Wilson Hoops 2008

KATHMANDU: The Wilson Hoops 2008, which is being organised by Wilson Academy, is getting underway on Saturday. A total of 73 teams — including 28 in Boys, 17 in Girls and 18 in Junior Boys and 10 in Staff sections — are taking part in the 15-day tournament. The inaugural match pits Wilson and Elite’s Co-Ed in the Boys section. Other matches of the day are Gyanodaya Vs Shuvatara (Girls), Young Hearts Vs Xavier International (Junior Boys) and Lincoln Vs Deepshiksha (Staff). — HNS

Deco set to move

MADRID: Deco says he will leave FC Barcelona for an English or Italian team. The Portugal midfielder said the Catalan club has given his agent permission to seek a move at the end of the season. “I’m leaving so I can continue winning trophies and having success. I’ll be going to England or Italy. I’ll go where I want and not where the club tells me,” Deco was quoted as saying by sports daily Mundo Deportivo on Friday. The 30-year-old midfielder said there was no chance of him moving to another Spanish club. — AP

Clarke out of first Test

SYDNEY: Australian vice captain Michael Clarke will miss the first Test against the West Indies after delaying his departure to the Caribbean for family reasons. Cricket Australia said Clarke will arrive in Kingston, Jamaica on May 23 — the second day of the first Test — after staying in Australia to be with his fiancee following the death of her father. — AFP

Jayasuriya recalled

COLOMBO: Sanath Jayasuriya was on Friday named in the Sri Lanka squad for next month’s Asia Cup in Pakistan after having been dropped for the one-dayers in the West Indies last month. The left-handed batsman, who has already retired from Tests, was originally not considered for selection but picked later at the behest of the country’s sports minister Gamini Lokuge. “I had a meeting with cricket selectors this morning and one of the things we discussed was to recall Sanath Jayasuriya in to the team,” Lokuge said. The tournament will be held in Pakistan from June 24 to July 6. — AFP