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The Pakistan board is certain that the twin blasts that rocked Pakistan’s northern city of Rawalpindi on Tuesday will not affect either the ongoing Australia A tour or the forthcoming home series against South Africa later in September. The blasts occurred on Tuesday morning and killed at least 24 people”We have not had any concerns from either the Australian or the South African authorities so far and as far as things stand, both tours are still on,” Shafqat Naghmi, the board’s chief operating officer, told .Although there are no matches against Australia A scheduled for Rawalpindi, the one-day international between Pakistan and South Africa initially scheduled for the city was moved to Karachi last month. The Pakistan board cited the lack of cricket facilities in Peshawar and Rawalpindi as reason for the change. However, it was widely reported that the South Africans had expressed concerns over playing in Rawalpindi due to its close proximity to Islamabad where the standoff between the government and the radical mosque clerks took place in July.

A Pakistan legends side will play their Indian counterparts at the Rogers Centre, Toronto on March 3, 2007. The match comes one week before of the start of the World Cup in the Caribbean.Wasim Akram will captain the Pakistan side, and Mohammad Azharuddin India in the 50-overs-a-side game. The organisers and the Canadian Cricket Association President, Mr Ben Sennik, hope for a capacity crowd of 60,000.Canada holds the record attendance for a cricket match in North America, when around 43,000 watched a game at the same venue in 1989 (when it was called the Skydome).This new event, which is billed as an attempt to bring “community togetherness through sports and entertainment”, is being presented by M+D Community Corporation in partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cricket Association.

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Zander de Bruyn scored a rapid 45 to guide South Africa across the line with Andrew Puttick © Getty Images

South Africa A produced another impressive performance as they completed a comfortable six-wicket win against New Zealand A in Colombo. After routing Sri Lanka A by 10 wickets on Wednesday the South Africa bowlers were again on form, constantly chipping away at the New Zealand batting. Andrew Puttick guided South Africa home with a composed 84, in a stand of 99 with Zander de Bruyn.It was a team effort from the South African with the six bowlers each taking a least a wicket apiece. Dale Steyn, Tyron Henderson and Johann van der Wath troubled the top order and New Zealand couldn’t creat a solid foundation to build from. Matthew Sinclair and James Marshall battled hard but Robin Peterson and Johan Botha claimed a brace each to stifle any thoughts of a fightback.New Zealand’s predicament was highlight when Jamie How was introduced as the Supersub and he managed to hold the tail together with a grafting 31 from 50 balls. But Steyn claimed his second wicket as New Zealand failed to use up their full allocation of overs.New Zealand were determined to make a game of it and their seamers exploited the same assistance that their South African counterparts had enjoyed. Daryl Tuffey struck twice and at 39 for 3 the game was suddenly thrown wide open. However, Andrew Puttick, a compact left-hander, settled in to anchor the innings and when the new-ball threat had disappeared batting became easier. De Bruyn provided the attacking imeptous and the target was knocked off with almost 15 overs remaining.

