Melbourne, Jan. 21: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has asked Cricket Australia to hand back USD 100,000trophy given to the No. 1-ranked team.

Though Ricky Ponting''s side is still topping the list, Cricket Australia has been forced to return the ICC Test Champion trophy to Dubai after holding it for all eight years of its existence - apart from four months in 2003 when South Africa briefly claimed it.

Australia''s coming Test series in South Africa will decide which team has the No. 1 ranking and instead of waiting until the conclusion, the ICC has decided to take back the trophy now in anticipation that it could change hands.

Karachi, Jan 21 : To avoid cancellation of tours that dogged Pakistani cricket in 2008, the PCB's Chief Operating Officer, Saleem Altaf, has said the Board is only considering neutral venues.

Altaf said Pakistan lost the opportunity to host the ICC Champions Trophy last September mainly because of a rigid stance adopted by the previous PCB top brass.

London, Jan. 21: Gutted by Kaka's decision not to join him at Manchester City from A C Milan, Brazilian football player Robinho has lost faith in the club's ability to deliver on promises made to him by the club.

Agents are also understood to be working on behalf of Robinho to pursue ways of getting him a move before the transfer window closes.

London, Jan. 21: If former England fast bowler Derek Pringle is to be believed, current skipper Andrew Strauss has placed his trust in his players to decide how they will go forward on the issue of making themselves available for the Indian Premier League (IPL) in its second season.

Karachi, Jan 21 : The Pakistan Cricket Board has assured suspended fast bowler Mohammad Asif of a fair trial over his Dubai misadventure, but he will be dealt with according to strict PCB anti-doping regulations.

"The Board made it clear that Asif will be dealt according to strict PCB anti-doping regulations which he said are now compliant with the guidelines given by the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA)," a senior official said.

Bremen, Germany  - The Bundesliga has had some eccentric players from Brazil in the past, but at least Werder Bremen have a model professional in Diego Ribas da Cunha - commonly known as Diego. Until now that is.

This season the modest 23-year-old playmaker has been finding himself increasingly in the headlines for reasons which have often had little to do with his undoubted prowess on the field.