Kanpur, Nov 18 : Authorities have beefed up security in Kanpur ahead of the third One-Day International to be played on Thursday between India and England.

The administration has turned the hotel, where players will stay and the Green Park stadium in virtual citadels as a five-tier security cordon would be protecting the players and the match would be played in a fortified security conditions.

London, Nov. 18 : Former Test cricket umpire Dickie Bird and retired chat show host Sir Michael Parkinson were conferred Honorary Doctors of Letters degrees by the University of Huddersfield in Yorkshire on Monday.

University Chancellor and former Star Trek actor Patrick Stewart bestowed the honours on Sir Michael and Bird after they donned mortar boards and gowns and joined 70 graduates in a parade through their beloved Barnsley led by a brass band.

Sydney, Nov 18 : Former Aussie opener Justin Langer has said that after the just concluded India series he has changed his mind about Australia''s Test batting opening partnership, once again favouring his former opening mate Simon Katich instead of the newcomer Phil Jaques, who averages 47.47.

One century and three 50s by Katich, besides his tenacity and aggression, have convinced Langer about his utility for the Oz team.

Sydney, Nov 18 : Australian fast bowler Bret Lee has said that his bowling speed would increase as he grows older. He said his bowling will reach peak speed in his mid-30s, and added that he always focused on fitness.

He said he alter his approach to fast bowling as he approached his mid-30s.

Powered by a good batting performance, Lahore Badshahs registered a comprehensive eight-wicket win over Hyderabad Heroes in the third and crucial final of the second edition of the ICL 20-20 championship trophy at the Sardar Patel Stadium. With this, Lahore Badshahs lifted the the second edition of the ICL 20-20 championship trophy. Man of the Match Imran Nazir scored an unbeaten strutting 44-ball 111.

Islamabad, Nov 18 : Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has become more of a liability than a utility in recent times for the national side, so he should be axed, the country’s former Test fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz has said.

Nawaz said that everytime Afridi is included into the team on the basis of his so-called charishma.