Olonga: ‘Heath dug himself a hole and they jumped in with him’© Getty Images

Henry Olonga, who staged a black armband protest mourning the "death of democracy" in Zimbabwe at the World Cup last year, is surprisingly unenthusiastic about the current tour of the Zimbabwean rebel players, who have reformed as a team called the Red Lions.The team yesterday played the first match of their three-week tour, against a Lashings XI, which Olonga was part of, at Wimbledon cricket club. The game ended in a tie off the last ball.”I don’t endorse or support the tour, I just think it’s a great way for them to stick together,” Olonga told BBC Sport. “A lot of them have lost their careers and it’s a very uncertain time for them.”"There could have been different ways of showing their solidarity for Heath in a way that didn’t result in drastic action being taken against them," he continued. "They ended up being in breach of contract, which gave the ZCU every right to fire them. Heath dug himself a hole and they jumped in with him.”However, Olonga agrees with the rebel players’ complaint about the politicisation of cricket in Zimbabwe, saying: “The administrators of the ZCU are for all intents and purposes working along lines one can deem to be political. The kinds of decisions they’re making don’t make sense."If they wanted the best team to be on the field they wouldn’t have sacked all these players and the kind of results the team has turned in of late wouldn’t have happened.”Olonga added that the current crisis in cricket is only "a small part of the jigsaw puzzle" of Zimbabwe’s many problems. He believes one solution to these problems would be "the due process of democracy being allowed to prevail – free and fair elections for a start."If those fall into place everything else does – the independence of the judiciary, freedom of speech and the media, opening up the airwaves."All the players on the Red Lions team are white, although Stuart Carlisle, who captained the team yesterday, explained: “Three or four black players were interested in joining us a couple of months ago but the ZCU were quick to put pressure on them.”Carlisle added that he thinks the rebel players could be playing for the national side by next year, but only if the arbitration process put in place by the ICC is successful.”This is a trial period for us. If arbitration doesn’t come through, or isn’t effective, we’ve got other players at home," he added. “We could certainly play some of the first-class sides, some counties and state sides, if they were interested.”

There could be a big-name casualty when South Africa’s United Cricket Board (UCB) announces its list of contracted players at the end of this month. Meetings at the weekend and next week will determine which players – and there will be a maximum of 20 – will be on the UCB’s books for the next 11 months.The suits who sign the cheques will be guided by Omar Henry, South Africa’s convenor of selectors, who will make recommendations on individual players. And Henry declined to give Lance Klusener a vote of confidence when Wisden CricInfo spoke to him on Wednesday.”We know what he can do and what he can’t do,” Henry sidestepped when asked if he was satisfied with Klusener’s performance during the past year. “Andrew Hall had a fantastic domestic season and he has done well in the South African team, and then there’s Albie Morkel and Justin Kemp. We didn’t know enough about them before last season. Now that we do we need to put Klusener’s name among those and discuss it.”Eric Simons, the recently appointed national coach, also couldn’t bring himself to back the previously pyrotechnic left-hander when asked whether there was a place for Klusener in his blueprint. “There’s always a place for anyone who is playing good cricket,” Simons said. “I’m happy with the way Klusener has performed … uhh, well, I’m not unhappy.”Klusener scored just one half-century in this year’s World Cup, and he was left out of the squad for the subsequent tour of Bangladesh. He was also deemed surplus to requirements for the South Africa A tour of Australia. That would seem to indicate that he will not be part of the forthcoming tour of England, because there won’t be any cricket in or involving South Africa before they arrive in the UK on June 16.If Klusener does not have his current top-tier contract renewed it will mark a spectacular fall from iconhood. He terrorised almost every bowler he faced in the 1999 World Cup, where he averaged 140.50 and was the single major reason why South Africa reached the semi-finals.His efforts were recognised when he was named Player of the Tournament, and when he was ordained as one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year in 2000.Klusener belied no sense of impending unemployment on Wednesday, and revealed that his services were being sought outside South Africa. Would he consider playing abroad if his UCB contract was not renewed? “Absolutely! I’d be off before the dust had settled,” Klusener told us.”I’ve certainly had offers from Australia, which are very inviting.” But there were cons as well as pros: “Playing in Australia would coincide with South Africa’s domestic season, which is a problem. And if I play in England that would mean a year of nonstop cricket.”Klusener, who’s now 31 and married with a young child, was philosophical about his prospects. “If there’s a future for me in South African cricket, that’s great. If there isn’t, that’s tough. It’s a big world out there.”Only the six players who will enter the second half of two-year contracts can be sure of keeping their jobs in the unsettled scenario in which South African cricket finds itself after a disastrous year – last season’s thrashing by Australia and this year’s World Cup debacle, where South Africa, the main hosts, were tearful first-round casualties.The smug six are Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, Makhaya Ntini, Mark Boucher and Paul Adams. Graeme Smith, as captain, must surely be contracted. Gone from the current pool will be Allan Donald and Jonty Rhodes, who have retired. Nantie Hayward (now with Worcestershire) and Roger Telemachus are unlikely to be re-signed – and nor is the unlucky Steve Elworthy.Klusener may well suffer a similar fate. If he does, it will be a clear case of “Come in No. 69: Your time is up.”

