PCB boss, Ijaz Butt has stated that the Pakistan team will have a very busy schedule in 2010. The ICC  has promised to keep Pakistan engaged even if it takes a few years for the return of internationals to the country.

“It was a very fruitful meeting as all the members expressed their full cooperation in honouring their international commitments with Pakistan in years to come,” The News quoted Butt, as saying after his meeting with ICC Task Force.

“The coming year would be one of the most beneficial one for Pakistan cricket as ICC Task Force has assured all kind of support to keep Pakistan busy till the time international cricket returns back in the country,” he added.

India were schedule to visit Pakistan last season to play a return series but the continuous volatile political relation between the two countries forced the respective boards to look for other options.

“The ICC Task Force has chalked their plan on Pakistan’s international commitments, which also includes a series against India. However, they would refer their findings to ICC for further action,” he said.

“As far as the Indian series in concerned, I am hopeful that something would come up very soon,” he added

The Aussie cricket players are looking to smash the West Indies inside three days again.

“I don’t think any match you want to drag out and play to the end, it’s about getting it over with as soon as you can get it done and that’s what we want to do,” Fox Sports quoted Siddle, as saying on Wednesday.

“That was a good choice by us to send them back in the other day and because we were on top of them really keep it going and see how well we could do it. In the end it paid off, got it done in three days and it was a perfect result and gave everyone those extra few days to rest-up,” he added.

Chris Gayle, the West Indies captain, has promise to hit a ton for his sick mother in the first Test of the Frank Worrell Trophy. His mother  Heazlyn Gilroy, was taken to the Medical Associates Hospital in Kingston a few days ago with a heart problem.   Gayle rush back from Brisbane to Jamaica, putting in doubt his participation in the first Test.

Heazlyn made a quick recovery and was released from the hospital on Saturday, freeing Chris to play in the first test.

The cash straapped Pakistan Cricket Boards looks set for a welcome boost thanks to a  12.5 million dollar compensation payment for not hosting 14 matches of the 2011World Cup because of security worries.

Reports suggest that the PCB will be get 10.5 million dollars as a hosting fee for the 14 matches, while the ICC will pay an additional two million dollars that the PCB could have earned from gate pass and parking charges during the matches.

In a recent interview  Graeme Smith, the South African Captain, has said that he is amazed by Englands Test captain Andrew Strauss not being part of the national Twenty20 squad.

It does surprise me. Strauss is in the one-day side, so I guess it’s difficult to work out why he’s not in the T20 team. He’s a leader who is trying to stamp his authority on the environment, so it is interesting why he has decided to take a week off,” The Sun quoted Smith, as saying.

“I think it’s going to be difficult for Andy Flower to work with a different captain in Paul Collingwood.

Having different views and different outlooks can be tough. Who handles team meetings, who runs the show? They are questions that are difficult for me to answer, but it must be an interesting dynamic within the side,” he added.

Ex Pakistan fast bowling star,  Mohammad Akram has backed controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar for the forthcoming tour of Australia, saying being one of the most experienced bowlers the country has, the selectors should give him a chance provided he is fit.

In anrecent  interview with PakPassion.net, Akram said the tour down-under is one of most challenging assignments for a cricket team, which makes Akhtar a must for the tour.

“Touring Australia isn’t for the faint hearted. You need your experienced guys out there, you need the guys out there who won’t be phased by the opposition players, you need the guys who aren’t going to be intimidated out there,”Akram, who spent some time with Akhtar in London, said.

Akram said the Rawalpinidi Express was recuperating fast following the knee operation that he had in London.

“Shoaib’s recovery was going well and he was heeling quickly. However, in my opinion he needs to lose quite a bit of weight,” he said.

Akram said Akhtar, once the fastest bowler in the world, was eagerly waiting to recover fully to represent his country once more, as he wants to give a fitting reply to his critics.

“The hunger and desire to play for Pakistan is still very much there and in Shoaib’s own words he wants to shut a few of the cricket writers out there who have already written him off,” he said.

The Australian cricket team has been fined for their a slow over-rate during during the  victory over India in the fourth ODI at Mohali.

Chris Broad of ICC Match Referees imposed the fines after the Australians  were  ruled to be two overs short of its target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with the regulations governing over-rate penalties, players are also fined five per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.

Ponting was fined 20 per cent of his match fee while his players received 10-per-cent fines.