ICC Cricket, Cricket Live Scores, Latest Sports News, Rumors, Fantasy Games, and more

South Africa's team manager defended fast bowler Dale Steyn on Tuesday, saying the player had shown elevated levels of morphine in a random drugs test in April because of medication he was taking for migraines.

"This is not a doping offence," Mohammed Moosajee, the team's manager and doctor, told Reuters after the Indian Premier League (IPL) contacted Steyn about a test carried out while the world's number one test bowler was playing in the league.

"This is not a failed drugs test, this is an adverse analytical finding, which is a different matter.

"Dale had been suffering from chronic migraines and had been taking painkillers called Myprodol which contain codeine and resulted in a higher-than-normal level of morphine in his urine test."

Moosajee expected the "routine matter" to be cleared up quickly.

"The IPL asked Dale to write a letter explaining what medication he took, for what reason and in what dosage, which he did last week," Moosajee said.

"He was careful to consult with Evan Speechley, the Bangalore Royal Challengers (team) physiotherapist, and he kept a record of all the medication that he took.

"We have absolutely no doubt that his explanation will satisfy the IPL."

Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden is set to become a member of the board of Cricket Australia (CA), replacing former captain Allan Border who stepped down after seven years of working.

'I am also delighted to welcome Matt Hayden on board. He brings a combination of contemporary, elite playing experience in all major cricketing nations,' CA chairman Jack Clarke stated in a press release Tuesday.

'He has an additional understanding of player issues through his work on the board of the Australian Cricketer's Association (ACA), experience in the new Twenty20 phenomena as an IPL player, and a passion for development of Indigenous cricket.'

'I congratulate Queensland Cricket on having the foresight and vision to appoint Matthew Hayden to the Cricket Australia board so soon after his retirement from wearing the Baggy Green,' he said.

Hayden said he had stood down from the board of the ACA to take up positions on the Queensland Cricket and Cricket Australia boards.

'I have enjoyed working for players in my work on the ACA board, sincerely thank my fellow directors, the management and staff there for their support, and will take insights from there and from the playing arena with me to the CA table,' Hayden said.

'But I have accepted this new challenge because I am passionate about Australian cricket in its totality, including the kids in the cities and in the remote areas who want to play the game but might not have the access and opportunities I had.'

Cricket Australia's board members are: Jack Clarke (Chairman), John Bannon, Earl Eddings, Wally Edwards, Daryl Foster OAM, Tony Harrison, Harry Harinath, Matthew Hayden, Ian McLachlan, Bryan Phelan, Mike Silver, Geoff Tamblyn, Mark Taylor, and Peter Warner.

The third edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will return to its country of origin and will be played in four new venues, it was announced by the league's chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi here Tuesday.

The tournament will start from March 12 and final will be played April 25. The 60-game tournament will feature a third-place playoff between the losing semi-finalists and the winner can get a chance to qualify for the Champions League.

The opening game will be hosted in Hyderabad, where defending champions Deccan Chargers will face Kolkata Knight Riders, while Bangalore will host both the semi-finals. The venue of the final is yet to be decided.

The tournament will also see the induction of Indian Cricket League (IPL) players while the fourth edition in 2011 will see the induction of two new teams.

Nagpur, Visakhapatnam, Ahmedabad and Dharamsala have been inducted as new venues and will be new home of Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers, Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab, respectively.

The IPL governing body also said that rebel ICL players who accepted the Indian cricket board's amnesty may be paid anything between Rs.800,000 to Rs.2 million and players with international experience will be auctioned.

The governing body also decided that it would use the services of the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU).

England batsman Kevin Pietersen's recovery from an Achilles injury has been delayed due to a complication following surgery, the England and Wales Cricket Board said on Tuesday.

"He (Pietersen) was seen by a wound care specialist yesterday and will receive a course of antibiotics in order to exclude infection," an ECB statement read.

"Medical advice is that a complication can occur post surgery and in this case resulted despite Kevin closely following specialist advice on management of the wound."

The 29-year-old right-hander was ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes series following surgery after the second test against Australia.

"He will be reassessed by the specialist later this week and will return to his planned programme of rehabilitation once the wound has fully healed," the statement added.

His absence in England's Ashes side has coincided with some poor batting performances and the series is now tied at 1-1 with one match remaining at the Oval starting on Aug. 20.

The South African-born Pietersen, who averages 49.96 from 54 tests, has scored 4,647 runs including 16 centuries since making his debut against Australia in 2005.

Once the Test series is over, England play Australia in a one-off Twenty20 international on Sept. 1 followed by a seven-match one-day international series starting on Sept. 4.

They then travel to South Africa to compete in the Champions Trophy starting with a match against Sri Lanka on Sept. 25.