SYDNEY — Australian cricket legend Shane Warne Tuesday said he could not say when he would finally retire, as he prepares to captain a domestic Twenty20 team five years after leaving the international scene. The 43-year-old leg-spinner announced his retirement in 2007, only to return as captain and coach of the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for four years, winning the inaugural tournament in 2008. Warne appeared to bring down the curtain on his stellar, two-decade cricket career at the IPL in May 2011, but went on to join the Australian Twenty20 team Melbourne Stars for the Big Bash League's inaugural season the same year and has continued playing with them. “I have to never say ‘never' because in 2007 I said I'd never play cricket again,” Warne told reporters in Melbourne. “But 18 months later the IPL came up, so that was something that interested me, to captain/coach and do it the way I always thought it should be done.” Warne, who remains Australia's highest ever wicket-taker with 708 Test scalps, said each time he thought he might have played for the last time, another competition came along that sparked his interest. “I do love cricket, I'm passionate about the game and if I can help Australian cricket in any way, shape or form then I will,” he said. Warne returned to training Tuesday ahead of the BBL, which will kick off on Dec. 7 when the Melbourne Stars play the Melbourne Renegades. Warne also said that home advantage will be the key factor in next month's cricket Test series between Australia and South Africa. Warne said very little currently separates Australia, England, India and South Africa at Test level and series results often pivoted on home advantage. SA turns down Pakistan request Cricket South Africa has turned down Pakistan's request to change the dates of its tour of the republic so as not to clash with the first Pakistan Premier League next March. The Pakistan Cricket Board asked the CSA to bring forward the tour of South Africa, which begins on Jan. 25 and ends on March 24, spokesman Nadeem Sarwar said Tuesday. Pakistan is scheduled to play three Tests, two Twenty20s and five ODIs during its two-month tour of South Africa. Pakistan is planning to organize a Twenty20 league in March similar to the leagues in England, Australia, South Africa, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. — Agencies
