LONDON: Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar could be officially crowned the world's first 100-miles-per-hour bowler at the World Cup. Organisers have agreed to allow the installation of speed guns from the Super Six second round.

They had initially demanded a two-million pound ($3.2 million) fee to install the devices for the tournament's 42 matches but have now settled for a smaller, undisclosed sum. The gun measures the bowler's speed of delivery from the moment the ball leaves his hand until it bounces. Akhtar, who has captured the public imagination during this event, was timed at 97mph during the Sharjah Cup one-day tournament in April. South African Allan Donald And Australia's Glenn McGrath are not far behind.

Australia's Jeff Thompson still holds the record for the quickest delivery on record, a 99.70 ball in 1975 in Perth.

Spring in the walk

BRISTOL: Sachin Tendulkar, who seems to have become a national treasure more than a sporting icon, is back at theWorld Cup. And things are looking up already. The banners welcoming him back have been written with feeling and even as they are being held up to catch the roving eye of the TV camera at Nevil Road, there is a spring in Indian steps.

FA Cup top ratings

Of the two great sporting events of Saturday in London - Manchester United taking the FA Cup from Newcastle United and South Africa teaching England lessons in cricket - the latter was very much a poor second in the popularity ratings. While the drinking binge to celebrate triumph or to drown the sorrow went on well into the small hours today, cricket was very much the sober aristocrat of summer sports taking over from the rowdyish king of the winter.