Corporate T20

KATHMANDU: Shangri-La Cricket Club and Direction Nepal in association with United World Trade Centre are organising the UWTC Inter-corporate twenty20 Championship from May 24-31. In all, 16 teams will take part in the event, said the organisers at a press meet on Friday. The top team each from all the four groups will advance to the semi-finals. The league round matches will be held at Tundikhel grounds, while the semi-finals and final will be played at TU Stadium. Birendra Bikram Shah, Director, Shangri-La Cricket Club, informed corporate houses can have maximum of four national-level cricketers in their teams. — THT Online

City bid for Raul

MADRID: English Premier League side Manchester City has offered Spanish champions Real Madrid $54 million for their striker Raul, Spanish sports daily Marca reported on Friday. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the English side’s billionaire backer, is willing to pay this amount plus any transfer fees to recruit the 31-year-old Spanish international, the newspaper added. Raul, a five-time La Liga winner and three-time Champions League victor, has been strongly recommended to Manchester City by Brazilian star Robinho, who the English side recruited from Real in a shock move in August 2008, it added. Raul is under contract with Real until 2011. — AFP

Walcott signs contract

LONDON: Theo Walcott signed a new long-term contract on Friday with Arsenal, ending doubts about whether he would remain at the club. The 20-year-old England winger joined Arsenal from Southampton in January 2006. His pace down the right side and his ability to get behind defenders on counterattacks has made him a crowd favourite. The club did not disclose financial details about the contract. “We are absolutely delighted that Theo has committed his long term future to Arsenal,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. — AP