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The Bangladesh Cricket Board has rewarded middle-order batsman Alok Kapali with a contract after the player performed reasonably well in the recently-concluded home series against Sri Lanka and Kenya.
   Alok will be joined by five other cricketers – Nafees Iqbal, Aftab Ahmed, Tushar Imran, Nazmul Hossain and Enamul Haque Jr – who all received six-month contract extensions by the BCB at its executive meeting on Monday.
   National captain Habibul Bashar, vice-captain Khaled Mashud, Javed Omar, Rajin Saleh, Mohammad Ashraful, Mohammad Rafique, Tapash Baisya, Mashrafee bin Murtaza and Manjarul Islam are already on the Board payroll for a period of one year which runs out on September 30 this year.
   The BCB also decided to award a rookie contract to left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak and Under-19 captain Mushfiqur Rahim to join up with Syed Rasel, Shahriar Nafees and Shahadat Hossain, who are already contracted under the category.
   At a news briefing after the marathon meeting, which lasted from 11:00am to 6:00pm at the ballroom of Sonargaon Hotel, the BCB announced former national captain Shafiqul Haque Hira as the manager of Bangladesh cricket team for the upcoming home series against Australia.
   However, his appointment will be temporary as the BCB would go for a permanent manager for future series, informed general secretary Mahbubul Anam.
   ‘We will give an advertisement to recruit a permanent manager for the national team. Whoever fits our set job description can get the appointment, not necessarily he has to be former cricketer or something else,’ said Anam.
   The BCB will also soon appoint a trainer for the national team to replace Stuart Karpinen, who decided to quit after the Australia series, six months before the expiry of his contract.
   However, unlike the manager, the BCB has already interviewed four candidates and the final appointment will be made very soon so that the concerned trainer can work under Karpinen for at least two weeks.
   Barring the appointments, the BCB also discussed many issues, mostly relating to the Australia series. Some heated exchanges also took place with many expressing their despair after not getting desired posts in the standing committees.
   ‘I found it a very difficult pitch to bat on. We have seen ‘doosra’ in the field, in future there may be a ‘tisra’. But it was more difficult than that,’ confessed the newly-appointed CEO Mahmudur Rahman, who attended a BCB meeting for the first time.
   Understandably, the pitch was particularly difficult for Mahbub and he found it even tougher while addressing the subsequent briefing.
   Discomfited by the volley of questions about the state of the Mirpur Shere-e-Bangla National Stadium, which has now turned into a mushroom field rather than being the next home of cricket, the BCB high-up said he hoped it would be completed by June this year.
   ‘Initially we had some problems getting work order from the National Sports Council, which delayed construction. Now the problem is over and I hope it will be ready by June,’ he said.
   ‘Unfortunately we cannot host any matches of the Australia series here. But we will see international cricket in the stadium when we play our next home series against Zimbabwe in November,’ he added.

World champions Australia and hosts India were paired in the same group Sunday for the International Cricket Council Champions Trophy one-day tournament which gets underway in October.
   England were also included in Group A with the four-team pool to be completed with the side that finishes second following the outcome of a preliminary tournament featuring Champions Trophy holders West Indies.
   Group B features South Africa, Pakistan, New Zealand and the top team from the qualifying event.
   Teams have been seeded according to their position in the ICC’s one-day rankings on April 1.
   Australia, who beat India by 125 runs to win the 2003 World Cup final in Johannesburg, were in first place.
   West Indies, who beat then hosts England by two wickets to win the last edition of the biennial Champions Trophy competition at The Oval in 2004, were ranked eighth on April 1.
   That means they will have to finish in the first two from a series of round-robin matches in India against Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh if they are to have a chance of defending their title.
   In a statement issued from its Dubai headquarters, the ICC said it hoped a full tournament schedule would be announced later this month.
   However, it did confirm the top two sides from each group would go forward to the semifinals with the final on November 5 at a venue to be named later.
   The next World Cup is due to take place in the West Indies in 2007.
   ICC Champions Trophy groups (x denotes one-day international ranking). ’

Palestine 4 Cambodia 0
   India 1 Philippines 1
   Title contenders Palestine as expected cruised into the last eight of the AFC Challenge Cup from Group C after beating Cambodia 4-0 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Monday.
   After opening with an 11-0 goal-rush against Guam, the Palestinians did not fire all cylinders but still managed to put three past their lowly opponents in the first half.
   Francisco Atura, who was tireless on the left flank in the previous match, did not overlap more often also Fahed Attal, the six-goal hero against Guam, was off colour.
   Ahmed Keshkesh put Palestine ahead just like the first match in the 10th minute as he side-footed an Atura free kick sneaking in between the onrushing goalie and a defender.
   Cambodia had little time to recover as midfielder Al Swierki doubled the margin making the most of a defensive lapse. The central midfielder ran through the defence and placed the ball to the far corner of the post with a gentle touch giving Cambodia custodian Mic Ouk no chance.
   Fahed Attal however remained in the scorer’s list as he was in the right position to head an Al Swierki cross over the stretched hand of Mic Ouk. With a three-goals cushion, Palestine decided to slow things down which allowed their Cambodia to come out of their half. However, the attackers failed to take advantage of the at times relaxed Palestine defence.
   Al Swierki scored his second in the 74th minute with a solo effort from the midfield.
   Palestine coach Ali Sabbah was confident about his chances. ‘We came here to play in the final and now we are ready to face Bangladesh to win the group. Yes, we were a bit relaxed today,’ he said.
   His Cambodian counterpart Jo Young Chol was unfazed by the defeat. ‘We are here to learn and gain experience. Palestine definitely was better than us.’
   Away at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong, Philippines held India 1-1 in their second Group A game also on Monday.
   India’s hero in their 2-0 victory over Afghanistan in the opening match, Vimal Pariyar once again gave his side the lead in the eighth minute on a cross from captain N Pradeep but Philippines restored parity through midfielder Mark Alvin Valeroso 10 minutes later. Valeroso’s header found the back of the net on a Jeremias Jiao corner.

