Sydney, Dec 18: Recent failures to score runs by Australian opener Matthew Hayden has put his Test future in doubts with retirement whispers growing that he may not last to fulfill his dream to play a farewell Ashes tour in England next year.

As Australia's batting strongman failed again in Perth, his former opening partner Justin Langer admitted that he did not know what the future held for his best friend and is unsure if the struggling opener wants to play his farewell Ashes tour.

Islamabad, Dec. 17 : The Pakistan Cricket Board is still awaiting confirmation of India's tour next month, but has denied reports of a replacement series against Sri Lanka.

"We are still waiting for the response from the Board of Control for Cricket in India," PCB chief operating officer Saleem Altaf told The News on Tuesday.

The BCCI has sought clearance from its government for the tour of Pakistan, encompassing three Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 match.

London, Dec. 17 : The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is reeling from a double setback after Texas billionaire Sir Allen Stanford threatened to end his backing of the sport and Vodafone announced they are ending sponsorship of the England team.

Stanford's foray into cricket has blown a 40 million dollar hole in his bank balance and he told his staff of his decision to drop his board of legends, which includes Sir Vivian Richards.

Sydney, Dec. 17 : The man who last captained a touring side to a Test series victory in Australia believes South Africa are not up to the task of dethroning Ricky Ponting''s men.

Richie Richardson, who led the West Indies to a famous 2-1 victory over Australia in the 1992-93 season, said Ponting''s side remained the strongest in world cricket despite the retirements of key personnel.

The former Antiguan batsman was unconvinced South Africa had shaken their "choker" tag, which has haunted them through so many Australian campaigns.

London, Dec. 17 : Former England captain Michael Vaughan thinks England can recover from bitter defeat to India and level the series in Mohali.

He told Telegraph TV that he was proud of his teammates'' performance.

He said: "It was a great game of cricket. Both teams played to an incredible standard in terms of what they''d gone through in the previous two weeks.

"The England team can be very proud of the way they played. For three-and-three-quarter days they dominated the Test and that is something which is very difficult to do in India."

Perth, Dec. 17 : A desperate Australian captain Ricky Ponting has instructed pace bowler Brett Lee to taken on a leadership role in attacking the South African batters during their series Down Under.

Lee, who has played 74 Tests and taken over 300 wickets, Ponting has been asked to make an instant impact in the absence of his injured new-ball partner Stuart Clark.

"Brett''s really up for the challenge. I''ve singled him out in the team meeting yesterday (Monday) as the leader of the attack," the Daily Telegraph quoted Ponting as saying after training.

"I know he really enjoys that role so I''ve put it back on to him to make sure he''s leading the way right from the start of this series," he added.