Sports News for December 25, 2009

Afridi wanted by three English County teams for T20 clashes
Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi is wanted by at least three English County teams for next seasons Friends Provident Twenty/20 competition. ANI

Aston Villa has depth to sustain top-four spot: Davies
Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies is confident that his side does have the strength and depth to sustain a push for a Premier League top-four spot this season. ANI

South Africa to decide on Steyn, Kallis today
South African coach Mickey Arthur has said that a final decision on whether to include fast bowler Dale Steyn and all-rounder Jacques Kallis for the second Test against England, starting on Saturday will be taken today. ANI

Liverpool may field talented Italian midfielder Aquilani against Wolves
Liverpool is likely to filed talented Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani against the Wolves tomorrow as they seek to salvage their disastrous season. ANI

Diouf set for Man U debut in January 2010
Mame Biram Diouf will finally make his Manchester United debut next month after being granted a work permit. ANI

Redknapp hints at changes on Tottenham frontline
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has hinted at changes in his forward line if Manchester City are willing to sell Craig Bellamy. ANI

Pak skipper Yousuf says Test battle against Aussies will require patience
Pakistan cricket captain Mohammad Yousuf will remind his team that brilliance alone wont be enough to beat Australia in the first Test at the MCG, starting on Saturday. ANI

Goalie takes a leak on the pitch!
Auckland FCs goalkeeper Paul Gothard could not control the urge to urinate and ended up taking a leak on the pitch itself. ANI

Ponting rates young, mysterious Pak team much better than West Indies
Australian captain Ricky Ponting is wary of the young Pakistani team, and has described the visitors as a much better side than the West Indies. ANI

Mancini dismisses talk of Man City dressing room unrest
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has dismissed talk of a dressing room revolt in the wake of Mark Hughes departure and insists he has no problem with player loyalty. ANI

Bernie predicts jaw-breaking 2010 F-1 season with Schumachers return
Bernie Ecclestone is predicting a jaw-dropping Formula One season for 2010 after hailing the return of the comeback kid Michael Schumacher. ANI

Aussies without McGrath, Warne extremely beatable at home : Salman Butt
Pakistan opening batsman Salman Butt has said that his team has an advantage over the Aussies, as the hosts lacks quality spinners in their attack. ANI

England six world class players to call on for World Cup: Ancelotti
Chelseas Italian boss Carlo Ancelotti is convinced that countryman Fabio Capello can call on more world-class players than anyone for next years World Cup finals in South Africa. And that includes five-time World Cup winners Brazil. ANI

KP could deliver something special in Durban Test: Strauss
Englands best bat Kevin Pietersen is getting back to his best form and there are signs that he could deliver something special at his former home ground-Kingsmead in Durban. ANI

Afridi to utilise Big Bash T20 tournament as warm up for ODIs against Aussies
Swashbuckling Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi is hoping to utilize the KFC Big Bash, Australias domestic Twenty20 extravaganza, as warm-up matches to prepare himself for the limited over series against the Aussies. ANI

Pak-England to play T20 series in UAE
Pakistan and England are likely to play each other in two T20 internationals in Dubai. ANI

England can rule the world, says Ballack
German skipper Michael Ballack reckons England is one of the favourites to win the World Cup next summer in South Africa.he Chelsea midfielder believes Fabio Capello could lead the Three Lions to glory for the first time since 1966. ANI

Coach Rafa says Liverpool stars are hurting
Coach Rafa Benitez has said that Liverpools under performing players are hurt by their current struggles. ANI

Dhoni offers prayers at a temple to mark five years of cricket
Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni offered prayers at a temple here on Thursday to mark his five years of international cricket. ANI

PCB shocks Shoaib by denying him place in any domestic team
Temperamental Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtars dreams of making a shock comeback to the international cricketing scene has been shattered, as the Pakistan Cricket Boards (PCB) selection committee has ignored him for an important first class domestic tournament. ANI

Injury scare puts Kaneria in doubt for Boxing Day Test
Pakistan suffered a big blow ahead of the Boxing Day Test against Australia, as leg-spinner Danish Kaneria sustained a finger injury on his right hand during a practice session here. ANI

Strauss says will draw strength from Centurion Test draw
Captain Andrew Strauss is hoping England will have a psychological edge from Centurion when their Test series against South Africa resumes on Boxing Day. ANI

Ponting very confident of playing Boxing Day Test
Australian captain Ricky Ponting has said that he is quite confident about playing against Pakistan in the first Test at the MCG, starting tomorrow. ANI

Newcombe not convinced Tomic is Hewitts successor
Australian tennis great John Newcombe does not support the view that Queenslander Bernard Tomic is the most likely successor to Lleyton Hewitt as his countrys next world class player. ANI

Oz team calls up leg spinner Smith as cover for Hauritz
New South Wales leg spinner Steven Smith has been called into Australias squad for the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan as standby for an injured Nathan Hauritz. ANI

Kohli recalls Tendulkars telephone call ahead of U-19 World Cup final
On this weeks ICC Cricket World audio show, former India U-19 captain Virat Kohli recalls the most special telephone call he received on the eve of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2008 final against South Africa. ANI

Test Championship mace to be presented to Dhoni in Delhi
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be presented with the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship mace on Sunday here. ANI