Lahore, Apr. 10 : Middle order batsman Mohammad Yousuf may have not been included in the initial list of probables for the Twenty 20 World Championship, but Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt still considers him a big asset for the nation in other forms of the game.

The Daily Times quoted Butt, as saying that though Yousuf is not in the selectors' scheme of things for Twenty20 cricket, he is an important player for the team in other two longer version of the game.

Lahore, Apr. 10 : The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expecting to earn a massive four million dollars from the UAE one day international series against Australia.

The board, which is facing a grim financial situation due to a series of tour cancellations, is expecting the forthcoming series to improve its bank account figures, as it has sold the title sponsorship rights to a Dubai builder for 440,000 dollars while co-sponsorship rights have been sold 225,000 dollars to a bank and 160,000 dollars to a cellular company.

London, Apr. 10 : Former Zimbabwean cricketer and now assistant coach of the England cricket team appears set for taking up the role in a more permanent capacity.

Having just returned home from a tough 11 weeks in the Caribbean, Flower was preparing for the challenge ahead as he and national selector Geoff Miller watched a Durham Vs MCC match from one of the deserted broadcasting boxes in the Lord's media centre yesterday.

London, Apr. 10 : Spaniard Rafael Nadal has declared that he will defend the Aegon title at London's Queen's Club and head for a rankings war with Andy Murray.

Murray has also entered the tournament from June 8-14, to set up what could be one of the summer's most thrilling tennis rivalries, reports The Sun.

Last year Nadal, the world No1, used Queen's to prepare for his Wimbledon win.

Melbourne, Apr 10 : Australian batsman Callum Ferguson has earned plenty of praise for stabilising his team's rocky batting line-up.

The 24-year-old right-hander has quickly become the leading batsman in either team in the one-day series against South Africa, scoring 138 runs at 46.00 in three matches including two half-centuries.

London, Apr 10 : Manchester United's wage bill has increased to a whopping sum of 121million pounds in 2008, an increase of 29 million pounds.

The 30 per cent rise comes after improved deals for ace players Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.

United's Premier League and Champions League Double last season saw them splash 13.3 million pounds in bonuses, compared to 8.6 million pounds the previous year.