Pakistan urge ICC to use influence over India tour
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia
KARACHI (AFP) - Pakistan is pushing the International Cricket Council (ICC) to use its influence over India for the resumption of cricket ties between the two arch-rivals, a top official said.
"We are hoping that India gives us a final reply and we have requested ICC officials to give us a target time," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia told reporters.
India is scheduled to tour Pakistan for three Tests and three one-day internationals in April-May next year but the tour is in jeopardy due to political tensions between the nuclear rivals.
India has maintained a boycott of cricket with Pakistan for more than two years, with the government in New Delhi accusing Islamabad of sending militants to spark trouble in the disputed Indian zone of the divided Himalayan state of Kashmir
Tunisia throws hat in to host World Cup in 2010
TUNIS (AFP) - Tunisia announced here Thursday its intention to bid to host the 2010 World Cup, which has been promised to an African country.
Football's world governing body FIFA will decide in 2004 who will host the 2010 tournament, and Tunisia feels it could have all the credentials to do so.
The north African country's president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, following a meeting with top sports ministers, "ordered the (country's) football federation to declare its intention to bid to host the 2010 World Cup", according to Tunisian news agency TAP.
According to TAP the bid will be motivated by "the improvement in the level of sport in Tunisia and the existence of top quality and modern sports facilities and infrastructures".
Tunisia is set to host the African Nations Cup finals in 2004 and the Handball World Cup in 2005.