Karachi, Dec 2: Pakistani Sports Minister Pir Aftab Shah Jilani has said that Pakistan will welcome India if they opted to come here for a much-awaited cricket series scheduled for January-February next year.

Jilani told reporters that Pakistan will show “sportsman spirit” by hosting India in a friendly environment, and urged the Indian Government to clear the eagerly awaited tour.

“We don’t believe in mixing sports and politics. There may be tensions between the governments but sports shouldn’t suffer,” said Jilani, a senior leader of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

Sydney, Dec. 1 : The South African cricket team coach Mickey Arthur has said that the bowlers will target opener Mathew Hayden and all-rounder Andrew Symonds during the forthcoming series.

"[Symonds''s] issues are something we''ve definitely talked about," Arthur told the Herald.

"We have been following what''s been happening, and obviously that drama at the pub can''t have helped his peace of mind. There has been a lot of chat about it in our dressing rooms. His temperament is something we''ve picked up on. We haven''t spoken directly yet as to how we might take advantage of it, but it''s certainly something that has our attention,” he added.

India's cricket tour to Pakistan has been called off in the wake of the recent Mumbai terror strikes.

The team was scheduled to leave for Pakistan on January 6 to play three Tests, five ODIs and one Twenty20 match.

This would be the third international cricketing engagement that has been cancelled in the recent past. First, the Aussies cancelled its tour in March-April and subsequently a Championship Trophy tournament was cancelled.

International cricket teams, including Australia, England and South Africa had refused to play in Pakistan citing security reasons.

Dubai, Dec. 1: International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO Haroon Lorgat today offered his condolences to the people of Mumbai and those caught up in the terror attacks on the city, on behalf of world cricket’s governing body.

Lorgat pledged to provide whatever assistance might be required by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

“On behalf of the ICC I would like to offer the condolences and sympathy of the entire cricket world to Mumbai and to India in the wake of the terrible events of the last few days,” an ICC press release quoted him, as saying.

Adelaide, Dec. 1: Current Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has told his fans that comparisons with his predecessor Adam Gilchrist are "embarrassing" and pleaded with them to get off his back.

Haddin had been under some scrutiny with the bat and gloves after an indifferent start to his Test career. But he responded on Sunday with a superb 169 - the highest score by a wicketkeeper on Australian soil.

London, Dec. 1: The England cricket team is set to return to India on Thursday or Friday to fulfil their agreement to play two Test matches later this month.

The ECB will present the players with a safety report today and is likely to confirm on Tuesday that the tour will resume later in the week. There are thought to be few security worries about Chennai but there is some concern about the team hotel in Ahmedabad, which is in the middle of the city.