Melbourne, Jan 17 : Sensational batting star David Warner is all set to make his one-day international debut on Sunday against South Africa in Hobart after being called into the squad to replace the rested Michael Clarke.

Warner now gets another chance to impress after smashing 89 off 43 balls on debut for Australia in the Twenty20 victory over South Africa at the MCG.

Vice-captain Clarke encountered pain in his injured thumb during Friday's loss to South Africa and has been rested for two weeks in an attempt to play in ODIs against New Zealand, FOX Sports reported.

Melbourne, Jan 17 : Australian skipper Ricky Ponting believes that a new rule favouring the batting team could be a major tactical advancement in one-day cricket.

The first ODI game between Australia and South Africa at the MCG was the first international Down Under where batting sides could nominate a five-over power play, where only three fielders are permitted outside the infield.

Dada aka the Cricket legend Sourav Ganguly is all set to receive a one-kilogram gold bat at a Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) felicitation programme on Sunday. The cost of the bat is expected to be around Rs 25 lakh. The gold bat has Ganguly's cricketing records embossed on it.

Speaking on this, Jagmohan Dalmiya, CAB President said, “It will be a totally cricket-centric function. So, there will be no cultural programmes.”

A15 minutes film which will portray Ganguly's life from a child till his retirement as a cricketer would also be shown in the programme.

London, jan. 16 : The MCC is looking into playing day-night Test matches under floodlights in a bid to tackle the credit crunch.

According to The Sun, the global financial meltdown has forced the guardians of cricket to think of fresh options to attract new fans.

Day-night Test matches are already being investigated in Australia, where the floodlit one-day game was launched during the 1970s.

One stumbling block is the ball, with the traditional red leather used in Test matches difficult to see under floodlights.

The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has officially announced the dates of India’s tour of Sri Lanka. SLC announced that Team India will land in Sri Lanka on January 26 to play a series of 5 ODIs and a Twenty20 international match – the first ODI will be played on January 28 in Dambulla.

Another ODI will be played at Dambulla on 30 Jan, while the remaining matches will be played in Colombo on February 2, 5 and 8. The Twenty20 international will be played in Colombo on Feb 10.

Karachi, Jan. 16 : Following receiving details by International Cricket Council (ICC) about the detention of fast bowler Mohammad Asif in Dubai, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formed a three man committee to inquire into the whole issue.

"A three-man inquiry committee appointed by the Board will soon begin its investigations against the pacer, who is currently suspended by the Board," The News quoted a PCB spokesman, as saying.

The ICC had also asked the PCB to explain its stand and future course of action in the issue.