Sri Lanka (267/8) against Pakistan at stumps, day 1
   Pakistan seamer Mohammad Asif bagged his maiden five-wicket Test haul to help restrict Sri Lanka on the opening day of the second Test here on Monday.
   The 23-year-old returned figures of 5-41 as the home side reached 267-8 at the close, with Nuwan Kulasekara (11) and Lasith Malinga (zero) the not out batsmen.
   Asif, who bowled a nagging line in his morning spell of 12 overs, ripped through the top order with three vital wickets to reduce Sri Lanka to 61-3.
   He had opener Upul Tharanga (ten) and captain Mahela Jayawardene (four) caught in the slips and bowled Sanath Jayasuriya (14) with a delivery that beat the left-hander and went between bat and pad.
   Then with the second new ball he dismissed Thilan Samaraweera for 65 and Malinga Bandara for 43 to claim his maiden five-for in his fifth Test.
   In between Asif’s bursts, leg-spinner Danish Kaneria claimed three wickets.
   The Sri Lankans also suffered two doubtful decisions.
   Kumar Sangakkara (79) was adjudged caught bat-pad when replays suggested the ball had not touched his bat and Farveez Maharoof (seven) also fell to a similar decision off Kaneria.
   Sangakkara, the hero for Sri Lanka in the drawn first Test with a brilliant 185, brought up his 20th Test half-century in only 59 balls. He hit 15 fours during his 98-ball knock.
   Sri Lanka also benefited once, when a run out appeal against Bandara was turned down by third umpire Asoka de Silva even though the batsman looked to be out of the crease.
   The home side were in a precarious position before recovering in the second session through an 81-run partnership between Sangakkara and Samaraweera.
   After Sangakkara’s dismissal, Samaraweera carried on to hit nine fours off 180 balls before falling to Asif.
   Pakistan were without Shoaib Malik, who was the hero of the drawn first Test in Colombo last week with a match-saving century. He was ruled out of the match due to high fever.
   But Mohammad Yousuf, who missed the first match due to injury, returned to the side. Pakistan left out all-rounder Shahid Afridi while paceman Rao Ifthikar made his debut.
   Sri Lanka brought in Kulasekara for paceman Dilhara Fernando.
   The hosts are bidding farewell to Sanath Jayasuriya who has said that he will retire from Test cricket after this match.

South Africa (303 & 258) lead Australia (270 & 163/2) by 128 runs at tea, day 4
   Michael Hussey and Damien Martyn shared a century stand to put Australia on top in the third and last Test against South Africa on Monday.
   Australia, who need 292 to win, were 163 for two in their second innings at tea on the fourth day.
   Hussey was 72 not out with Martyn on 69 in a partnership of 130 for the unbroken third wicket.
   Hussey was promoted to the top of the order from number five after regular opener Justin Langer was concussed by a bouncer from fast bowler Makhaya Ntini in the first innings.
   Australian media manager Philip Pope told reporters Langer’s condition had improved, but that he had remained at the team hotel and would arrive at the ground later in the day.
   South Africa were dismissed for 303 in their first innings to which Australia replied with 270.
   The home side resumed their second innings on 250 for eight, and Australia needed just 15 balls to dismiss them for 258.
   Mark Boucher survived a chance to the fifth ball of the day when he attempted to pull a delivery from fast bowler Brett Lee and was dropped by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist. Boucher played a similar stroke to the first ball of Lee’s next over, and this time Gilchrist held the catch to end a ninth-wicket stand of 64 Boucher shared with Andre Nel.
   Boucher hit nine fours in his 63.
   The innings ended when Lee bowled Makhaya Ntini for a second-ball duck to finish with three for 57. Australia lost their first wicket in their second innings without a run on the board when Matthew Hayden edged a drive off Ntini to AB de Villiers at third slip.
   Hussey and Ricky Ponting put on 33 for the second wicket before Jacques Kallis found the inside edge of Ponting’s bat and was caught by wicketkeeper Boucher for 20.
   Steady batting by Hussey and Martyn then took the game away from South Africa, who were hampered by the fact that fast bowler Nel bowled just two overs before leaving the field with an upset stomach.

The chief of the International Cricket Council, Ehsan Mani, said Sunday he was worried about the burnout of players due to excessive matches being played around the world.
   ‘It does worry me,’ Mani told reporters in this western Indian resort city ahead of the third one-day match between India and England.
   ‘The Future Tour Programme of the ICC, which has been rescheduled from an earlier five years to six years, will not put pressure on the players. It will start from next year,’ Mani said.
   Under the programme, every Test-playing nation will have to play each other away and home once in six years instead of the present five.
   Each country, under the ICC rules, will have to play only two Test matches and three one-day internationals with no compulsion to play the shorter 20:20 version of the game.
   ‘There should be a clear rest period for players. The cricket boards must manage cricket and players but they do manage to fill in with some match or the other,’ Mani said.
   ‘The board sometimes pushes in an additional 10 matches a year after reaching an agreement with their players,’ he added.
   Mani, who is in India to settle an ongoing row over the Champions Trophy, said the event will start on October 7 leading to the finals on November 5.
   ‘We have some outstanding issues with the Board for Control of Cricket in India and those will be resolved within a week,’ he said.
   ‘One issue is the amount of tickets to be issued to the ICC sponsors and the other is whether there is a need for a fourth venue. If there is a fourth venue who will pay for it? Now BCCI has said it will pay,’ Mani said.
   The top six teams in the ICC rankings will not have to play qualifiers.
   Sri Lanka, the West Indies, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh will have to qualify, Mani said.
   Australia, England and India belong to the first group while South Africa, Pakistan and New Zealand form the second.
   Mani said the ICC plans to hold a Women’s World Cup in 2009 and a 20:20 game involving all Test-playing nations in the same year.

Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait will return home because of a back injury Wednesday and will miss the team's tour of Bangladesh.
   It is the latest injury blow to the tourists, following injuries to opening batsman Justin Langer and swing bowler Michael Kasprowicz during the third and final Test against South Africa.
   Tait, who did not play in any of the Tests, suffered his injury while bowling in the nets. Although a scan showed no major damage, it was decided he should return to Australia for rest and recovery, rather than travel to Bangladesh, where a two-Test series starts in Dhaka Sunday.
   Meanwhile, Langer again stayed at the team hotel at the start of the fourth day's play in the third Test at the Wanderers Stadium.
   Langer, who suffered concussion when struck by a ball from Makhaya Ntini Saturday, was said by a team spokesman to be feeling 'brighter' and hoped to get to the ground later in the day.
   Langer's fitness for the rest of the Test and the Bangladesh leg of the tour was subject to ongoing assessment, said the spokesman.

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has called upon the cricket authorities to discard two match-Test series and suggested that future series should have a minimum of three matches.
   ‘It’s very difficult to get your players motivated and focused when you are playing a two-Test series. It’s always difficult to get a result in such circumstances as the players can’t really focus properly,’ Inzamam was quoted as saying by The News from Kandy on the eve of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka.
   Inzamam said in a three-match series both sides had a chance to stage a comeback something that was not possible in a two-Test rubber.
   The opening Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka ended in a draw in Colombo and both teams have just the second Test to force a result.

West Indies Cricket Board chief executive Roger Brathwaite has resigned with the board £20.6 million in debt. Brathwaite pre-empted a board review of his position by announcing he would step down on April 28, a year away from the World Cup in the Caribbean.
   Brathwaite argued the board had stemmed financial losses during his tenure, saying in a statement, ‘The past four years have been quite challenging. I leave having done the best I could within the organisation’s framework.’
   The WICB generated a £1.1m profit in 2003, and £3m in 2004 before it was hit last year by a row between rival sponsors, provoking a player strike.
   It has recently secured multimillion dollar loan facility to allow it to operate day-to-day at least until the start of the World Cup.

Sri Lanka have filed a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer for interfering with the preparation of the pitch for the second Test.
   Woolmer inserted a thin metal spike into the edge of the pitch at team practice today and was confronted by ground authorities who claimed he had contravened ICC regulations.
   Later, after a heated exchange with Sri Lanka Cricket’s chief groundsman Anuruddha Polonowita, Woolmer returned to bounce a cricket ball between the popping crease and the stumps. Polonowita, who demanded that Woolmer leave the playing square, reported the incident to ICC match referee Alan Hurst alleging Woolmer’s actions had contravened ICC regulations.

India (294/6) beat England (245) by 49 runs
   Yuvraj Singh smashed a rapid century and Irfan Pathan grabbed four wickets as India beat England by 49 runs in the third one-day international here on Monday.
   The 24-year-old Yuvraj struck three sixes and 10 fours in his 76-ball 103 — his seventh hundred in one-dayers—as India posted a challenging 294-6 before restricting England to 245 in hot and humid conditions.
   England all-rounder Paul Collingwood gave a good account of himself, top-scoring with a brave 84-ball 93 which included one six and 10 fours.
   He put on 105 for the seventh wicket with Geraint Jones (32), but the stand came too late to stop India from gaining a 3-0 lead in the seven-match series.
   England were virtually out of the game when they lost six wickets for 100, but Collingwood and Jones defied the Indian attack with their responsible knocks under pressure.
   The task, however, always looked beyond their reach as the asking-rate kept climbing, with England needing 116 off the last 10 overs with five wickets in hands.
   ‘We have been playing some good one-day cricket in recent times and we hope to keep the momentum going,’ said India captain Rahul Dravid.
   ‘The last two matches were close but we ran away with this one, thanks to a big stand between Yuvraj and Suresh Raina.’
   England, missing key batsman Kevin Pietersen due to illness, initially struggled on a newly-laid track where stroke-making was difficult as the ball came slow onto the bat.
   The tourists, who had lost close matches at Delhi and Faridabad, looked like suffering a big defeat after losing six wickets, including three in left-arm seamer Pathan’s opening spell.
   Pathan removed Andrew Strauss (seven), Owais Shah (seven) and Ian Blackwell (nine), who was promoted in the batting order, with clever variations in pace.
   ‘If we win the next two matches, we are right back in the series though it is a mountain to climb,’ said England captain Andrew Flintoff.
   ‘I think the 290-plus was a pretty tough target on this wicket and in these conditions. But we can still get back into the series.’
   India earlier wobbled in their middle overs before Yuvraj and teenager Raina (61) went on the rampage. The pair put on 142, India’s best fifth-wicket stand against England in one-dayers.
   The hosts, electing to bat, had slipped from a healthy 105-1 to 131-4 before the left-handed pair put the England attack to the sword with a wide range of shots.
   Raina, 19, cracked one six and five fours in his 67-ball knock for his second successive half-century following his match-winning 81 not out in the previous game at Faridabad.
   The fireworks came from both ends as India plundered 98 in the closing 10 overs to set England a stiff target.
   India had lost Virender Sehwag (15) early before Dravid and Pathan put on 78 for the second wicket.
   England then bounced back with three wickets in the space of six overs. Collingwood dismissed Dravid, who inside-edged a delivery on to his stumps after making a neat 46.
   Pathan (36), a lower-order batsman sent in at number three, failed to capitalise on a good start. He was caught by Collingwood at backward point while driving Flintoff.

