Melbourne, Apr 20 : Australia’s captain for the Dubai series, Michael Clarke, has said that his team’s main focus will be on improving their batting during the one-day international series against Pakistan.

Clarke leads a squad without regular captain Ricky Ponting, strike bowler Mitchell Johnson and middle order batsman Mike Hussey, all being rested ahead of the Twenty20 world championship and Ashes campaign.

The Australian squad assembled in Dubai ahead of the tour-opener on Wednesday with Clarke predicting that Pakistan will prove a difficult opponent in their first ODI clashes in more than four years.

London, Apr. 19 : The England and Wales Cricket Board is hoping to tap into the lucrative Indian Twenty20 boom.

A Telegraph report says that interest is growing in the ECB''s plans for a new 20-over competition, now known as the P20.

A potential sponsor has been found in Kingfisher, owned by billionaire businessman Vijay Mallya - who also owns the Bangalore Royal Challengers in the IPL.

Dubai, April 17 : In a major setback to Pakistan Cricket Board, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday decided not to hold any match of the 2011 World Cup in Pakistan.

During an important ICC meet held in Dubai today, it was decided that no world cup match could be held in Pakistan, following a uncertain political and security situation prevailing in that country.

The decision is anticipated to cost Pakistan Cricket Board an approximate loss of 800,000 to 100,000 dollars.

Islamabad, Apr. 17 : Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar, who has been included in the national team for the UAE one-day international series against Australia after passing a series of fitness tests, may not be able to play in all five games.

According to the Dawn, Akhtar may have cleared all fitness tests’ following a nod from the team’s medical staff, but the 33 year old bowler seems far from fit.

He shown signs of fatigue during the three day training camp in Lahore.

Aktar’s teammates have also questioned his fitness.

Kolkata, Apr. 17 :IPL merchandise sale is seeing a slump in Kolkata markets. With the premier league matches being played away from home in far away South Africa, the shopkeepers who had invested hugely in IPL Tee Shirts of all teams are ruing the loss of customers.

London, Apr. 17 : England team director Andy Flower may have to consider other employment options if Andrew Strauss were to lose the captaincy, reveals former skipper Tony Greig.

Greig believes everything should be done to avoid a repeat of the Peter Moores and Kevin Pietersen fiasco.