London, Feb 18 : The England and Wales Cricket Board has suspended relations with Antigua-based billionaire Sir Allen Stanford after US authorities have charged him with fraud.

A Dallas Federal court was asked to freeze Stanford's assets and his company was put in the hand of receivers after the Securities and Exchange Commission took drastic action following days of intense speculation about his company as US Marshals raided Stanford's office in Houston, The Telegraph reported.

Melbourne, Feb 18 : One of the greatest sports commentators and the voice of cricket in Australia for nearly half a century, Richie Benaud, has revealed his intention to retire from all television commentary.

Benaud let the revelation slip in a radio interview with 2GB's Chris Smith today.

"I'll be doing Australian cricket next year - 2010, but I don't do any television at all anywhere else now and when I finish next year, then I'll be doing other things," the Daily Telegraph quoted Benaud, as saying.

Johannesburg (South Africa), Feb. 17: Australian cricket skipper Ricky Ponting believes that leg-spinner Bryce McGain could make the difference between Australia winning or losing the forthcoming series to South Africa.

Karachi, Feb 17: Six more Pakistani cricketers who had sided with the controversial Indian Cricket League (ICL) have been allowed to play in domestic matches.

The Sindh High Court (SHC) while ruling in favor of six more players banned by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), allowed the players to take part in domestic cricket.

The cricketers got permission to play domestic cricket are Imran Farhat, Humayun Farhat, Imran Nazir, Taufiq Umer, Riaz Afridi and Rashid Khan.

Karachi, Feb 17 : Pakistan's chief selector Abdul Qadir has said that he will give Shoaib Akhtar a fair hearing before taking a decision on whether the fast bowler is ready for a return to international cricket during next month's one-day series in Bangladesh.

Qadir said that he is not fully aware of Shoaib's form and fitness and will like to meet the pacer soon to hear him out before a decision is made to recall the player.

Wellington (New Zealand), Feb. 17: Black Caps all rounder Jacob Oram has pronounced himself fully fit and is targeting the forthcoming series against India as his comeback in international cricket.

Oram has been out of action with an Achilles tendon strain, but his rapid recovery has ensured that he flys to Dunedin to join Central Districts for their Twenty20 match against Otago tomorrow.

Manawatu fans should have the pleasure of seeing Oram back playing for Central Districts in the Twenty20 match against Canterbury at Fitzherbert Park next Sunday.