• Karachi: Pakistan were racing against time to replace injured fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif with the ICC declaring that replacement players could not play in warm-up matches until the request was approved. “We have still not sent a request to the ICC to replace Shoaib and Asif in the squad since we need to also send them the medical reports which we are expecting to get the reports by Tuesday,” a spokesman for the Pakistan Cricket Board said. The PCB had said that Akhtar and Asif would be replaced by Mohammad Sami and Yasir Arafat in the squad but it has to be approved by the tournament’s Technical Committee. Sami and Arafat were yet to leave for the Caribbean with the team set to play Canada in Trinidad tomorrow.Bucknor a team man • Kingston: Steve Bucknor has the unprecedented distinction of umpiring in the last four cricket World Cup finals, and says he wouldn’t mind missing next month’s decider in Barbados if West Indies qualified. “I want to see the West Indies get to the final, that’s my desire,” the lanky Jamaican said on Sunday. “It would help the game in the Caribbean because it’s going to be televised, and the young people would learn so many things from their team doing well.” Under International Cricket Council rules, umpires cannot stand in the final if their country qualifies.Symonds at nets • Melbourne: Australia’s injury-plagued World Cup preparations received a shot in the arm after all-rounder Andrew Symonds took part in his first net practice since rupturing his right bicep. Symonds did 10 minutes of batting practice with tennis balls at the Arnos Vale stadium, Saint Vincent, The Herald Sun reported. Donald worried• Melbourne: Former fast bowler Allan Donald is worried about South Africa’s propensity to make “stupid mistakes” in big games against Australia and has his fingers crossed about their clash in the World Cup group stage. “I think in big games Australia are well ahead of South Africa. I think a big part of that is on numerous occasions we just couldn’t finish it off in the big time,” Donald said. “This is something South Africa will want to get rid of — that fear of not succeeding in critical moments against top teams, especially Australia,” he added.England recover• Kingstown: England amassed 286/8 in their first World Cup warm-up match on Monday before 21-stone Bermudan policeman Dwayne Leverock weighed in with two key wickets. Left-arm spinner Leverock got two for 32 with Paul Collingwood nicking behind and Kevin Pietersen being stumped for 43. England amassed 286 for eight with Jamie Dalrymple top-scoring wih 76 to steady the innings after they had been 132 for five. England captain Michael Vaughan looked in good touch during his short innings of 18 but his injury problems remain after strapping was applied to his leg following his dismissal.Brief scores: England 286/8 in 50 overs (Ian Bell 46, Kevin Pietersen 43; Delyone Borden 3/71) vs Bermuda.Safs stumble• Port-of-Spain: World no. 1 South Africa did not have the best start to their World Cup, getting dismissed for a meagre 192 to minnows Ireland. Trent Johnston scalped the wickets of Herschelle Gibbs, Ashwell Prince, Shaun Pollock and Loots Bosman, after Dave Langford-Smith had reduced the South Africans to 3 for just 42. Langford-Smith struck the early blows, removing openers AB de Villiers and Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis. Brief scores: South Africa 192 all out in 50 overs (Andrew Hall 67 no, Trent Johnston 4/38, Dave Langford-Smith 3/31) vs Ireland.
