Lahore, Apr. 7: Pakistani players have expressed their desire to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL) following the tournament’s shift from India.

According to The News, some players have approached the IPL management through e-mails, but have not received any reply.

It is, however, highly unlikely that IPL franchises would recall Pakistan players, as they had earlier refused to play in the league when it was being held in India following a call from their government.

Wellington, Apr. 7 : Former Indian cricket captain Rahul Dravid received the ball that helped him to become the world record holder for catches in test cricket.

When Dravid went low and forward to his left to catch Kiwi opener Tim McIntosh off Zaheer Khan he became the outright holder of the record on 182, one ahead of Australian slip ace Mark Waugh.

"We advised him to keep the ball," the Dominion Post quoted team-mate Yuvraj Singh, as saying.

London, Apr. 7 : Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson says that while he would be happy to see three English clubs in the Champions League semi-finals, he would like to play Barcelona in the finals.

The Manchester United boss rejected thoughts of another all-England final like last year's in Moscow when his team overcame Chelsea in a penalty shootout.

The Blues and Liverpool meet in a quarter-final showdown with the winner facing Barca or Bayern Munich in the last four.

London, Apr. 7 : Arsenal are "super outsiders" to win the Champions League next month, and team manager Arsene Wenger is delighted that the bookies' also thinks so.

The Gunners boss is more than happy for his young team to play the role of rank outsiders going into tonight's quarterfinal first leg in Villarreal.

Wenger claims Arsenal are only 50-50 to beat the unpredictable Spaniards who lost 3-0 at Almeria over the weekend.

Tehran  - Iran has appointed Mohammad Mayelikohan as national football team coach in succession of Ali Daei, Iranian media reported on Tuesday.

The reports said the Iranian Football Federation (FFI) appointed Mayelikohan late Monday. Mayelikohan trained the national team 1995- 1997 and is currently coach of the Saipa Karaj club.

Daei had to leave after a 2-1 home defeat against Saudi Arabia in a World Cup qualifier on March 28 which left Iran with an uphill battle to qualify for the 2010 finals in South Africa.

London, Apr 7 : Fernando Torres wants Euro glory even more than a Premier League winner's medal.

Most Liverpool players are desperate to end their 19-year domestic title drought, but Spanish striker Torres said: "Domestic titles are very important but to win the Champions League you are saying `we are the best team in Europe'.

"This club has a great record in the European Cup, but now I want to be a part of that history," The Sun quoted him, as saying.