AHMEDABAD: A furious Ricky Ponting took out his frustration at being run out in Australia's opening World Cup match by smashing a television set with his bat in the team's dressing room. The incident during the Group A match against Zimbabwe was reported to the sport's governing body but an International Cricket Council source said Tuesday “it was unlikely the matter would be taken any further”. On Monday, the Australian captain was found short of his crease at the non-striking end by a direct throw from the mid-wicket boundary by the lanky Chris Mpofu while attempting a second run. Ponting was seen talking angrily to himself as he walked back to the pavilion and it appears his emotions spilled over once he was back in the dressing room, where he saw footage of his dismissal being replayed on TV. “It's true. We have already informed the ICC and the Australian cricket authorities about the incident,” Gujarat Cricket Association secretary Rajesh Patel told Reuters before adding that the incident was a minor one. When asked about the incident, a Cricket Australia spokesman said: “I have no further comments to make on this issue.” Australia beat Zimbabwe by 91 runs in their World Cup opener at the Sardar Patel Stadium. Kiwis set to play on New Zealand's cricketers at the World Cup were Tuesday coming to terms with the devastating earthquake which rocked Christchurch and the tournament organizers planned an appropriate tribute. A 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit New Zealand's second biggest city Tuesday, killing at least 65 people and causing widespread damage. The International Cricket Council (ICC), however, was confident that New Zealand would go ahead with their World Cup matches. “It's very tragic really,” an ICC spokesman said by phone. “At this point of time, we can only give our condolences to those affected. But we don't think it's going to have any impact on the cricket World Cup as of now.” International Cricket Council Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said the earthquake badly damaged the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) office in Christchurch but the staff were not affected. Tickets to be sold via ballot Tickets for the World Cup final will be sold via a ballot after the official website crashed under the pressure of huge traffic. “There will be a ballot and we're working with the BCCI (Indian cricket board) and our official online ticket agents Kyazoonga to finalize all the details. They will still be sold via the website,” an ICC spokesman said. Not a single ticket for the April 2 final to be held in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium was sold to the public after the official website went into meltdown Monday, sparking furious complaints from fans. “We apologize to anyone who was trying to get on but these are exceptional circumstances when 10 million people were trying to get on the website at one time,” the ICC spokesman said earlier Tuesday. “They (Kyazoonga) were working throughout the night to get it up and running and not one ticket has been sold from the quota we had.” On Tuesday morning, the website was back up and at first glance it looked as if all the tickets had sold out since those matches were not showing up on the ‘tickets for sale' schedule. But a small message tucked on one side of the website trumpeted: “And we're back! All semis and finals tickets that are to go up on sale here are intact. Please stay tuned for further updates.” State to charge ICC The government of the western Indian state of Maharashtra has asked the International Cricket Council to pay for the extra security it has requested for players at World Cup matches in Mumbai and Nagpur, a top official said Tuesday. The International Cricket Council had sought enhanced security for games in state capital Mumbai and also Nagpur, said the state official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Notts signs Hussey Australian World Cup all-rounder David Hussey and compatriot Adam Voges have signed as overseas players for English county champions Nottinghamshire, the club announced Tuesday. Voges will be available from the opening day of the season, with Hussey set to feature for the first time when Notts Outlaws play in the national Twenty20 event on June 3, a statement on the club's website said. Afridi signs for Hampshire Big-hitting Pakistan World Cup skipper Shahid Afridi is to join English Twenty20 champion Hampshire for its 2011 campaign, the club said Monday. The explosive all-rounder will arrive at the club in May and is expected to be available for the entire Friends Provident T20 campaign. Afridi, 30, had been due to join the Hampshire Royals last year but withdrew to resume the captaincy of the Test side. “Having played at the Rose Bowl for Pakistan last year I know it is fast becoming one of the best places to watch cricket,” Afridi said. Lanka allows music Sri Lanka has withdrawn a ban on musical instruments inside the country's World Cup venues. Police had prevented spectators from carrying drums and trumpets, a regular sight during cricket matches in Sri Lanka, much to the discontent of the home fans. But Sri Lanka Cricket Chief Executive Ajith Jayasekera said Tuesday there has been a change of heart by the sports ministry.
