New Delhi, Feb 19: Former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin is all set to join the Congress Party.

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Veerrappa Moily, in an interview to Times Now declared on Thursday that Azharuddin would be given primary membership in the party.

However, they are still to decide the constituency from where he will contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Mumbai, Feb 19 : Members of the Indian cricket team left for New Zealand on Thursday morning to play five one-day matches and two Twenty20 matches.

Indian coach Gary Kirsten said on Wednesday that India is not worried about conditions in New Zealand.

"It''s exciting that we have got young cricketers and some real experienced players as well. I know how to plan any conditions against any competition. We are not really concerned about the condition. We will go and assess it and build our plans and do our preparation accordingly," said Kirsten.

London, Feb. 19: England Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairperson Giles Clarke has been accused of prostituting cricket with the help of controversial Texan billionaire Sir Allan Stanford.

Clarke is in for a tough few weeks in the wake of Stanford's arrest for fraud and the breakdown of ECB agreements with the billionaire.

Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove, a long-time critic of Clarke, insisted: "I'm not surprised the Stanford agreement with the ECB has broken down. From day one, it was a tacky relationship with a tacky man.

Antigua (West Indies), Feb. 19: West Indian batsman Shivnaraine Chanderpaul is among some players who fear they have lost some or all of their Stanford millions.

According to The Sun, Chanderpaul is thought to have been persuaded to re-invest his prize money with Sir Allen Stanford companies and is now concerned he may never see it again.

Each of his Stanford Superstars team was paid $1million for beating England in the Twenty20 for 20 match in Antigua last November.

Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting said that his inexperienced side would do all it can to hang on to their number one spot when they would take on South Africa in the upcoming test series.

Speaking with the reporters, Ponting said, “We have had quite a few injuries, but we have brought a fully fit squad to South Africa. We always enjoy playing here. The conditions are fairly similar to those at home, and we know the series will be challenging. We just hope Australia come out on top this time.”

Sydney, Feb 18 : Senior umpires, Daryl Harper and his South African colleague Rudi Koertzen, have embraced the move to allow players to challenge decisions, as Australian players prepare to exercise the right for the first time during the Test series against the Proteas.

The results of the trial will determine whether the review system is adopted permanently, although England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke has already indicated he does not want it used for the Ashes series.