International Cricket Council president Ehsan Mani on Monday said too much cricket between India and Pakistan could take away the iconic status of their rivalry.
   With India and Pakistan deciding to play at off-shore venues regularly in addition to the home and away bilateral series every two years, Mani said he felt it may rob the famous rivalry of its lustre.
   ‘I am concerned about the iconic status of India-Pakistan series by the addition of off-shore matches planned by the two boards in addition to the FTPs,’ the ICC chief said at a press conference here.
   ‘The 2004 series held in Pakistan was much more than cricket as it showed the way for the politicians of the two countries on how to normalise relationships.
   ‘The two boards have agreed upon a four-year cycle for bilateral series, with one country hosting a series every four years. But the plan to hold more matches in off-shore venues could devalue the event in future.
   ‘I do have reservations, but let’s see how it goes. Though it will be terrific for the sub-continent people in the venues where the off-shore matches are being planned,’ he said.
   Mani also expressed concern about player burn-out but said the issue needed to be addressed by the respective boards as well.
   Without naming BCCI, Mani said the ICC could not do much if a board tried to ‘squeeze in’ more cricket to fill in the gaps in its cricketing programme.’

David Beckham risked a massive bust-up with Spanish soccer chiefs by launching a scathing attack on referee Luis Medina Cantalejo.
   Becks, 30, could face a rap after reigniting his bitter feud with the official.
   He said, ‘It wasn’t a penalty for Barcelona’s goal and the referee did not have a good game. He’s always bad for us. The referee likes Barcelona.’
   Cantalejo was the first ref to red-card Becks in Spanish football in 2004 and dismissed the England skipper against Austria in October last year.
   And he took Beckham’s name again on Saturday at the Nou Camp after angry verbals towards the officials three minutes from time.
   Roberto Carlos was sent off for insulting Cantalejo shortly after conceding a 21st-minute penalty for felling Mark van Bommel.
   Brazilian Ronaldinho scored from the spot before fellow countryman Ronaldo hit the equaliser.
   And Real were denied a penalty of their own on 67 minutes when Ronaldo was pulled down by Oleguer Presas – only to be booked for diving.
   Beckham added, ‘It was a clear penalty on Ronaldo but he was the one who got punished.’
   But the midfielder insisted Real had restored some pride after being hammered 3-0 by Barca at the Bernabeu. He said, ‘We can leave with our heads held high because a draw in this stadium is always an important result.’

Sweden should boycott the 2006 World Cup in Germany to protest against a feared rise in forced prostitution, the Swedish ombudsman for gender equality said Monday.
   ‘We should distance ourselves and say that we will not accept such a situation and for that reason we do not want to participate,’ the ombudsman, Claes Borgstroem, told Swedish Radio.
   ‘It’s a good opportunity to do something effective ... targetting modern-day slavery,’ he said.
   A number of non-governmental organizations have warned that up to 40,000 women from eastern Europe could be smuggled into Germany by criminal gangs to work as prostitutes during the tournament that takes place in 12 cities between June 9 and July 9.
   Prostitution is legal in Germany, where some 175,000 women are already involved in the sex trade.
   Sweden introduced legislation in 1999 making it illegal to buy sex but decriminalizing the sale of sex, in a bid to stamp out demand.
   ‘Maybe in 10 years, we will be remembered for having been the first to put a foot down and say ‘no, we don’t want to be a part of trafficking’,’ the ombusdman’s spokesman Magnus Jacobson told AFP.
   ‘It could be 10,000, 40,000 women ... These are often women who have been grossly abused and who have lived in terrible conditions,’ he said.

Guus Hiddink’s agent has urged the Football Association to make a decision over whether they want the experienced Dutch tactician.
   The FA has been in touch with Hiddink’s representatives, but has not followed up its initial interest from almost a month ago.
   Hiddink’s agent Cees van Nieuwenhuizen believes the time for drawing up a shortlist has come and gone and now the FA should speed up its decision process.
   ‘Either the FA wants him or it doesn’t,’ said van Nieuwenhuizen.
   ‘If people want to sit down and have a cup of tea to see whether he should be a potential candidate – that is an insult to a coach of his age and CV.

Frank Lampard insists that faltering Chelsea will hold their nerve and see off Manchester United’s Premiership title charge.
   But the England midfielder still wants bitter rivals Arsenal to do the Blues a favour by winning at Old Trafford on Sunday.
   Chelsea need 11 points from their remaining six games to be certain of back-to-back titles.
   But an Arsenal victory at Old Trafford would allow them to wrap things up before United visit Stamford Bridge on April 29.
   Lampard admitted: ‘We want to get the title race over with quickly and we hope to have it finished before we play United.’
   Alex Ferguson’s men have reduced Chelsea’s lead from 18 points to seven in the last month but Lampard insists: ‘We’re still confident that we’ll win the league.’
   ‘At the start of the season if anyone had offered us the chance to be even one point ahead at the beginning of April we’d have taken it.
   ‘It’s too early to start thinking about the United match. We’ve got three games to play before that and we have to make the most of those opportunities.’
   Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is even more bullish. He said: ‘If we win the three home games we are champions — we don’t need a point away.’

