New Zealand's World Cup campaign, already hit by the team's refusal to play in Kenya, suffered another setback yesterday when their players were involved in a nightclub brawl.
All-rounder Chris Cairns was injured when nine members of the team were caught up in the trouble at a Durban club. Cairns was knocked to the ground following a scrap at the Tiger, Tiger club, and suffered a cut mouth.
He was hit without warning on the back of the head and collapsed on the pavement while some of the players were abused by a crowd still simmering with resentment at the Kiwis' victory over South Africa on Sunday.
Team manager Jeff Crowe refused to lodge a formal police report.
The controversy came on the day when the Black Caps had been scheduled to play their World Cup game against Kenya in Nairobi, but they boycotted the match on security grounds and forfeited the four points.
Meanwhile, England captain Nasser Hussain is likely to be fit to play in the clash against Pakistan under lights at Newlands today, coach Duncan Fletcher said.
Buoyed by Hussain's recovery from a sprained neck which forced him to miss Wednesday's game against Namibia, Fletcher warned: "People must be wary of England. We don't give up."
Pakistani captain Waqar Younis was equally confident, remembering his team's 3-0 win over England in the tri-series in June, 2001.
South African skipper Shaun Pollock insisted yesterday his team could still win the World Cup. His team faces Bangladesh at Bloemfontein today looking for a second win after losing to the West Indies and New Zealand.
"In a funny way the defeats have helped us," Pollock said. "We have seen the exit door, we know the feeling both as a team and as individuals.
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