Dubai, Jan 19: Sri Lankan players contracted with the ICL can continue to play the domestic matches, according to Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge.

"We have decided to continue with our earlier decision and to allow these players to play at the domestic level. However, they are banned to play at the national level," he said over telephone from Colombo.

Due to the visa-related problems, the authorities of the immigration department at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Saturday evening detained the dope tainted fast bowler Mohammad Asif. Although the Pakistan High Commission’s intervened in this issue, but the airport authorities deported back Asif.

It is believed that Asif who played for Delhi Daredevils IPL team last season was coming to India to sort out some financial issues with the IPL authorities.

Karachi, Jan 19: Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene has refused to single out spin sensation Ajantha Mendis as the major threat for Pakistan in the one-day series.

The 23-year-old Mendis and his more famous partner Muttiah Muralitharan are tipped to hold the aces against the home team in the three-match series, which starts here from Tuesday, The News reported.

But Jayawardene said Mendis doesn't carry extra burden of expectations.

Melbourne, Jan. 19 : Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson is likely to play in the remaining three one-day matches against South Africa after being recalled to the Australian squad.

Hobart, Jan. 19 : Young Australian opener Shaun Marsh has said that while he is satisfied with the fact that he has scored five half-centuries in ten one-day internationals, he is unhappy about not batting through an innings like his dad Geoff did for the country in the 1980s and 1990s.

Marsh, who scored a 103-ball 78 to earn the man of the match award in Australia''s five-run victory over South Africa in Hobart on Sunday, left the ground disappointed.

His father, Geoff, was one of the rocks around which Australian cricket rebuilt itself, especially in the one-day arena - in which he made nine centuries opening the batting.

Sydney, Jan. 19: Test hopefuls Phil Jaques and Stuart Clark have been told by Cricket New South Wales CEO David Gilbert that they will not be selected to play in NSW''s Sheffield Shield clash against Tasmania from January 30 unless they play grade cricket this weekend.

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Gilbert as saying that there was too much at stake for the team to field underdone players. The Shield match is the last chance for players to impress before the South African touring squad is announced.

Jaques has already delayed his return after experiencing discomfort in his back last week, while Clark (elbow) chose Saturday as his return date. If Jaques does not recover in time, the door is open for David Warner to make his first-class debut.