Cape Town (S. Africa), Apr. 22: South African off-spinner Johan Botha has said that he is not playing in the second edition of the Indian Premier League here because of his faulty bowling action.

"There were two or three teams interested in my services, but they could not offer me a contract because of this issue," Sports 24 quoted Botha, as saying.

Durban, Apr 21: Kolkata Knight Riders thrashed Kings XI Punjab by 11 runs in a rain truncated Indian Premier League match here on Tuesday.

Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Brendon McCullum won the toss and elected to field first.

Kings XI, which had earlier lost its opening match to Delhi Daredevils, got a poor start when both opener Karan Goel lost his wickets early.

Irfan Pathan, who was promoted up in the order, hit some beautiful shots. He scored 32 runs off 17 balls.

Melbourne, Apr 20 : Australia’s captain for the Dubai series, Michael Clarke, has said that his team’s main focus will be on improving their batting during the one-day international series against Pakistan.

Clarke leads a squad without regular captain Ricky Ponting, strike bowler Mitchell Johnson and middle order batsman Mike Hussey, all being rested ahead of the Twenty20 world championship and Ashes campaign.

The Australian squad assembled in Dubai ahead of the tour-opener on Wednesday with Clarke predicting that Pakistan will prove a difficult opponent in their first ODI clashes in more than four years.

London, Apr. 19 : The England and Wales Cricket Board is hoping to tap into the lucrative Indian Twenty20 boom.

A Telegraph report says that interest is growing in the ECB''s plans for a new 20-over competition, now known as the P20.

A potential sponsor has been found in Kingfisher, owned by billionaire businessman Vijay Mallya - who also owns the Bangalore Royal Challengers in the IPL.

Dubai, April 17 : In a major setback to Pakistan Cricket Board, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday decided not to hold any match of the 2011 World Cup in Pakistan.

During an important ICC meet held in Dubai today, it was decided that no world cup match could be held in Pakistan, following a uncertain political and security situation prevailing in that country.

The decision is anticipated to cost Pakistan Cricket Board an approximate loss of 800,000 to 100,000 dollars.

Islamabad, Apr. 17 : Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar, who has been included in the national team for the UAE one-day international series against Australia after passing a series of fitness tests, may not be able to play in all five games.

According to the Dawn, Akhtar may have cleared all fitness tests’ following a nod from the team’s medical staff, but the 33 year old bowler seems far from fit.

He shown signs of fatigue during the three day training camp in Lahore.

Aktar’s teammates have also questioned his fitness.