New Delhi, Mar 13 : Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta held video conference with senior officials of the states where Indian Premier League (IPL) matches are scheduled to be played in April-May following their demand for central forces to host the cricketing tournament.

Gupta held consultations with seven states including Delhi, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and West Bengal.

During the 90-minute video conference, the states have again told the Home Ministry that it was not possible to hold the matches without additional security personnel from the central grid.

Melbourne, Mar. 13: After scoring over 1000 first class runs in the 2008-09 season and being recognized as Australia’s One Day Player of the Year, Victoria’s Chris Rogers is being rated as a possibility for the upcoming Ashes tour in England.

If he scores again in the Sheffield Shield final against Queensland starting at the Junction Oval today, he could make the national grade as the third opener in the Ashes touring party - a position his coach Greg Shipperd and skipper Cameron White agree is Rogers for the taking.

Hamilton (New Zealand), Mar. 13: The Indian cricket board’s influence on world cricket has become even more apparent with former New Zealand batsman Craig McMillan not being allowed to get a word in on Sky TV because of his link to the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Trinidad (West Indies), Mar. 13: The blitzkrieg launched by the Indian batting machine in New Zealand has driven England star bat Kevin Pietersen crazy, so much so, that he is desperate to play in the Indian Premier League next month and wants all selected England players to go with him.

KP is insisting that he will fly off to play for the Bangalore Royal Challengers unless the security risk is so strong that he is told to stay at home.

Pietersen said: “India are taking cricket to a new level. Have you seen their scores in New Zealand? It’s ridiculous.

Hamilton (New Zealand), Mar. 13 : Northern Districts fast bowler Brent Arnel hopes to play against Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar in his debut Test, and says it would be a "dream come true" to get him out.

The Te Awamutu-born, Waiuku-raised 30-year-old bowler was quoted by the Waikato Times as saying: "Playing him would be a dream come true, getting him out would be the best moment of my career."

New Zealand cricket has a long history of giving young bowlers a chance, the bowlers getting injured then coming back as mature cricketers.

Sydney, Mar. 13: A day after it was revealed that aging fast bowlers Brett Lee and Stuart Clark would have to put in good performances in the remaining first class matches to be considered for the upcoming Ashes tour, Lee defiantly vowed to take up the new ball in the first Ashes Test against England at Cardiff.

Lee''s position has come under threat after Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus ensured Australia maintained their No. 1 world ranking by rattling South Africa in their own backyard.