Botha appointed South Africa T20 captain JOHANNESBURG: Off-spinner Johan Botha has replaced Graeme Smith as South Africa’s Twenty20 captain, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on Saturday. Smith announced he was stepping down from that role earlier this week. Botha, 28, impressed as Proteas skipper after leading South Africa to a 4-1 away One-day International series win against Australia during the 2008/9 season. “I really enjoyed the captaincy when I stood in for Graeme before and I am proud to be offered the job now. I am looking forward to working with such a special team,” Botha said in a statement. Botha, who has played in three Tests, 57 ODIs and 21 Twenty20 matches, has had a controversial career, having been investigated twice by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for an alleged illegal bowling action. South Africa’s convener of selectors Andrew Hudson said Botha had all the qualities to succeed as captain. “His appointment is part of the process of refreshing our Twenty20 squad and also deciding whether to follow the route of having different captains for different formats of the game,” he said.
Barcelona could make more signings: Guardiola MADRID: Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said on Saturday that his side would not rule out making further signings before the end of August. Barcelona have made two signings this summer with David Villa and Brazilian utility player, Adriano, arriving at the club. However, Guardiola’s title winning squad has suffered the departures of Rafael Marquez, Yaya Toure, Thierry Henry and Chygrynskiy leaving him with just 19 first team players for the forthcoming campaign. Guardiola has used players from the club’ s youth system over the summer, but believes the club needs to make more signings in order to remain competitive. “It would be better to have 24 quality players, the more players we have the better.” “Someone could arrive, someone could join the squad, but if not then there are 19 players in the first team squad, plus seven or eight other youngsters who we could use for the first team.” “Sometimes what you find on the transfer market is not what you are looking for and you can’ t find what you need, but I do know what positions we need to strengthen,” said Guardiola.
Bilal bowls Medicam CC to victory KARACHI: Bilal Asif bowled lethally capturing a four-wicket haul and helped Medicam Cricket Club record a five-wicket win over AO Blues in the 23rd Aga Khan Gymkhana Ramazan Twenty-20 Cricket tournament here at AKG Ground on Friday. AO Blues batted first in the match and put on board a measly total of 90 runs before they were all bundled out in the last over of their inning. Ijaz Ahmed (18) top scored for the side in the match. Off-Spinner Bilal Asif bowled well for Medicam CC and grabbed four wickets giving away only 14 runs. Medicam CC, in reply, conquered the target losing five of their wickets in 14 overs. Yasir Mushtaq batted well for the victors, smashing four boundaries in his 23-ball 32-run knock.
F1 holiday shutdown will open up racers minds: Hamilton LONDON: A Formula One holiday shutdown will have given McLaren boffins the chance to work out how to put their car back on the pace for the last seven races of the season, believes ex-champion Lewis Hamilton. “Although it has been great for the whole team to have had the factory shutdown and a well-deserved holiday, I think we’re all really looking forward to getting back into the title fight,” the Daily Express quoted Hamilton, as saying. “The break gave us some valuable thinking time to consider how to improve our car for the remainder of the season,” he added. The teams head for Belgium and the great Spa track next week before the high speed of Monza and Hamilton expects improvements. “We head into these two races not only optimistic of some better results but also of stronger pace for the rest of the year,” Hamilton said.
Juve seal Krasic, Aquilani deals TURIN, Italy: Juventus have acquired Serbia winger Milos Krasic in a $19 million transfer from CSKA Moscow, boosting their off-season spending beyond $60 million. The Serie A powerhouse said on Saturday that they had signed Krasic to a four-year contract. Juventus are hoping Krasic can follow in the footsteps of former midfielder Pavel Nedved, who retired a year ago. Juventus have spent $67 million on seven new players during the current transfer window — more than any other club in Italy and third in Europe behind Manchester City’s $154 million and Real Madrid’s $102 million. Meanwhile, Italy midfielder Alberto Aquilani is joining Juventus on a season-long loan from Liverpool. Liverpool announced on Saturday that a deal had been agreed with the Turin club. The 26-year-old Aquilani will undergo a medical examination in Italy on Monday. Aquilani joined Liverpool from Roma last summer for $31 million as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, but he has struggled to break into the first team because of problems with his fitness and form.
Serena Williams pulls out of US Open NEW YORK: Serena Williams has pulled out of the US Open because she is still recovering from surgery on her right foot, the American world number one said on Friday. Williams, who won her 13th grand slam at Wimbledon earlier this year, cut her foot on broken glass at a restaurant in July and has not played since. “It is with much frustration and deep sadness that I am having to pull out of the US Open,” Williams said on the tournament’s website. “My doctors have advised against my playing so that my foot can heal.” A three-time winner at Flushing Meadows, Williams absence will be a blow to US title hopes with her sister Venus, the world number five, the only other American ranked in the top 40. With Belgian Justine Henin announcing on Wednesday she would not be fit to play in the US Open and defending champion Kim Clijsters losing in Montreal after an injury scare, the year’s final grand slam is shaping up as a wide open affair.
Real’s Drenthe close to Benfica switch MADRID: Real Madrid are close to selling Royston Drenthe to Portuguese champions Benfica, according to media reports on Saturday. Drenthe, 22, is one of the players that Real are trying to offload, after spending 80 million euros on six new players, by far the highest amount in Spain this summer. Real paid 13 million euros to Feyenoord for Drenthe in 2007, but the Dutch left-back has failed to convince at the Estadio Bernabeu and has hardly played. According to the Portuguese media, Benfica are only prepared to pay around four million euros for him. On Thursday Benfica took Argentine winger Eduardo Salvio on loan from Atletico Madrid. The other players that Real are trying to offload are Rafael Van der Vaart, Mahamadou Diarra and Fernando Gago.
Vidic agrees four-year deal with Manchester United LONDON: Serbia defender Nemanja Vidic has signed a new four-year contract with Manchester United. “This kills all the silly speculation over the past few months,” manager Alex Ferguson told the club’s website on Friday. “Nemanja has developed into one of the best centre-halves in Europe and we are pleased he will be here for many years to come.” Vidic, 28, who has made 188 appearances since joining from Spartak Moscow in January 2006, had been linked in the media with a move in recent months but is now tied to United until June 2014. He said: “I am very happy to sign this contract. I came to this club when I was young and have developed enormously with the help of the manager, coaching staff and my teammates. During my time here we have had a lot of success and I look forward to continuing that in the coming seasons.” United won the Premier League in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
