Melbourne, Mar. 11 : Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds has shred his dreadlocks to raise 10,000 dollars for the Leukaemia Foundation of Australia.

The Courier Mail quoted his agent, Matt Fearon, as saying that the Queensland all rounder, who hadn''t "seen his own head for about five years", had gone in with "the normal nerves about a new look".

"He''s looking fresh; I think he looks more responsible. Certainly, he''s more streamlined," Fearon added.

Mumbai, Mar. 11 : The chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Lalit Modi, has dismissed security fears ahead of the tournament''s second edition, saying a rigorous security plan has been put in place.

Modi told reporters on Tuesday after unveiling plans for the tournament starting on April 10, that it was wrong to compare the situation in India to Pakistan.

Islamabad, Mar. 11 (ANI): Pakistan’s Sports Minister Pir Aftab Shah Jilani has admitted his Government failed the Sri Lankan cricket team last Tuesday by providing inadequate security, but promised it would not happen again as they seek to retain hosting rights for the 2011 World Cup.

Durban (South Africa), Mar. 11: South Africa have dumped opener Neil McKenzie and pace bowler Morne Morkel for the third Test against Australia that begins from March 19 in Cape Town.

The Proteas, who trail Ricky Ponting''s men 2-0 in the three-Test series and have surrendered their chance to take the No. 1 ranking from Australia, will also be without skipper Graeme Smith, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

Smith broke his right little finger when struck by a short ball from Mitchell Johnson while batting in this week''s second Test in Durban and is hoping to return for next month''s five-game one-day series against Australia.

Karachi, Mar. 10: Cricket starved Pakistan is also likely to be snubbed by the sponsors after last week’s terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed fears that major sponsors might backtrack from their deals with the board in the wake of the Lahore terror attack.

“Our major sponsors in Pakistan, who support cricket, are bound to rethink their sponsorship deals if we can’t have international cricket in the country,” The News quoted PCB’s chief operating officer Saleem Altaf, as saying.

Mumbai, Mar 10: Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi on Tuesday said that that Ahmedabad and Vishakapatnam have been confirmed as new venues for the second edition of the tournament.

"Tournament will now move to new venues of Ahmedabad and Vishakapatnam. IPL is still trying to get a confirmation from Dharamsala to host matches," he said.

While addressing a press conference here, he said that the final IPL dates are still being decided.

Modi said the opening and closing ceremonies to be held in D Y Patil stadium in Mumbai.