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Chaminda Vaas has plans to end his distinguished international career for Sri Lanka in a year’s time.

The left-arm fast-medium bowler collected three wickets for 45 from 22 overs to help his side restrict West Indies to 269 for nine here on Monday. Sri Lanka have recently lost the services of batting stalwarts Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu to retirement from Tests, but Vaas believes there are strong replacements waiting in the wings to take up the mantle when he departs.

A group calling itself Save Zimbabwe Cricket says it will study the recent results of a forensic audit of Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) accounts by KPMG South Africa and take legal action either in Zimbabwe or possibly abroad.

The group, which has support of some current ZC employees disgruntled by its management over its policy implantation and leadership style, has accused the International Cricket Council (ICC) of taking the easy way out by claiming that no one benefited from the “serious financial irregularities” alleged by the report.

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif has declared himself fully fit for next month’s home series against Bangladesh but selectors say they would await a clearance from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) before considering him for the assignment.

Asif, 25, has been out of international action since breaking down with an elbow injury last October during the home series against South Africa. He missed the tour of India and also the home series against Zimbabwe.

The lanky medium pacer, who underwent a key-hole surgery on his elbow in Australia last December, has not played any competitive cricket during the past five months but say that he is fully fit to return to Pakistan duty.

Pakistani coach Geoff Lawson has said that he is not ready to include Mohammad Yousuf, Danish Kaneria and Shahid Afridi.

”Lawson said Yousuf should not be in the ODI squad because of his poor fielding while Afridi, despite playing some 300 ODIs, still plays in irresponsible manner which affects the team badly,” Lawson has told Pakistan Cricket Board.

I don’t agree with Lawson on the name Yousuf to be ousted from the team, but I wholeheartedly agree with Lawson on the Afridi and Kaneria. Yes Afridi has screwed the team enough, and he has proved time and again that he is more harmful for the team than beneficial.

Sri Lanka seized control of the opening Test against West Indies here on Monday although their hosts need eight more runs to avoid the follow-on.

West Indies, replying to Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 476 for eight declared, reached 269 for nine when stumps were drawn on a compelling third day’s play. Sri Lanka’s bowlers toiled all day on the easy-paced Guyana National Stadium pitch, but Ramnaresh Sarwan with a top score of 80 and the West Indies lower-order thwarted their plans to enforce the follow-on.

England will play just two Tests instead of three on their tour of India later this year, the Indian cricket board announced on Tuesday.

The tour will also feature seven One-day Internationals, leaving no time for a third Test since the England squad wanted to return home before Christmas, board officials said. The original itinerary had pencilled in three Tests, but moves to cut off two one-dayers to accommodate a third Test were reportedly shot down by the Indian authorities.

Monty Panesar and Stuart Broad sparked a characteristic batting collapse from New Zealand to all but clinch the third Test, and series, after the fourth day’s play on Tuesday.

New Zealand, from a seemingly comfortable position at tea with Matthew Bell and Stephen Fleming well established, lost three wickets for 13 runs after the break and their side ended the day on 222 for five, needing another 331 to win the match.

Ross Taylor (34) and Brendon McCullum (24) were the not out batsmen, though McCullum was dropped by Kevin Pietersen and had another chance bloop just over Panesar’s head in the final over of the day from James Anderson.

India hope to bombard South Africa with mammoth first-innings totals in the three-Test series starting on Wednesday (today), captain Anil Kumble said.

“The key is to post big scores and let the bowlers put pressure on the visiting batsmen,” Kumble said on Tuesday ahead of the first Test at Chidambaram stadium here. “It is a game plan that has worked well for us in the past, both at home and abroad, and there is no reason why we can’t do that again.