftermath of their elimination from the World Cup Qualifiers in South Africa

Cricinfo previews game one of the second season of the IPL

This year the IPL franchisees are behaving like 'glumdog' millionaires; it is almost like they have suddenly realized the virtue of every penny.

In all the euphoria over IPL, interestingly, a significant development has gone virtually unnoticed: the slide of Australia.

It may be pure irony, or indeed a bad omen, that India's team for the upcoming tour to New Zealand has been selected on Friday the 13th.

I never thought I would see the day when cricketers would return in the arms of their families as soldiers often do after a protracted battle at the front.

Dhawal Kulkarni said being a part of the historic team in itself was a great boost for his career.

Former captain Michael Vaughan expects he will have to regain his place in the England team by next month if he is to make the Ashes squad.

Fresh from a rare Test series victory in New Zealand, Harbhajan Singh believes India have what it takes to beat the best in the world on their home soil.

Gautam Gambhir may have come of age during the tour to New Zealand but the diminutive opener is not willing to be distracted by the new-found stardom.

Virender Sehwag took the occasion to shower praise on Gautam Gambhir, describing the left-hander as the best Indian opener since Sunil Gavaskar.

Harbhajan Singh knows his craft well and people better keep their opinions to themselves.

In 1996, Lankan players left Lahore's Gaddafi stadium with glowing faces after winning the World Cup. 13 years later, the same ground hosted a nightmare for them.

Sustaining a great sporting dynasty is in itself a difficult task as Ricky Ponting has found since taking over as Australia captain five years ago.

Days after a complaint that MS Dhoni's name was missing from the electoral rolls, the cricketer has been enrolled in the voter list of Ranchi Lok Sabha constituency.

Out of the 27 state cricket associations in India, 19 are either headed by politicians or their kith and kin or have some political affiliation.

Little-known cricketers and underdogs go into the Indian Premier League in South Africa with keen expectations as the event is not all about favourites.

Andrew Strauss was initially disconcerted by the huge cultural divide he discovered after joining the Middlesex dressing room.

West Indies will announce a new captain, to replace the retired Brian Lara, when their board meet on Sunday.

Outgoing Australian coach Buchanan has said his greatest regret as the coach was his strained relationships with Warne and Stuart MacGill.

Buchanan has tipped upcoming young batsman Clarke to become captain after Ponting's time was up if he made right choices in that direction.

A criminal case was filed in a court accusing MS Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh with 'hurting' fans by staying away from the Padma awards function.

South Africa brought back pace duo of Morne Morkel and Makhaya Ntini in their team for Friday's fifth and final One-dayer against Australia.

Setting up the 2009 IPL tournament in South Africa inside three weeks has been a logistical task unparalleled in world sport, IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi said

In the last IPL, icon players Ganguly, Dravid, Tendulkar, Yuvraj and Sehwag disappointed big time. Will they justify their paychecks this time around?

Chennai will have plenty of depth and star power in reserve when they take on Mumbai Indians in the opening day's double-header in the IPL on Saturday.

The second edition of IPL has been insured for $286 million, more than double the amount $125 million spent last season, owing to terror threats.

John Buchanan had his way, as Kolkata Knight Riders decided to have new captain for their first match against Deccan Chargers on April 19.

Pakistan has been stripped of hosting rights for the 2011 World Cup because of the 'uncertain security situation' in the country, the ICC said on Friday.

While Australia's cricketers contest the Ashes on the lush outfields of Britain, Beau Casson will attempt to resurrect his representative career on the sun-scorched pitches of the Northern Territory

Cricinfo's preview for the fifth one-day international between South Africa and Australia in Johannesburg

Doug Bollinger is getting used to playing the part of the frustrated tourist after visiting the Caribbean, India and South Africa in the past year without breaking into the side

Stuart Clark's dash to South Africa has not resulted in an immediate return to international cricket but Ricky Ponting is confident that Clark will break into the side against Pakistan in the UAE

Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin came good again to provide Australia a strong start on a belter of a track in Johannesburg

Australia Under-19 managed a consolation win over India Under-19 in the third and final one-dayer between the two sides at the WACA

Lalit Modi has no regrets over his decision to move the Indian Premier League to South Africa.

An Indian domestic competition played in South Africa, featuring Australians and big dollars?

Two days before the actual action gets underway, the second Indian Premier League got off to a rousing start in Cape Town on Thursday, with some of the best cricketers and Bollywood stars lending sheen to the gala event. A colourful tableaux of eight IPL franchisees passed the city centre, with fans lining up either side of the roads to get a glimpse of the cricket and entertainment glitterati converged in South Africa for the 59-match carnival, starting on Saturday.

Pruning the Rajasthan Royals squad from 27 to 18, which meant leaving out players like Mohd Kaif, was a 'horrible job', says the defending Indian Premier League champions' captain-cum-coach Shane Warne. 'Some of the guys were pretty emotional when I broke the bad news. You have to be straight and I told those who didn't make the cut that they could still have good careers,' Warne wrote in his column for The Times.

Heavy fines ranging from US $20,000 to US $360,000 await captains and teams which fail to bowl their 20 overs inside the stipulated time during the Indian Premier League, starting in Cape Town on Saturday. Each team will get 80 minutes to bowl its 20 overs, with breaks of seven-and-a-half minutes each after every 10 overs in the matches that will last three hours and 15 minutes.

The New Zealand wicket-keeper batsmn will replace Sourav Ganguly for the second edition of the tournament, which kicks-off in Cape Town on Saturday.

Indian Premier League match commissioner Lalit Modi says although the IPL will return to India next year, the long-term vision is to turn it into a global brand, much the same way as the English Football Premier League.

The second Indian Premier League has been insured for US $286 million, more than double the amount -- US $125 million -- last season, owing to terror threats. Besides, the whopping sum for overall insurance of the tournament, Mahendra Singh Dhoni attracted the highest individual cover -- US $10.5 million. Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh follow, with Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya commanding the highest price among overseas players.

Mayank Agarwal's 37-ball 60 was in vain as Australia Under-19 registered a 15-run consolation victory over their Indian counterparts in the final one-dayer of the three-match series, in Perth, on Friday.