Thierry Henry turned on the magic and then warned Juventus: I’m in the form of my life.
   Arsenal’s hotshot warmed up for Wednesday’s Euro return with a dazzling two-goal display.
   The Gunners are 2-0 up and Henry said, ‘The Achilles injury I’ve had all season is feeling way better.
   ‘I don’t have any problems to have a go at people. You can really put pressure on defenders.’

Real Madrid striker Ronaldo hit out at ref Luis Medina Cantalejo after Saturday’s 1-1 draw in Barcelona.
   Medina Cantalejo sent-off Roberto Carlos after only 25 minutes for swearing at him, but teammate Ronaldo insisted: ‘I spoke with the referee at the break because Robert Carlos swore to me that he had not insulted anybody.
   ‘It is strange, because I don’t know how anyone could hear Roberto Carlos insult them given all the crowd noise.’
   On his scoring performance, Ronaldo added: ‘It was a good result given the circumstances. With a man less, the pitch at the Nou Camp is gigantic, but we showed great pride and have kept face with this result.’
   Ref Luis Medina Cantalejo sent-off Real Madrid’s Roberto Carlos during the 1-1 draw with Barcelona for dissent. AS says Medina Cantalejo wrote in his report that the Brazilian’s initial yellow card was for ‘questioning one of my decisions’.
   The dismissal on 25 minutes came after Roberto Carlos had ‘said to me and one of my assistants: ‘You and you are sh**’’.

With the World Cup just two months away Oliver Kahn is desperate to show Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann that he is the best goalkeeper in the land but the Bayern Munich captain failed miserably on Saturday producing an awful blunder.
   The 36-year-old Kahn was beaten twice as bottom side FC Cologne secured a point in a 2-2 draw at the Allianz Arena and, if the first goal was not his fault, the second one certainly was.
   With the score at 1-1 Cologne midfielder Albert Streit struck a speculative 25 yard shot straight at Kahn but the giant goalkeeper let the ball squirm under his body.
   ‘I was helpless for the first goal but I was at fault for the second goal and have to hold my hands up,’ Kahn said.
   ‘But as a goalkeeper you know there will be errors like that from time to time.’
   It was April fool’s day and the joke was certainly on Kahn with Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, his main rival for the number one jersey, having the last laugh.
   While countless television replays showed Kahn’s gaffe Lehmann enjoyed a clean sheet as Arsenal crushed Aston Villa 5-0 on the same day. Klinsmann has a month to choose between Lehmann and Kahn but the latter feels he still has the edge despite the latest error.
   ‘I am not going to let a mistake affect me. I do not care what people say about me and I will fight on and work towards my World Cup goal,’ said Kahn.
   ‘There is no discussion as far as I am concerned. I am the number one.
   ‘The situation is not easy for me but pressure is something I thrive on and it motivates me to train harder.’
   Kahn, capped 84 times by his country, is so motivated that he shrugged off a hip injury to start the Cologne match and Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness claims it was due to the pressure Klinsmann is putting him under.
   ‘I think what happened is a result of what has been going on for the past few months,’ said Hoeness.
   ‘The whole race for the number one jersey and the hype has made Oli overambitious.’
   Bayern coach Felix Magath agreed and said Kahn, who was replaced at half-time by Michael Rensing, should have rested.
   ‘To be honest it would have been better if Oliver had not started,’ said Magath.
   ‘It does not make sense for him to play if he is still having problems.’
   But Kahn is determined to play and expects to be fit for Saturday’s match with Werder Bremen as he bids to show Klinsmann that he should be Germany’s number one.
   ‘I think I will play against Bremen. I will return to training on Saturday and see how it goes from there.’
   Klinsmann names his 23-man World Cup squad on May 15 but has said he will pick his first choice goalkeeper by the end of April.
   The World Cup begins on June 9 with the final a month later in Berlin.

AC Milan’s season hangs on today’s Champions League quarter-final, second leg against Olympique Lyon after defeat in Serie A on Saturday effectively ended their Italian title hopes.
   Last week’s first leg in Lyon ended goalless leaving Milan needing a victory as a scoring draw would send the French side through on the ‘away goals’ rule.
   At Lecce, Milan were unable to convert a series of chances in the first half, replicating their poor finishing from the first leg against Lyon, but Ancelotti is refusing to read too much into those two goalless performances.
   ‘We are just in a moment when things aren’t going for us. On Tuesday we will be fired up for the return game with Lyon and the team will be quite different,’ added Ancelotti.
   Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko and Italy international Filippo Inzaghi were both rested for the Lecce game and are likely to start against Gerard Houllier’s side with Brazilian Kaka, who also sat out the defeat, playing just behind the front two.
   Ancelotti’s injury problems in defence have eased with Brazilian Cafu and captain Paolo Maldini both featuring at Lecce and in contention for Tuesday’s match at the San Siro. Dutch defender Jaap Stam, who has been struggling with a calf injury, is also back in training and is hopeful he could be fit in time to start at right back.
   Lyon, who have never made the last four in the Europe’s main club competition, secured a direct Champions League spot for next season when a Tiago header earned them a 1-0 win at strugglers Troyes in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
   Houllier also rotated his squad with striker Sylvain Wiltord and defenders Cris, Eric Abidal and Francois Clerc all rested.
   Once again, France goalkeeper Gregory Coupet, who foiled Milan in the first leg, was in outstanding form but Tiago is suspended for the return after a stoppage-time foul on Kaka at the Stade Gerland.
   Key Brazilian midfielder Juninho will return from suspension however.