Four of the most distinguished names in cricket – Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Richard Hadlee, Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar – have accepted invitations to become international ambassadors for the 2003 Cricket World Cup, it was announced on Monday.All four volunteered their services after being approached by 2003 CWC executive director Ali Bacher and will visit South Africa for a two week-period during February and March 2003.They will visit schools, conduct coaching clinics, assist sponsorship drives and generally promote cricket during the tournament.Another "three or four" international ambassadors are to be invited, said Bacher, along with 20-25 prominent current and former South African sportsmen and women who will perform similar roles.Also announced on Monday were the venues where the various World Cup teams will be hosted during the tournament.The venues are: South Africa in Cape Town; West Indies in Bloemfontein; Sri Lanka in Kimberley; England in Port Elizabeth; Kenya in East London; India in Durban; Bangladesh in Pietermaritzburg; Pakistan in Johannesburg; Canada in Johannesburg; New Zealand in Centurion; Australia in Potchefstroom; Holland in Paarl; Namibia in Benoni; Zimbabwe in Harare/Bulawayo.Bacher said that hosts South Africa had been placed in Cape Town because they would be playing in the opening match of the tournament against either England or the West Indies on February 6.He said England would go to Port Elizabeth because of the historical associations of the city – South Africa played its first Test match against England in PE in 1889 while Australia had asked to be billetted in Potchefstroom at the recommendation of Allan Border who coached the Australian team in South Africa during the 1999 Youth World Cup.In other announcements on Monday, the names of 10 team liaison officers for the tournament were announced. The liaison officers are: Patrick Steytler (Kwazulu Natal), Collin Dettmer (Northerns), Michael Kaplan (Kwazulu Natal), Haroon Nosarka (Gauteng), Bruce Risien (Western Province), Lux Qoboshiyana (Border), Leon Coetzee (Eastern Province), Fezele Mguqulwa (Western Province), Pankie Mangisa (Gauteng), Sundra Reddy (Kwazulu Natal).A further two liaison officers have still to be appointed, said Bacher, and all would receive intensive training from Doug Russell and Gulam Rajah before taking up their positions.Bacher said that the World Cup policy committee had approved the following budgets: R8-million for safety and security during the tournament R6.9-million to improve playing and practice facilities at the 12 World Cup venues in South Africa R5.6-million for the improvement of the sound systems at the 12 venues. R650 000 for the provision of emergency electricity generators at the venues in the event of power failures.He also said that the International Tour Operator for the tournament would be a consortium consisting of Gullinjet Sports Travel (London), Edusport Travel (South Africa) and Autshumatu Investments Pty Ltd (South Africa). Autshumatu Investments is a black empowerment company and will provide the executive director of the consortium.

The approaching summer may seem all too familiar for Arsenal fans as another key player’s contract will likely take the headlines and not for the right reasons. But Arsenal’s stunning fight back on the weekend against Aston Villa may have brought to light something to give fans a little bit of hope: the fight back was spearheaded by Robin van Persie and his half-time team talk.

There is something a little different to the way Robin van Persie has taken to the captaincy at Arsenal over previous captains. There is a necessary responsibility off the pitch as well as on it, and luckily for the Gunners they have a captain who has developed extraordinarily well as both a player and a man. More than even Thierry Henry, van Persie can feel like this is his club. There is no running away from the position he has been given by Arsene Wenger and you have to feel that he is enjoying his new role as undisputed leader in the Arsenal dressing room.

As the player continues to insist on halting contract negotiations until the summer there should be little worry from fans. Perhaps its now in their nature to expect the worst whenever an issue such as this arises—and it seems to pop up with alarming regularity. But van Persie is not chasing a move away to his boyhood and hometown club, who coincidently and frustratingly for Arsenal happen to be the European champions, there is no evidence of the player wishing to test himself on another stage in order to capture the elusive Champions League trophy, and he certainly has no in-house hostilities from which to move away from.

