by Pretoria News

Islamabad, Pakistan - Shoaib Akhtar was awarded one of the highest-paid contracts by the Pakistan Cricket Board yeterday, ending the uncertainty around the fast bowler after he was dropped from the list last year. He joined captain Shoaib Malik, vice-captain Misbahul Haq, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Kamran Akmal, Salman Butt and Danish Kaneria in the "A" category. They will all receive 250000 rupees (about R32550) per month. Twenty-six players received contracts that were rated in "B" and "C" categories. Winning bonuses have been stopped, but the payment for each Test will rise from 250000 rupees to 350000 rupees (about R46500) per match.

Brussels - Belgian authorities will decide next month whether former world cycling champion Tom Boonen will face trial after testing positive for cocaine last year. "A decision will be announced on February 3," a spokeswoman for the Belgian city of Turnhout prosecutor's office said after Boonen's closed-door hearing yesterday. An out-of-competition doping test conducted between two races last May found traces of the drug in the 28-year-old rider's urine sample, leading to the Belgian rider being barred from the 2008 Tour de France.

Chennai, India - Zimbabwe's cricket board have asked India if they could play in a limited-overs tri-series in Harare this year. India are awaiting a|proposal and an itinerary from Zimbabwe before they can make a decision, a top official said. Details of India's proposed visit are expected to be|discussed between officials of the Indian and|Zimbabwean boards during the ICC meeting later this month.

Derby, England - Derby County have appointed Nigel Clough, the son of their most successful coach, as manager. The 42-year-old Clough ended a 10-year spell with non-league Burton, who he had guided to the verge of England's professional leagues, to follow his famous father Brian in leading Derby. Brian Clough managed Derby from 1967-73 and guided the side to their first English championship in 1972.

Nyon, Switzerland - Lokomotiv Sofia midfielder Nikolai Pavlov must serve a two-year doping ban|after his appeal against suspension was dismissed, Uefa said yesterday. The 21-year-old tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid Nandrolone after the first leg of the Bulgarian club's Uefa Cup qualifying match against Borac Cacak in Serbia on August 14. Borac advanced 2-1 on aggregate. Uefa said their appeal panel judged Pavlov had "significant" responsibility for the doping offence and upheld the verdict delivered by Uefa's disciplinary committee last October, banning Pavlov from all levels of football until September 11, 2010. Uefa said Fifa had|extended the suspension to all countries.

Rafael Nadal routed Fabrice Santoro 6-0, 6-1 in his first ATP World Tour match of the year yesterday, while Roger Federer and Andy Murray also breezed into the second round of the Qatar Open. The top-ranked Nadal needed only 46 minutes for the win, breaking Santoro three times in each set. Federer advanced with similar ease, beating Potito Starace of Italy 6-2, 6-2, while defending champion Andy Murray beat Albert Montanes 6-2, 6-4. Federer converted four of his five break-points and was never in danger of losing serve. Murray dominated Montanes from the baseline and broke his serve in the third and fifth games to take the opening set in 40 minutes. Montanes struggled with his accuracy throughout, committing 34 unforced errors as Murray used two more breaks in the second set, and will play Philip Petzschner of Germany in the next round. Murray is coming off wins against both Nadal and Federer at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi last week, and showed few signs of having lost form. - Sapa-AP/AFP/Reuters

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