Lahore, Nov 19 (ANI): Facing a severe financial crunch caused by the spate of postponed series and tournaments in 2008, the PCB is reportedly planning to cut down heavily on the administrative expenditure incurred in running the organisation.

According to The News, Wasim Bari, who was recently appointed as Director HR and Administration, is keen on trimming expenses. "Needless appointments made to the board will be terminated to reduce the overall expenditures," the paper quoted him as saying.

Three areas will be looked at in particular to cut down costs, the paper said and added that general administrative costs are to be cut down by at least 50 percent. The budgets of each director and their department will also be revised this time based on more accurate forecasts.

Capital expenditure on stadiums through the country will be halted, but the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and Rawalpindi would be the exceptions where the renovation work is yet to be completed, added the paper.

Pakistan suffered heavy losses this year after Australia pulled out of a full series in March-April and the Champions Trophy was postponed, both due to security concerns. (ANI)

Kanpur, Nov 19 (ANI): Indian cricket captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni today said that his team will go with full strength in the third One-day International (ODI) against England to be played in Kanpur on Thursday.

Addressing a news conference after the net practice session at the Green Park stadium, the venue of the match, Dhoni said, there won't be much experimentation in the selection of players for the third ODI.

"It's a seven match series so winning two games I don't think means much in a series like this. So, there won't be too much of experimentation but we will look at the combination, we will see if there is any player who needs rest, but we will go with full strength," he added.

Admitting the need for an extra spinner in the team, Dhoni said, "You want to have an extra spinner in the side, but you got to see the combination as well because you know you don't really want to be batsmen short, because if you see in the last game, it was basically Yusuf Pathan's last quick fire 50 that really helped us. So at times, it's very important."

India leads the 7 match series 2-0 with some brilliant performance of the Indian batsmen specially southpaws Yuyraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir. (ANI)

Sydney, Nov 19 (ANI): Australian opener Mathew Hayden who will be playing his 99th Test tomorrow, at the Gabba against New Zealand, has said that the match would likely provide him answers whether he would be around for his fifth Ashes tour next year.

Hayden (37), who had recurring injury dramas and a poor start to the series in India, has critics questioning his future in the Australian top-order.

But, Hayden has no plans to hang up his whites. "It's not part of my equation just yet. There's two answers that I need to say to myself before I present myself for Australia. One of them is am I willing to make the sacrifices to be the best athlete I can be, whatever that takes? The second is, is that fire burning within me to play good cricket for Australia?" the Sydney Morning Herald quoted him as saying today.

He added: "At the moment, the man in the mirror is saying have a crack at both of them, I think you're ready to play."

But, when asked whether he'll be around for a remarkable fifth Ashes tour next year, Hayden said: "I think this game is going to tell me that".

But, he indicated the answer won't come from runs alone at the Gabba. "Right now, it's a particularly challenging time in Australian cricket history because we've lost a lot of our players and we're in a position now to take responsibility and move forward with what's been an inspirational group of players through India."

His skipper Ricky Ponting values Hayden, Australia's fourth highest run-scorer of all-time, as a "supremely loyal lieutenant" and wants to see him play through the Ashes at the very least.

If runs would be a sole gauge to his future, Hayden has picked a tough Test to put his career on the line, added the paper. (ANI)

Islamabad, Nov 19 (ANI): Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam has said that Test matches against India should be at a neutral venue in case the Indian government does not clear its cricket team's tour of Pakistan in January due to security concerns.

"First of all, I think India should come to Pakistan. But if for any reason the tour does not go ahead as planned, I think playing at neutral venue is the best option," The News quoted Alam as saying.

"Playing in India will be a disadvantage to us and I think the best option is to look for neutral venues," he added.

Alam, who took over as coach only last month, said: "I saw the new stadium in Dubai which has a capacity of around 25,000 spectators and with Abu Dhabi also having good facilities I think both these venues could be utilized for Pakistan-India Test series."

India are scheduled to tour Pakistan from Jan. 4-Feb. 19 for three Test matches and five One-day Internationals. However, the tour is in doubt, especially after the Indian government did not clear its junior hockey team to play five Test matches in Pakistan on security grounds last week.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt has said that the board could look for alternatives - including switching the series with India - in case the Indian cricket tour to Pakistan does not go ahead. (ANI)