Akhtar wants Pak job

REUTERS

KARACHI: Pakistan’s former international fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has put his hand up to become the country’s new bowling coach. “If the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) talks to me about the bowling coach position, I will be willing to accept it,” Akhtar told Reuters on Friday. Akhtar, 37, retired from international cricket during last year’s World Cup after taking 178 Test and 247 one-day wickets in a career marked by injury and controversy. The PCB has been hunting for a new national bowling coach since another former test bowler, Aaqib Javed, left the post earlier this year to coach the UAE It has yet to draw up a shortlist but has expressed a desire to get former captain and left-arm fast bowler Wasim Akram involved.

Garrido joins Norwich

LONDON: Norwich City have signed Spanish left back Javier Garrido on a season’s loan from Serie A side Lazio subject to international clearance, the Premier League clube said on Thursday. They have an option to extend the deal for the 27-year-old

former Manchester City defender. Garrido began his professional career in Spain with Real Sociedad before moving to Manchester City in 2007 where he made 49 Premier League appearances. He joined Lazio in July 2010 and played 21 times in two years there.

Liverpool agree deal

LONDON: Liverpool have agreed to sign Morocco winger Oussama Assaidi from Heerenveen, the Premier League club said on their website on Thursday. The 24-year-old winger, who has 22 caps, scored 20 goals in 68 games for the Dutch first division side last season. He will now undergo a medical before the transfer is completed. Brendan Rodgers, the new Liverpool manager, has already signed Swansea City midfielder Joe Allen and Italy striker Fabio B

orini from AS Roma for the new campaign. Liverpool travel to West Bromwich Albion for their first game on Saturday.

Anita hopes big

ROTTERDAM: Newcastle United completed the signing of Ajax Amsterdam midfielder Vurnon Anita on Thursday with the Dutch international hopeful his new club can end their 43-year trophyless spell. Anita, a key member of the Ajax team that won back-to-back league titles in 2011 and 2012, has signed a five-year contract. Newcastle have not won a major trophy since lifting the 1969 Fairs Cup, the precursor to the UEFA Cup which became the Europa League. Manager Alan Pardew said Anita, a versatile player who is set to feature in a defensive midfield role, was raring to go.

Diego Junior ready

BUENOS AIRES: The son of football great Diego Maradona is close to joining a third-division Argentine club. Diego Sinagra Maradona — often known as Diego Junior — is expected to join the club El Porvenir. The club’s coach says the paperwork is being completed and that the midfielder is expected to arrive next week in Argentina. Diego Junior was born in Italy in 1986, the offspring of a relationship Maradona had with an Italian woman, Cristina Sinagra, while he was playing with Italian club Napoli. “I love Argentine football and to play there is something I’ve wished to do,” Diego Junior told the Argentine sports daily Ole.