Champions League debutants Villarreal hope to turn the tables on Inter Milan with a catenaccio-style performance when they host the Serie A side in their quarter-final, second leg today.
   Inter were the pioneers of door-bolt defending back in the 1960s when they excelled at grinding out 1-0 wins, but it is Villarreal who are more likely to adopt such tactics as they attempt to overturn a 2-1 deficit from last week’s first leg.
   A 1-0 win will be enough to put the Spaniards through to the semi-finals in their debut season in the continent’s elite club competition. In a dress rehearsal for the Inter match they sneaked a 1-0 victory away to a dominant Real Zaragoza on Saturday with their customary mixture of defensive effectiveness and maximum efficiency in front of goal.
   Villarreal were on the ropes for much of the game, but came away from Zaragoza with their first win in five league matches thanks to a sweetly struck free kick from midfielder Roger on the stroke of halftime, the team’s first shot on goal.
   In attack they will be looking to Uruguay striker Diego Forlan and playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme to tease open the Inter defence, with the help of either former AC Milan forward Jose Mari or Mexico centre-forward Guillermo Franco.
   Their back four will need to be at their very best if they are to shackle Inter’s pacy front line and the driving runs of defender Javier Zanetti who was man-of-the-match in the first leg.

West Germany’s goalkeeping star from the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, Toni Schumacher, says the body language of Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann suggests he will be Germany’s number one goalkeeper at this summer’s World Cup.
   The goalkeeping duel between Bayern Munich custodian Oliver Kahn and Lehmann has turned into a tedious soap-opera in the German press and Schumacher believes Germany manager Jurgen Klinsmann will conclude it by picking Lehmann.
   ‘I cannot see any reason not to choose Oliver Kahn but I get the impression that Jens Lehmann will be the one playing at the World Cup,’ Schumacher said in an interview with internet portal Sport 1.
   ‘Jens was so calm and relaxed when interviewed after Arsenal’s recent Champions League game with Juventus. I sensed then that he already knows he will be the number one.’
   ‘Competition is good but if Kahn thought he was certain of being the number one he surely would not have played against Cologne carrying an injury,’ added Schumacher.
   Schumacher was runner-up at two World Cups with West Germany in 1982 and 1986 but is perhaps best remembered for a cynical challenge on French defender Patrick Battiston in the 1982 semi-final.
   Battiston was through on goal but the no-nonsense Schumacher crashed into his French opponent to stop him scoring and stayed on the pitch to become the hero as West Germany defeated France on penalties to reach the final.

Mexico’s gifted but volatile forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco will miss this summer’s World Cup finals after being omitted from coach Ricardo La Volpe’s provisional 26-man squad on Sunday.
   But 37-year-old defender Claudio Suarez, who has won 174 caps, and veteran midfielder Jesus Arellano were surprise inclusions in the list from which La Volpe will choose his final 23 players.
   Suarez’s appearances under La Volpe have been restricted mainly to friendlies and the 2004 Copa America in Peru, while the 32-year-old Arellano’s presence had been in doubt after he played little part in Mexico’s qualifying campaign.
   Blanco, as famous for his scintilating skill as his unpredictable temperament, is widely viewed as one of Mexico’s most creative players ever and speculation about his exclusion had been a long-running saga.
   Perhaps best remembered for the outrageous ‘bunny-hopping’ between defendings with the ball lodged between his ankles, Blanco played in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.
   However, since pulling out of Mexico’s squad on the eve of last year’s Confederations Cup saying he needed a rest, La Volpe has picked him only once.
   Even before he became coach in 2002 there was speculation about La Volpe’s relationship with the 33-year-old Blanco as the pair had frequent clashes when they were on opposite sides in club games.
   Blanco was in excellent form in the second half of last year but became involved in a public slanging match with La Volpe, saying the coach did not have the courage to pick him.
   But a loss of form and injuries this year weakened his case.
   La Volpe has also been criticised in some quarters for his policy of picking naturalised players.
   The coach included two naturalised players—striker Guillermo Franco, who was born in Argentina, and Brazilian-born midfielder Antonio Naelson—in the squad.
   They are seen as potential dark horses after beating Brazil at the Confederations Cup, although their form against European sides under La Volpe has been poor with only two wins in eight outings.
   Goalkeepers: Oswaldo Sanchez (Guadalajara/Chivas), Guillermo Ochoa (America), Jesus Corona (UAG/Tecos)
   Defenders: Jose Antonio Castro (America), Rafael Marquez (Barcelona, Spain), Mario Mendez (Monterrey), Ricardo Osorio (Cruz Azul), Francisco Rodriguez (Guadalajara/Chivas), Carlos Salcido (Guadalajara/Chivas), Joel Huiqui (Cruz Azul), Claudio Suarez (Chivas USA, U.S.), Andres Guardado (Atlas), Gonzalo Pineda (Guadalajara/Chivas)
   Midfielders: Luis Perez (Monterrey), Pavel Pardo (America), Antonio Naelson (Toluca), Rafael Garcia (Atlas), Jaime Lozano (UANL/Tigres), Jesus Arellano (Monterrey), Israel Lopez (Toluca), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Ramon Morales (Guadalajara/Chivas)
   Forwards: Jared Borgetti (Bolton Wanderers, England), Guillermo Franco (Villareal, Spain), Francisco Fonseca (Cruz Azul), Omar Bravo (Guadalajara/Chivas) (Writing by Brian Homewood in Rio de Janeiro).