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As like all fans of the club there is a desire from van Persie to see quality come into the first team. There’s a frustration from the player and that he simply can’t carry this team on his own as he has done for the whole of 2011. His desire, I firmly believe, is not for the astronomical wages that could be on offer at other clubs in the Premier League and abroad, but rather to win with the club he has built his family around. More over, maybe there is also a feeling that the player needs to and should repay the club for standing by him during his lengthy spells on the treatment table in the past; a romantic idea that may not have a place in modern football but which has been expressed by team-mate Thomas Vermaelen who extended his contract earlier in the season.

Despite the lack of trophies there is something a little more Tony Adams and Dennis Bergkamp about van Persie than Patrick Vieira or Cesc Fabregas. There was never a feeling that Arsenal was just a chapter of van Persie’s career, but instead that he will be at the club past his thirties and firmly establish himself alongside the icons of the club’s past. Equalling Dennis Bergkamp’s scoring record on the weekend was another small step towards that, and I feel there will be more memories for the Dutchman to create at the Emirates.

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We’ve heard time and again of the loyalty towards the club and a desire to stay in London from the player; making sure his family is happy and comfortable will be paramount in his final decision at the end of the season. But as the article points out, there is a sense of duty from van Persie to lead the club beyond this season. A desire to wait until the end of the season and see how the club takes shape is by no means a bad thing, as many fans will do the same upon deciding whether to renew their season tickets. The club’s previous misfortune in this department should not act as the precursor to what will happen with van Persie, instead a greater sense of perspective should be taken for a player who is more fitted for the club’s armband than most of his recent predecessors.

West Bromwich Albion manager Roy Hodgson believes it is vital that the club holds on to top scorer Peter Odemwingie this summer.The 29-year-old Nigeria forward has been linked to a host of clubs including Italian giants Juventus but Hodgson said he is a vital part of West Brom’s future.

Odemwingie will look to add to his 13 Premier League goals when West Brom host local rivals Aston Villa on Saturday.

“For me it is an absolute no-brainer that West Brom needs to keep hold of Peter,” Hodgson said on Friday.

“I did not know that Juventus were interested in Peter so that is news to me.”

“It would be nice if Juventus let West Brom know instead of all this press speculation.”

“For the last god knows how many years we have been up and down, up and down between the Premier League and the Championship.”

“If you are going to have a spell of being in the Premier League then you have got to improve your team.”

West Brom have only got four games left to haul themselves out of the relegation zone but they will have to do that without three key players.

“Jerome Thomas had a slight groin strain that made him a bit doubtful for the Tottenham game and got aggravated during the game to force him off,” he said.

“It was a calf muscle strain that forced Steven Reid off just before half-time and he will be missing on Saturday.”

“Chris Brunt has picked up an unfortunate hamstring strain in training that came about with him trying to keep a ball in play by flicking his leg behind him.”

“It caused a slight strain, which we’ve had scanned and it showed nothing in particular.”

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“Had the game been Sunday he’d have had a better chance and if the injury had happened on Tuesday he’d have a good chance – but it happened on Thursday.”

“We’ll have a look at it tomorrow but it is likely to keep him out.”

“None of them are long-term injuries and it gives another three players the chance to show what they can do.”

West Brom will definitely be without defender Pablo Ibanez (hamstring) and midfielder Graeme Dorrans (ankle).

David Ginola’s transfer was delayed due to a fashion show commitment, while Laurent Robert was as famous for his free-kicks as he was for his fall-outs with managers during his time in England. Newcastle can’t resist a talented but temperamental winger from across the Channel. Like the girl who maintains that her wayward boyfriend will one day mend his ways no matter what her friends think, Newcastle have taken Marseille’s firebrand wide-man Hatem Ben Arfa on a season-long loan in the hope that they can curb his bad behaviour.

