South Africa captain Graeme Smith has passed a fitness Test despite breaking a finger and will play in the second Test match against India starting Sunday. Smith sustained the injury during catching practice Friday. While the initial diagnosis was of ligament damage, he confirmed Saturday there was a fracture near a joint in his left little finger and said he would make a decision on whether he could play in the Test after a practice session. South Africa's media spokesman Michael Owen Smith later told The Associated Press: “Graeme took part in the nets and did batting practice for a considerable time. He did not find any problem while practicing in the nets and was found to be fit. Graeme will be playing tomorrow.” South Africa won the series opener by an innings and six runs, and needs only a draw in the second and final Test to move above India and into the No. 1 spot in the Test rankings. However. India will be strengthened by the return of some players from injury. V.V.S. Laxman, who was a late withdrawal from the series opener, will be back, while pace bowler Shantakumaran Sreesanth was included in the 15-man squad named Saturday, along with Dinesh Karthik and Suresh Raina. Those making way from the first Test's 15-man squad were wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha and the pace duo of Sudip Tyagi and Abhimanyu Mithun. South Africa thought the wicket at Eden Gardens would suit the Indian spinners while negating its own pacemen led by Dale Steyn, but ground curator Prabir Mukherjee said the “wicket will be sporting one - it would last for five days.” Mukherjee denied that he received any official instruction to make the pitch a turning one to help India's chances of victory. Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) which oversees Kolkata matches, said “even if any instructions do come it is not possible to change the nature of the pitch overnight.” India is well aware of the stakes in the second Test. “We have got no choice but to go for a win,” India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said. “Whatever be the condition here we will giving it our best shot. No matter how disappointing the loss at Nagpur was, it is time now to move ahead.” Kiwis-Lanka set for US New Zealand is likely to play international matches against Sri Lanka in the United States after striking a deal with American administrators. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief executive Justin Vaughan Saturday confirmed a “strategic partnership” had been formed with USA Cricket. It is likely the New Zealand team will play three games against Sri Lanka in Lauderhill, Florida in late May following the Twenty20 World Cup hosted by the West Indies. Vaughan stressed the games - the type of matches were not specified - were not yet confirmed but was “optimistic” they would take place. “Over the past months, we have advanced discussions with USA Cricket regarding the structure of our relationship, and both parties are very happy with how this is taking shape,” Vaughan said in a statement. “We are looking to help introduce cricket to a wider audience, and to attract new investment into the sport. It is widely accepted there is significant commercial opportunity for cricket within the US market, and the introduction such investment would greatly assist the overall development and growth of cricket.” The Pakistan national team - currently prevented from hosting international cricket for security reasons - is planning to tour the US later this year, with US offering to host a series against India. There have also been unconfirmed reports of Indian Premier League Twenty20 matches being played in the US.
