Karachi, Jan. 31 : It seems that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is itself not sure as to what it wants to do when it comes to organizing practice matches for players who are under going fitness problems or are under pressure to perform inorder to secure their places in the national squad.

In an abrupt u-turn from its earlier decision of holding two practice matches ahead of the Test series against Sri Lanka, the PCB has now dropped the idea.

Mumbai, Jan. 29: The Indian Premier League (IPL) has banned Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Asif for one year on charges of using a banned substance for enhancing performance, here today.

However, the duration of the ban has been back dated to July last year, when Asif was banned from all cricket by the PCB

Brisbane, Jan. 30: Former Australia batsman Stuart Law is angry at being treated like a cricket "leper" in Australia after his links with a rebel Indian Cricket League stopped him landing a prized coaching post.

The man who led Queensland to their first four Sheffield Shield titles was offered the position of Australian Centre of Excellence batting coach on the condition he severs his ties with the Indian Cricket League.

Perth, Jan. 30 : Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has played down workload issues regarding the IPL, and said that it will not affect the team's preparations for the Ashes this year.

Heading into his fifth month of international cricket without a break, Ponting denied there was too much cricket, but questioned the tightly packed scheduling of Test series with New Zealand and South Africa this summer.

Karachi, Jan 30 : Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt will defend the team's case over the infamous Oval Test during the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in Perth, with the support of legal experts opinion.

A top PCB official said on Thursday that Butt has gone to the Western Australian city with two written legal opinions in his briefcase that should help him shoot down the proposal of once again reversing The Oval Test result.

"Our stance on The Oval Test result is clear," said Saleem Altaf, PCB's Chief Operating Officer.

Lahore, Jan 30 : The Pakistan Cricket Board will seek a clarification on the status of the Indian Cricket League (ICL) during the International Cricket Council''s (ICC) executive board meeting in Perth on Saturday.

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt will inform the ICC board members of the intense pressure his board is facing to lift the ban on ICL players from playing for Pakistan.

"So far, the PCB is claiming that it has banned the ICL players as per the ICC policy regarding unauthorized leagues," The Nation quoted a board official, as saying.