Sharjah: The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Friday that the Sharjah Cup will go ahead next week, with Kenya and Zimbabwe taking the place of South Africa, which pulled out because of security fears. The April 3-10 tournament will pitch the African sides against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, ECB administrator Mazhar Khan told. Khan also confirmed that United Arab Emirates cricket coach Abid Ali, a former Indian Test player, would take temporary charge of the Kenya team in Sharjah. "We offered to help them out, and what better way than with Abid Ali?" Mazhar said. The Kenyan team has had no coach since Sandeep Patil opted to return home to India after the World Cup in South Africa. Match referee for the tournament will be Justice Ebrahim Ahmed of Zimbabwe, while the umpires were named as Kevan Barbour of Zimbabwe, Arani Jayaprakash of India and Billy Doctrove of the West Indies. All matches are day-night games and begin at 3:00 pm (1100 GMT). Fixtures April 3: Pakistan vs. Zimbabwe
April 4: Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka
April 5: Zimbabwe vs. Kenya
April 6: Sri Lanka vs. Kenya
April 7: Sri Lanka vs. Zimbabwe
April 8: Pakistan vs. Kenya
April 9: Rest day
April 10: Final
Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
We are waiting for confirmation: SL Board
No Sharjah Cup in Colombo: Sri Lanka Cricket Board

Tags: cricket, the emirates cricket board (ecb), sharjah cup, kenya cricket team, zimbabwe cricket team, south africa cricket, pakistan cricket team, sri lanka cricket team, mazhar khan, coach abid ali, san.