Arsene Wenger has told Chelsea: I’ll help you win the title.
   Arsenal visit Manchester United on Sunday knowing if they win, the Blues will be back on course for a second straight Premiership crown.
   Chelsea are faltering after dropping two points at relegation-threatened Birmingham while United closed the gap to seven points with victory at Bolton, their eighth successive league win.
   Wenger joked, ‘If Abramovich calls me, we can help him next Sunday. Chelsea have dropped points they should not have dropped but are still in a very good position.
   ‘They didn’t lose at Birmingham and with six games to go I cannot imagine they will let the championship go.’
   But United striker Louis Saha has warned Chelsea, ‘We are going to take your title.’ In-form Saha grabbed a goal and set up Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s winner as United beat Bolton 2-1 at the Reebok stadium.
   Saha said, ‘We definitely believe it is on. We believe we can do it.
   ‘It was a massive win at Bolton and now we have to keep putting the pressure on Chelsea.’ The Blues have taken seven points from their last 12, United have won their last eight.
   Saha added, ‘We are in great form, playing great football with confidence.
   ‘I am in the form of my life. We have just got to play the way we are and not make any mistakes.’
   United boss Alex Ferguson said, ‘If your form is good in April, then you have a good chance.’

Football legend Maradona was spotted in Ayr on Saturday opening a pub dedicated to his infamous goal against England.
   The Hand of God Sports Bar is a soccer theme boozer complete with dugouts, floodlights and an array of sporting memorabilia. And the pint-sized icon - or rather lookalike Carlos Soto - seemed right at home.
   Carlos - an Argentinian who lives in London - joked: ‘Looking like Maradona gets a much better reception up here than down south. I can’t think why.’
   The £135,000 bar, inside the Station Hotel, boasts a shrine inspired by Maradona’s notorious moment at the 1986 World Cup. Punters walk down a stadium-like tunnel to get to the bar - which is worked by a team of glamourous girls decked in Argentina strips.
   The plush, green floor looks good enough to play a neat passing game, while floodlights shine down on photographs of soccer legends such as the late George Best.
   Drinkers can rest their pints on a terrace-like crush barrier and enjoy a match on one of seven giant TVs. Pies, hot dogs and Bovril are on the menu.
   The pub’s general manager Bob Classe said: ‘We’ve moved the goalposts and we’re hoping the bar will be a top choice with local footie fans.
   ‘There’s plenty to tempt those less enamoured with football too, as we’ll be showing other sports such as golf and rugby.’
   Prize exhibit is an Argentina shirt signed by the great man himself and bought at a charity auction by Swallow Hotels chairman and footie fanatic Alan Bowes.
   The Hand of God Sports Bar was created in honour of the moment Maradona helped dump England out of the 1986World Cup. The Argentinian striker famously used his hand to slap the ball past England goalie Peter Shilton.
   He then claimed the ‘hand of God’ put the ball into the net.

United will face a tough task holding onto Cristiano Ronaldo if Real Madrid make a move to sign the Portuguese winger.
   Some reports say the Reds’ 21-year-old has declared that he fancies time in La Liga at some point in his career.
   Valencia had met with Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes according to reports recently to discuss a £15m move to Spain.
   Now Real have allegedly placed Ronaldo high on their wanted list this summer as a Bernabeu shake-up is on the cards.
   Ronaldo has opened the door to Spanish interest having admitted that the game in Spain is to his liking.
   ‘God willing, one day I will play in Spain,’ he said.
   ‘I heard of Real’s interest with great tranquillity and satisfaction. It’s one of the world’s great clubs.
   ‘Nobody knows what the future holds. The best thing is to let things run their course. What must happen will happen.
   ‘The Spanish League is the best in the world.
   ‘The football is more open, less physical and maybe for that reason is more spectacular.
   ‘It allows a different type of game - more technical and virtuoso.’
   Sir Alex Ferguson will fight tooth and nail to keep Ronaldo having spent £12.5m on the teenage Sporting Lisbon prodigy in 2003.
   The United manager sees Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney as the cornerstones of the Reds’ future.

FC Barcelona star Ronaldinho always has a heart for children, especially the ones that are not so fortunate in life. Ronaldinho did not forget little girl Vanessa Islam to whom the Brazilian star made a very special and personal promise. He celebrated his goal in front of 100,000 supporters and all the TV cameras on Saturday in the manner of deaf and dumb people with his hands in the air in sign language. A special dedication from Ronaldinho!
   Last week, little girl Vanessa of 8 years, visited the training ground of FC Barcelona. After the end of the training session he ran up to the girl, took her in her arms and talked to her. Then he made a special and very personal promise to the little girl and her father. He promised to celebrate a goal in the important match against Real Madrid in the manner of deaf and dumb people in sign language. And when he scored to put Barca into the lead, he ran to the sideline and raised his arms into the air and made the special signs for her.
   Ronaldinho, we are sure you made a little girl very happy. Thank you!

