Players to observe minute''s silence for earthquake victims

Nagpur, Feb 24 (PTI) The Australia and the New Zealandplayers will observre a minute''s silence in memory ofearthquake victims before the start of their Group A World Cupmatch here tomorrow.

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit the New Zealand city ofChristchurch on Tuesday, in which 98 people have lost theirlives so far.

"It''s an extremely sad what happened in Christchurch. Iam very close to a couple of New Zealand guys and today wespoke to them at the team hotel. I have come to know thattheir families are safe," Ponting told the mediapersons at apress conference today.

"I will speak to Dan (Vettori) tomorrow and see if we canobserve a minute''s silence in the memory of those who losttheir lives. We as Australian cricket team would like to showrespect to those who lost their lives. We are neighbours andthese are small little things we can do as national cricketteams," he said.