CRICKET RSS WORLD

Hosting the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament is helping to burnish South Africa's image abroad and dispel worries about its readiness to host the 2010 soccer World Cup, officials say.

A Chandigarh court on Wednesday declined the exemption application seeking permanent injunction from personal appearance of cricketer Harbhajan Singh and directed him to be present before the court on July 1 in a case of allegedly hurting religious sentiments of particular community.

Adam Gilchrist smashed 71 from 45 deliveries as Deccan Chargers beat Royal Challengers by 24 runs in the only Indian Premier League match on Wednesday. The victory took the Chargers to the top of the eight-team tournament.

Shahid Afridi returned a career-best haul of six wickets to guide Pakistan to a comfortable four-wicket win over Australian in the first of five one-day internationals in Dubai on Wednesday. The experienced leg-spinner, subtly varying his pace on a slow turning wicket, ripped through the Australian middle order as the visitors collapsed to 168 all out after a solid start. Pakistan made hard work of reaching a modest target before sealing victory in the 45th over.