Johannesburg/Brisbane, Feb. 12: South African vice-captain Ashwell Prince has expressed his bitter disappointment over being left out of the side for the first two Tests against Australia, while Oz skipper Ricky Ponting has expressed surprise over his omission.

Middle-order batsman Prince made a strong case for selection with 900 Test runs at 64.28 in 2008, but missed South Africa''s historic 2-1 triumph in Australia because of a broken thumb.

Karachi, Feb. 12: Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ijaz Butt is in a serious trouble for refusing to quit, as the Senate's Standing Committee on Sports is now thinking of filing a dispensation motion against him .

"I will be consulting my fellow committee members over the remarks made by the PCB chief, and there is a possibility that we may file a privilege motion again him, The News quoted Senator Enver Baig, as saying.

Senator Baig said the committee has the power to charge Butt, and this would be indicated to the PCB chief at its next meeting.

Baig attacked Butt for ruining the Pakistan cricket.

Johannesburg, Feb. 12: South African cricket captain Graeme Smith is fit and has announced that he will lead the side against the Australians after playing a couple of matches on the domestic circuit.

Smith returned to the practice nets this week for the first time since the famous Sydney Test last month where he bravely batted with a broken hand and busted elbow.

According to Fox Sports, he Smith will turn out for his domestic side the Cape Cobras as he ramps up his preparation for the first Test against Australia at Johannesburg starting on February 26.

The man who led South Africa to a historic Test series win in Australia - and belted 326 runs at 65.20 in three Tests - insisted his fractured hand has totally healed.

Melbourne, Feb. 12 : A group of former Australia cricketers have been told that their six-figure contract fees are not under threat despite the rebel Indian Cricket League postponing next month''s tournament.

Former Australia players Michael Kasprowicz, Jimmy Maher, Ian Harvey, Stuart Law, Jason Gillespie and Damien Martyn were told by e-mail this week that the ICL''s March tournament would not take place.

ICL board member Dean Jones said the world''s financial crisis and the fact that the India cricket team''s tour of New Zealand had been lengthened, would have clashed with the ICL. Jones said the tournament would be played later in the year.

Melbourne, Feb. 12: Former Test fast bowler and Pakistan cricket team coach Geoff Lawson has warned Australia that winning the final Chappell-Hadlee clash is vital to their preparations for the tour of South Africa.

With the series currently tied at two all, Fox Sports quoted Lawson as saying: "Winning this last game is very important because you have already seen that winning the last two one-day games has changed the complexion of a lot of things."

"Australia will go to South Africa with a lot more confidence if they can win the Chappell-Hadlee trophy. But if they lose in Brisbane, there will be a lot of doom and gloom again, the world could come down on their shoulders," he added.

Lahore, Feb. 12 : Tainted Pakistan speedster Mohammad Asif has decided to challenge the ban imposed on him by the Indian Premier League (IPL) on the plea that he consumed nandrolone unintentionally.

Asif said he is taking the advice of his lawyers and would soon file a petition against the IPL verdict.

"I didn''t take any banned substances intentionally, so, I am not pleased with this ban. We will appeal against the ban. I don''t want to carry the stigma of having been found guilty of taking banned substances," The Nation quoted Asif, as saying.