Traditionalists will heave a sigh of relief with the news on Tuesday that the KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union have shelved plans to sell the naming rights for Kingsmead.

In December last year the Natal Witness revealed that the KZNCU had made a policy decision that the naming rights for Kingsmead and the Natal team were on offer. But by Tuesday the union's chief executive officer, Cassim Docrat, said negotiations on the issue had been ended with East Coast Radio, the main interested party.

"The selling of the naming rights has been shelved, but East Coast Radio are still very keen to be commercially involved with KwaZulu-Natal cricket and there is space for other sponsorship options, which we are currently looking at," Docrat confirmed.

The decision to preserve the name of a world-famous venue is good news for the traditionalists who have fond memories of some great Tests at Kingsmead and also Natal's trophy-winning exploits of the 1970s and 90s.

The decision will also be cause for celebration for the Kingsmead Mynahs Club, benefactors of Natal cricket since 1971 and whose members lodged a petition against any name change with the KZNCU.

Former Natal wicketkeeper/batsman Forest Hill, the current president of the Kingsmead Mynahs, said the decision was "very good news".

"I don't want to seem to be against change or refusing to move with the times, but you have to be very careful with tradition. One battles to think about a legendary place like Lord's being sold off and the sad thing is that Kingsmead's name would have changed again a couple of years down the line.

"A lot of change is for the better, but I think most people would want to preserve the name Kingsmead," Hill said.

Meanwhile, it seems the long-awaited acquisition of an overseas fast bowler may well come to fruition in time for next season with the KZNCU agreeing on the amount to offer. New coach Eldine Baptiste and director of playing affairs Phil Russell have been given the task of scouting around the West Indies and England respectively for prospective signings.

"Happily, the money for an overseas pro is no longer a major issue," Docrat confirmed on Tuesday.

The KZNCU's other focus at present is hosting the organising committee for the 2003 World Cup, which will be staying at Selborne for a conference May 22-24. Some crunch issues will be discussed at the conference, with over 100 international stakeholders jetting in to Durban to attend.

Ali Bacher, the head of the World Cup organising committee, will arrive in KwaZulu-Natal next Wednesday and will take a closer look at developments at Kingsmead and at the Oval in Pietermaritzburg and meet with Chatsworth officials who are still hoping to host a World Cup match.

© CricInfo