■ Cricket
Sarwan replaces Lara
Ramnaresh Sarwan has been appointed as the new captain of the West Indies following the retirement of Brian Lara, Caribbean media reported on Sunday. CMC Sport said that Sarwan had been given the job at a meeting of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) on Sunday. The WICB were not immediately reachable for confirmation. The 26-year-old right-handed batsmen from Guyana had been widely tipped to take the job for the upcoming tour of England. The first Test is on May 17. Sarwan, who was Lara's vice-captain, has played in 65 Test matches and 124 one-day internationals.
■ Cricket
Surrey set world record
Surrey amassed a world record 496 for four in their 50-over one day match against Gloucestershire at The Oval on Sunday. Ali Brown smashed 176 from just 97 balls and put on 296 for the first wicket with James Benning (152) while Rikki Clarke hit an unbeaten 82 from only 28 balls as Surrey recorded the highest total in a List A limited-overs match. The previous best was the 443-9 achieved by Sri Lanka against the Netherlands last year while Surrey's previous best was 438 against Glamorgan five years ago when Brown scored 268. Surrey bowled out Gloucestershire for 239 to win the match by 257 runs.
■ soccer
Shinawatra linked to City
Thailand's deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has kept mum about reports that he made a surprise offer to buy an English Premier League club, his lawyer said yesterday. Noppadol Pattama, Thaksin's spokesman in Bangkok, said that in recent conversations the ousted premier had not said anything about reports regarding the purchase of Manchester City. "I can not deny nor confirm the report," he said. Britain's Sun newspaper reported on Saturday that Thaksin had made a £108 million (US$215 million) offer to buy the club, including £50 million to recruit new players.
■ soccer
Bolton manager resigns
Sam Allardyce resigned as Bolton manager on Sunday after eight years at the club. "After careful consideration and dialogue with my close family and senior officials within the football club, I will be resigning as manager of the club with immediate effect," Allardyce said. Newspaper reports over the weekend said the former Bolton central defender would quit at the end of the season and replace Stuart Pearce at Manchester City. Bolton chairman Phil Gartside alluded to the speculation in a statement. "He has given his reasons for wanting to leave the club at this time, which are private and we respect that privacy," Gartside said.
■ Soccer
Nantes may lose Barthez
France's World Cup winning goalkeeper Fabien Barthez may not return to help save Nantes' stricken season following a violent run-in with a group of disgruntled supporters. Basement side Nantes succumbed to a 2-0 home defeat to Rennes on Saturday and their hopes of top flight survival will hinge on the remaining four games of the French championship. After Barthez's post-match fracas with a group of supporters who tried to drag him from his car, club president Rudi Roussillon said on Sunday the 'keeper may not return. "He has gone to find some comfort with his family. It's plausible he may not return [for the final matches]," Roussillon said. "It's hit him hard."
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