In just six years as a professional, Ben Arfa has had a number of public disagreements with teammates, coaches and club hierarchies. Following last season’s training ground confab between Andy Carroll and Steven Taylor, Newcastle fans might be interested to learn that their new winger got into a fight with Arsenal new-boy Sébastien Squillaci when the pair were at Lyon and he also had a meeting of minds with Djibril Cissé at Marseille two seasons ago that resulted in the striker being farmed out on loan to Sunderland. Ben Arfa had only been at Marseille for just over a fortnight prior to the Cissé incident, having forced through his big-money transfer to the south-coast club with his reluctance to report for pre-season training with Lyon. His move to Newcastle has come about under similar circumstances.

Despite Ben Arfa’s colourful history, however, he has won a lot of trophies. Last season Didier Deschamps brought Marseille their first Ligue 1 championship since they were stripped of their 1993 title but it was the fifth league-winner’s medal of the 23-year-old player’s short career. The other four medals were won with Lyon during the period in which they dominated French football. In his final season with OL, Ben Arfa was also named France’s Young Player of the Year, although the winner of the Player of the Year trophy that year was actually nine months his junior. Karim Benzema arrived on the scene at Lyon at the same time as Ben Arfa and, no matter how well the latter played, the way in which his teammate outshone him bred resentment.

With a record of 16 strikes in 127 league games in France, Newcastle shouldn’t necessarily be expecting goals from Ben Arfa, but then he has no doubt been signed to excite the fans and lay on goals for Andy Carroll instead. He will add speed and guile to a squad with no shortage of ball-winners but a relative lack of width. Ben Arfa is capable of explosive patches of form, such as for Marseille in the early part of 2010. He has also excelled in the Champions League, which is something that you can’t say about Wayne Routledge. Ben Arfa might well light up the Premier League this season, but it is still a huge gamble for Newcastle to have signed a player of his reputation when dressing room disharmony could turn a season of consolidation into one of battling against relegation.

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Written By William Abbs

Schalke boss Ralf Rangnick sung the praises of his players after they qualified for the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.After winning the first-leg of their quarter-final 5-2 at Inter Milan, Raul’s goal on the stroke of half-time settled any nerves and virtually assured the Bundesliga outfit of progression.

And although Thiago Motta scored an equaliser five minutes into the second half, Schalke defended well and even grabbed a winner through Benedikt Hoewedes as they wrapped up a 7-3 aggregate victory.

It is the first time Schalke has progressed to the last four of Europe’s most prestigious club competition, and Rangnick was bursting with pride after their win over the defending champions.

“We’ve produced two great performances,” Rangnick said.

“If you only allow the Champions League winners a couple of chances, you know you have played well.”

“Each player worked hard for each other and that was the key to our success.”

The result sets up a semi-final meeting with EPL giants Manchester United, and defender Christoph Metzelder believes the side has huge potential to cause an upset, as shown in the two legs against Inter.

“We have seen in the two games just how much team this potential has, we really wanted to win this game out right,” Metzelder said.

While the Germans were delirious with the victory, which also saw legendary striker Raul join the fans for post-match songs and celebration, Inter boss Leonardo was shattered.

The former Milan player was ‘bitter’ about the result and insisted he believed that his side could overturn the three-goal deficit ahead of the second leg.

“There is bitterness and it is hard to digest,” Leonardo told Rai Sport.

“But I think the team spent plenty of effort in these last months in the Champions League and in Serie A.”

“We got into difficulty in the vital moments. I had dreamed of a comeback and we could have scored early or been more concrete in our play.”

“We could have done better in certain situations. I really believed in it for sure because we played well in the first half, but we did not have any chances to score the goals (we needed).”

Inter will now apply their focus to the Serie A campaign, with the club five points behind table-toppers and city rivals AC Milan, while Leonardo also said the Coppa Italia is another target for his side.

“We have to be good to focus now as we have the league and Coppa Italia to fight for,” he said. “There is still plenty of work to do.”