Melbourne, Jan. 29 : Australian all rounder and cricket''s original Twenty20 millionaire, Andrew Symonds, has been fined for abusing Kiwi wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum, and while his long-term future will be decided next week by Cricket Australia, he is contemplating another IPL stint with the Hyderabad-based Deccan Chargers.

According to Fox Sports, there is every chance that Symonds will be left at home from the South African tour and he may even have his contract torn up.

Sydney, Jan. 29 : Australian fast bowler Stuart Clark has been ruled out of next month''s cricket tour of South Africa following a setback with his troublesome elbow.

National selectors'' chairman Andrew Hilditch said his panel wasn''t prepared to risk Clark''s fitness following recent surgery with such a heavy playing schedule for the national team over the coming 12 months.

London, Jan. 29 : Manchester United and Portuguese soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo had to have a heart operation when he was 15 to save his sporting career, his mother revealed yesterday.

Doctors diagnosed the now Manchester United ace with a racing heart. It was then feared that the Portuguese winger - now 23 and World Footballer of the Year - might have to give up playing. But he was whipped into hospital for delicate laser surgery that cured the problem, reports The Sun.

London, Jan. 29 : Brazilian soccer ace Robinho has received the full backing of the Manchester City team management and team members, days after he was accused of raping a girl in Leeds.

Currently out on police bail, Robinho showcased that support by putting in a star performance on the pitch on Wednesday, forgetting his off-field drama.

The Manchester City striker was cheered after laying on the opening goal in the 2-1 home win over Newcastle United.

Dubai, Jan. 29 : The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that the ongoing trial of the umpire decision review system will afford each side two unsuccessful reviews per innings rather than the three that have been available up to now.

An ICC media release said that the change to the playing conditions of the trial has been made after receiving initial feedback from players and match officials and will apply to the upcoming Test series between the West Indies and England.

Karachi, Jan. 29 : Javed Miandad, who quit from the post of Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) Director General on Tuesday, has said that he resigned from the post because of the job description devised for him by the PCB authorities, which did not provide him enough opportunity to work for the promotion of national cricket.

Seemingly upset by the behaviour of the top PCB officials Miandad said : "I was hurt to know that as Director General, my role would be to look after domestic cricket and help develop the grounds."