Vaughan advocates life-ban for drug cheats

England captain Michael Vaughan put behind his weight in the campaign against drug offenders, saying he wanted life ban for cricketers found guilty of indulged in doping.

England captain Michael Vaughan put behind his weight in the campaign against drug offenders, saying he wanted life ban for cricketers found guilty of indulged in doping. “If there’s drugs been taken that have hugely affected your performance in a positive way I’d go for a ban for life. You don’t want cheats in the game. You want people who are playing to (show) their talents, mental strength and the work they’ve done,” Vaughan was quoted by BBC Five Live.

A team of youngsters

Harare: Zimbabwe has one player with World Cup experience and lost a home series to Bangladesh last month.

Hardly the best preparation for the March 13-April 28 tournament. Zimbabwe has lost its best players because of infighting and interfering by administrators, leaving batsman Stuart Matsikenyeri as the only player to have played at the showpiece event. The remaining players were told they would not go to the Caribbean unless they signed new two-year contracts with Zimbabwe Cricket, and captain Tatenda Taibu quit international cricket rather than deal with what appeared to be bullying tactics by the governing body.

ICC suspends USACA

Cape Town: The United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) has been suspended by the sport’s world governing body for failing to set up a proper administration. In addition to the ban, the International Cricket Council has relegated the American team from the World Cricket League division three series of games which take place in Darwin, Australia, in May.

Plane crash near Oz base

St Vincent: A small light plane crashed some 200 metres from where the cricket world champions Australia were practising on Saturday. The single-propeller aircraft appeared to lose control in strong winds near the Arnos Vale sports ground, St Vincent, and crashed into a small river. The pilot and three passengers emerged from the stricken plane, eye witnessses said.Australia were conducting their second practice session when the incident happened.

Australia need to be wary

Kingstown: World champions Australia will approach the ninth World Cup starting in the West Indies this month as the hunters rather than the prey after losing their number one ranking to South Africa last month. Speaking to reporters after the Australians had practised at Arnos Vale on Saturday morning, Australian middle-order batsman Michael Hussey said it had been disappointing to lose the top spot to South Africa. The two teams meet in the final Group A match in St Kitts on March 24. “I guess we become the hunters rather than the hunted,” said Hussey, who captained Australia in the absence of the injured Ricky Ponting in their 3-0 loss to New Zealand last month.