Quick singles: Night game stays

World Cup organisers have rejected a bid by India to have the second semifinal changed from a day-nighter into a day game.

India, who are likely to reach that Durban semifinal on March 20, fear the toss could have a disproportionate influence on the result.

World Cup executive director Ali Bacher said that the day-nighter would not be switched, adding he hoped that would end the matter.

Seven World Cup matches have been staged as day-nighters in Durban and Cape Town. Five teams winning the toss went on to win the game, while Monday's rain-affected match between South Africa and Sri Lanka ended in a tie.

Bacher had made it clear he would strongly oppose any switch. "Day-nighters are the most spectacular form of one-day games," he said.

Kenya walk tall

Steve Tikolo expects Kenya's gallant performance against India will silence the critics who have sneered at the African minnows for advancing to the Super Six through the back door.

"Obviously the performance is there for them to see," the Kenyan skipper said after a fighting six-wicket loss in their first Super Six game on Saturday.

Kenya were a surprise entry into the Super Six after being gifted four points by New Zealand in the first round and staging a surprise 52-run victory over Sri Lanka.

The critics "are forgetting that we had to win three games to get to the Super Sixes", Tikolo said.

After making 225, Kenya had India 24 for 3 before Sourav Ganguly's 100 steered them to victory. Vermeulen hit Zimbabwe batsman Mark Vermeulen suffered a hairline fracture to his skull while batting in the nets before the game against New Zealand.

Vermeulen was struck over the left eye by a rising delivery from Travis Friend while attempting a pull shot.

He needed five stitches but Zimbabwe hope he will be available for the game against Kenya at Bloemfontein on Wednesday.

Akram fears for future

Pakistani cricket icon Wasim Akram says he fears for the future of the game in his country after the team's disastrous World Cup run.

"I am worried about the future of Pakistan cricket. We have been losing nonstop since August 2002," Akram wrote in the Times of India. "For the first time in my 18-year career, I see a paucity of talent in the country."

Akram slammed several team-mates, saying of Shahid Afridi: "Afridi's approach would hardly inspire any captain to persist with him for any length of time."

Symcox steps down

Former South Africa test player Pat Symcox has resigned as a national team selector, claiming a conflict of interests between his position as a selector and his position as a television commentator and journalist.

Symcox caused controversy when he described the South African bowling attack as the worst in 40 years and likenedSouth Africa's bungled run chase against Sri Lanka at Durban to the "goon show".

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