DubaiLahore, Dec 24 : The International Cricket Council (ICC) has said that Pakistan would provide best security to everyone involved in the forthcoming series against Sri Lanka.

"From the ICC''s perspective, what would be required is that the match officials are afforded the same level of security as any or everyone else involved in the series and the ICC would expect that to be the case in the forthcoming series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka," The News quoted an ICC spokesman, as saying.

Former BCCI president and the current ICC Vice-President Sharad Pawar along with ICC president David Morgan and CEO Haroon Lorgat met rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) chief Subhash Chandra in New Delhi on Monday evening.

ICL wants ICC to recognize it as an official league. From the very beginning, the BCCI had adopted a hard-line approach against the ICL, barring Indian cricketers associated with the league from accessing even their local college grounds. It also used its significant influence within the ICC to ensure other national boards imposed similar bans on ICL cricketers and officials.

Dec 24: South Africa captain Graeme Smith has said that his team is better placed against Australia ahead of the second Test at the MCG, starting on the Boxing Day.

Smith said while the Proteas' history-making victory in Perth had given his side extra self-belief, it was also handy having the first match completed after a long build-up to the series.

Vijay Mallya, the owner of the Bangalore Indian Premier League team dismissed information that the team was up for sale as the trading window for the second season opened on Monday.

Mallya said, “There has been some misinterpretation of a statement issued by my Bangalore office. The Bangalore IPL team is not for sale and neither do we seek to transfer a majority of our current players.”

Dec 24: South African coach Mickey Arthur has noted that Brett Lee had struggled to perform as Australia's strike bowler without the dependable Stuart Clark building pressure from the other end.

"Brett is a champion bowler and he has been for a long time. I think what we are seeing from Brett is that since Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath have gone, he has done a huge amount more bowling," Arthur said.

"I say it with respect, but Clark is obviously the perfect foil for him. Without Clark, without a guy doing a holding job, perhaps his role sometimes gets a little bit confused. I think Brett is at his best when he is striking for you. How they balance their attack, I'm not sure," he added.

Melbourne, Dec 24: Captain Ricky Ponting is unsure whether all rounder Andrew Symonds, struggling with a knee injury, would be fit enough to play the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

Already 1-0 down against South Africa, Australia faces the prospect of making up to three changes for the second Test if Symonds fails to prove his fitness, The Australian reported.

Fellow all-rounder Shane Watson would play if Symonds' condition does not improve, while fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus is putting pressure on Peter Siddle and off-spinner Jason Krejza has already been dropped to make way for Nathan Hauritz.