England’s World Cup stars are ‘gutted’ that Embrace will sing the official anthem — because they wanted rap.
   The FA employed a highly-paid music consultant to ask players including Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney who the team would like.
   Most of Sven’s men asked for US rap superstar Kanye West.
   But FA chiefs told Embrace to press ahead with their song World At Your Feet.
   A source said: ‘The players were all approached and asked for their thoughts on who should get the gig.
   ‘A leading music consultant was paid good money to make sure an artist was chosen who the players would respect and be willing to work with.
   ‘Kanye West got a resounding thumbs-up and moves were made to get him on board.
   ‘The players were gutted when they found out the FA wanted to stay British and Kanye had been snubbed.’
   Chris Nathaniel, from NVA Management, was brought in to help the FA choose the artist.
   Indie band Embrace, from Huddersfield, were named as the official choice last week.

Controversial refereeing decisions prompted criticism from media, players and fans on Monday after Spanish referees called off the strike that had threatened the weekend’s Primera Liga matches.
   Referees played a decisive role in three of the weekend’s biggest matches.
   Real Madrid players railed against referee Luis Medina Cantalejo after their 1-1 draw against Barcelona at the Nou Camp. The home side were awarded a controversial early penalty after midfielder Mark van Bommel appeared to take a dive in the area under challenge from Roberto Carlos.
   The Brazilian full back was later sent off for insulting the referee while Real had a penalty appeal turned down when Ronaldo went down in the area after a light touch from a defender.
   ‘It wasn’t a penalty and the ref wasn’t good,’ David Beckham was quoted as saying on the Real Madrid website.
   ‘There was a clear penalty against Ronaldo later on but he was wearing a white shirt. This referee likes Barcelona.’
   Beckham, who has been sent off twice by Medina Cantalejo while playing for Real and England, was fortunate to escape a booking when he fired the ball at the referee after Roberto Carlos’s dismissal.
   Before their game against Celta Vigo, some 50,000 Atletico Madrid fans held up banners bearing the phrase ‘We’re fed up’ complaining that a series of refereeing decisions had prejudiced their chances of earning a place in Europe.
   They ended the game even more irate after referee Vicente Lizondo Cortes awarded a penalty when Celta striker Iriney appeared to trip over his own feet in the area and then ordered it to be retaken after the first spot kick was saved.
   ‘I think the club should do something about the referees so they stop treating us like fools,’ said Atletico midfielder Gabi. ‘We are angry that we are losing as a result of mistakes that aren’t of our own making.’
   Atletico have appealed against the booking given to defender Luis Perea who was close to Iriney when he went to ground.
   The city derby between Real Betis and Sevilla was also marked by controversy when referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez ignored a strong penalty appeal from the home side and then awarded them a dubious one a few minutes later.
   ‘It was a clear penalty,’ said the Argentine international. ‘I felt the contact and fell over. I don’t usually complain but this was definitely a penalty.’

Adidas, the German maker of sportswear and equipment, will achieve its earnings goal from the upcoming World Cup football championships, group chairman Herbert Hainer said in a newspaper interview published Monday.
   ‘We’re more than satisfied with the sales of World Cup products,’ Hainer told the regional Berlin-based daily Tagesspiegel.
   ‘We’ll meet all the goals we have set ourselves for the World Cup.’
   Adidas, official supplier for the huge sporting event that Germany is hosting, is scheduled to publish first-quarter earnings on May 9.
   And the company expects to ‘easily’ achieve its goal of around one billion euros (1.2 billion dollars) from football products this year, which would represent an increase of some 20 percent over last year, Hainer said.
   ‘We’re going to sell more than 10 million footballs, 500,000 football shirts of the German national team and more than 1.5 million Adidas football shirts,’ the chairman said.

Japanese coach Zico was released from hospital Monday after spending the night for stomach pain and fatigue just two months before the World Cup, the Japan Football Association said.
   The 53-year-old Brazilian legend was discharged after doctors monitored him overnight for acute gastroenteritis, a condition which it said was not serious.
   Zico first complained of pain Friday after he returned from a match against Ecuador in the southwestern city of Oita, Japan’s only victory in three warm-ups for the World Cup, a newspaper said.
   He met a doctor in Tokyo and watched a J-League game between FC Tokyo and the Yokohama Marinos on Saturday but was hospitalized the next day because the pain did not go away, Nikkan Sports said.
   Zico began mentioning fatigue before the game against Ecuador, possibly due to his tight schedule as national team coach, Nikkan Sports said.

World number one Roger Federer showed his superiority when it mattered most on Sunday, edging Croatian Ivan Ljubicic in a tight three sets to claim his second straight Miami ATP Masters Series title.
   As he almost always does, Federer proved just a little too good, emerging with a 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (8/6) victory over the tenacious sixth seed in a match that took almost exactly an hour for each set.
   The victory in the 6.9 million-dollar men’s and women’s hardcourt tournament marked the second straight year that Federer has completed the double in the first two prestigious Masters Series tournaments of the season - at Indian Wells, California, and Miami. The 24-year-old Swiss improved to 27-1 for the year, a run that included the Australian Open title in January as well as the title in Doha.

Robbie Fowler is targeting a new deal at Liverpool and manager Rafa Benitez has offered him some words of encouragement.
   The footballer returned to his roots in January when signing a six-month deal after being allowed to leave Manchester City.
   Fowler has understandably taken some time to find his match sharpness, but he fired out a warning with the opening goal in Liverpool’s win over West Brom on Saturday.
   Having produced an impressive display, Fowler confirmed his intention to earn an extended stay at Anfield.
   ‘Without a shadow of a doubt I want to stay,’ said the 30-year-old. ‘Having waited so long to come back, I’d love to make my second spell here a long one. ‘Nothing has been decided yet. I’ve just got to wait for the manager. Nothing has been said and I’ll just keep trying to play my football until something happens.