World Cup organisers privately supported the safety fears of England cricketers in Zimbabwe, according to England and Wales Cricket Board chairman David Morgan.

Morgan says International Cricket Council security bosses backed worries about death threats from 'The Sons and Daughters of Zimbabwe' organisation, despite publicly stating otherwise.

"We received a letter via the ICC security directorate which made a very clear statement that the 'Sons and Daughters of Zimbabwe' was an organisation that did pose a threat to the safety and security of our cricketers," he  said.

Morgan's statement came just after England arrived home, having failed to make it past the group stage of the World Cup.

Wasim Akram has admitted he fears for the future of the game in Pakistan following his country's disastrous World Cup.

The 36-year-old all-rounder said: "I am worried about the future of Pakistani cricket  we have been losing non-stop since August 2002."

The losing streak was capped this month with Pakistan's worst performance in eight World Cups.

Writing in The Times of India, Wasim said: "For the first time in my 18-year career, I see a paucity of talent in the country.

"There were times when (captain) Waqar (Younis) would sit to pick the team in consultation with some of us seniors, and we would be hard put to find 11 players since everyone was going through a lean patch."

Pakistan coach Richard Pybus launched a scathing attack on the state of Pakistani cricket after their lacklustre performance at the World Cup.

Pybus, whose contract as national coach comes to an end after the tournament in South Africa, said that the structure of Pakistani cricket needs to be radically overhauled.

"The players that are coming through are not equipped to deal with international cricket," said the 42-year-old.

"They are not fit enough and they have technical flaws which are exposed whenever they go outside the sub-continent. They lack cricketing awareness and the motivation to want to get better.

"The talent is there, but it does not win you cricket matches alone. Every country has talent, it is what you do with it that counts. It is things like the quality of coaching, the competitive edge and fitness that breeds hard and tough cricketers.

"When I asked for a team analyst, I was told: 'What do you need an analyst for?' They thought I was wasting money.

"I compare cricket strategy as like going to war. While the other side have satellite and radars, we are going in with a compass.

"Teams have outfought and outplayed Pakistan, they know exactly where to bowl, what each player's strengths and weaknesses are.

"The younger players are very positive, they are using the new technology to improve their game, but it's not part of the Pakistani culture. They are going to get further and further behind the rest of the world."

In a sudden volte-face, veteran left-arm seamer Wasim Akram has said he will not quit international cricket in the "best national interest" as the team needs senior players who can "lift its morale".

After vouching to hang his boots and formally announce his retirement once he reached home after his team's ignominious exit from the World Cup, Akram said he had no intention of retiring now.

"Cricket is not finished in me and I have no intention of quitting the international scene, particularly when the team is in a bad shape after being dumped out from the World Cup," he told reporters on his arrival at the Lahore airport.

"I believe that the team needs senior players who could lift its morale. That's why I have decided to change my mind in the best national interest," he said.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee may travel to South Africa to watch the World Cup if the Indian cricket team makes it to the final.

Vajpayee has already ordered changes in his official engagements so that he can travel to Johannesburg around March 23, when the final match is scheduled to be held.

Thousands of Indian fans flew to South Africa to cheer their team in first-round victories against England and Pakistan. A bigger contingent is expected to be there for the semifinal and final matches.

Meanwhile, bookies in Mumbai, India's financial hub, have revised their ranking and placed India second after Australia, a newspaper reported.

Betting is officially banned in India, but people still wager illegally on the games.

Zimbabwe opening batsman Mark Vermeulen suffered a hairline fracture to his skull while batting in the nets on Friday.

Vermeulen was struck by a ball from Travis Friend which reared sharply off the pitch as Zimbabwe prepared for Saturday's World Cup Super Sixes match against New Zealand.

"It reared up just back of a length," Vermeulen said. "I tried to pull it but it got big on me. They say my skull is fractured just above the left eye.

"I'm down but not out and I should be able to play on Monday or Tuesday."

Cricket World Cup organisers expect the tournament to generate a profit of $37 million (300 million Rand), executive director Ali Bacher said on Friday.

"Our projections, which include gate receipts, are that there will be a surplus in the order of 300 million Rand," Bacher told a news conference on the eve of the tournament's second phase.

Bacher said 220 million Rand would come through the International Cricket Council from marketing and sponsorship and the remainder from gate receipts.

He said expenditure would be around 500 million Rand.

"A lot of it is related to legacy projects which will be of benefit to cricket down the years," he said.

Appreciating Henry Olonga's "courageous decision" to wear black armbands during the World Cup as a protest against the rule of Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe, a British businessman has offered to sponsor the paceman to play in the English county league.

Sussex businessman Lawrence Mallison has stated that he was prepared to spend about 30,000 pounds for sponsoring Olonga as an overseas cricketer for Essex of any other county if the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) contiues to punish him by not picking him for future matches.

"I think it is important that Henry should not be abandoned after the World Cup is over," Mallison said, adding that his business "can at least afford to give him a well-deserved foot-up. Getting him over here might also help him make contacts that could lead on to something else". Though Essex liked the idea, they have doubts over giving any opportunity to Olonga as their two overseas players including Andy Flower of Zimbabwe are expected to be available for the whole season.

Olonga, who created a stir by wearing the armband during the initial stage of the tournament alongwith Andy Flower, reacted positively to news of the offer. "I would be very interested and certainly open to the idea," he was quoted as saying.

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