KEY POINTS:
New Zealand advanced to the semifinals of cricket's Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa after India beat the hosts in the last Super Eights match yesterday.
New Zealand are to play Pakistan in Cape Town tonight and India play Australia in Durban tomorrow.
New Zealand's passage into the
last four was booked for them when India beat South Africa by 37 runs.
India posted 153 for five, to which South Africa responded with 116 for nine.
South Africa were 10 runs short of pipping pool rivals New Zealand for a semifinals berth by virtue of run rate.
Rohit Sharma and Mahendra Singh Dhoni propped up India's total.
Sharma scored an unbeaten 50 and Dhoni made 45 in a stand of 85 for the fifth wicket.
India, who won the toss and chose to bat, needed rescuing after they lost their first three wickets for one run in the space of four balls as they dwindled to 33 for three in the sixth over.
Veteran paceman Shaun Pollock struck twice in that period to take two for 17 in his unbroken spell of four overs.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting will remain with the squad for their one-day tour of India despite suffering from a hamstring injury, Cricket Australia said.
Ponting has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup in South Africa but will travel with the team to India next week for seven one-day internationals.
"Ricky Ponting is making excellent progress following his hamstring strain in the game against Pakistan on Tuesday," said Australia chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch.
Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has been added to the tour party and will cover for Ponting until he recovers.
Allrounder Shane Watson is being assessed after leaving the field during Thursday's game against Sri Lanka with hamstring soreness.
The Australians are due to leave South Africa on Tuesday and the first one-day international against India is on September 29 in Bangalore.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar is unlikely to play in the test series against South Africa because of a disciplinary inquiry into his conduct starting next week.
Akhtar was sent home from South Africa a fortnight ago, before the start of the Twenty20 World Cup, after he struck team-mate Mohammad Asif with a bat during a row.
The fast bowler said allrounder Shahid Afridi provoked the brawl and that he accidentally hit Asif with the bat.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf yesterday said the disciplinary committee would start its work in a week.
Asked whether Akhtar would be considered for the tests against the visiting South African team, Ashraf replied: "We will not interfere in the working of the disciplinary committee or the selectors.
"This is a serious issue and will be investigated fully."
South Africa announced a strong 14-member squad to play the first test in Karachi from October 1. The second test starts on October 8.
Ashraf said the disciplinary committee would question all the players after they returned home from South Africa and would also investigate how news of the incident was leaked.
Ashraf said he was confident that senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf would be available for the tests against South Africa despite having joined the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).
"He is a gentleman and I am confident we can convince him to withdraw from the contract and play for Pakistan. The selectors should prepare for the tests with him in mind."
Yousuf joined the ICL with former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq and Imran Farhat after being dropped for the Twenty20 World Cup.
- Reuters