• Former United player wears scarf of anti-Glazer campaign
• 'I'm a United fan and I support the club. I always will'

David Beckham attempted to distance himself from the campaign to oust the Glazer family from Manchester United despite leaving the pitch wearing one of the green and gold scarves that have come to symbolise the fans' protests against the club's owners.

Beckham, afforded a stirring reception on his return to Old Trafford, picked up the scarf after it was thrown from the Stretford End on a night when Malcolm Glazer's sons, Joel and Avram, were inside the stadium to witness the scale of antipathy towards their ownership of the club.

For someone of Beckham's standing to endorse the green and gold movement would be regarded as a major victory for the protestors but, as the former United player reflected on Milan's 4-0 defeat, the heaviest inflicted on them since the Champions League's conception, he said he did not want to be regarded as a figurehead for the campaign. "I'm a Manchester United fan and when I saw the scarf I wanted to put it round my neck," Beckham explained. "It's the old colours of United but, to be honest, it's not my business. I'm a United fan and I support the club. I always will, but it's got nothing to do with me how it's run. That's all to do with other people. I just support the team. I will always support the team."

That may disappoint those supporters who regarded Beckham's final act before disappearing down the tunnel as a sign of public sympathy and solidarity. Beckham reflected on an "unbelievable" reaction from an Old Trafford crowd buoyed by a commanding performance from their team and two more goals from Wayne Rooney that left Sir Alex Ferguson wondering whether his leading scorer could emulate Cristiano Ronaldo's total of 42 last season.

"It's a challenge," Ferguson said. "I was just happy for Wayne to reach 30, but he keeps on improving and he was sensational again tonight. It was just a continuation of the last two or three months – his form is just sensational. He's improved his movement in the box but he has also been practising a lot more this season than ever before, putting in extra work after training and I think he is getting the rewards of that."

The most prolific season in Rooney's career now incorporates 21 goals in his last 21 games but Ferguson also enthused about the contribution of some of United's less celebrated players, most notably praising Park Ji-sung for the "discipline and intelligence that won us the game" as well as pinpointing Gary Neville's handling of Ronaldinho.

Neville had been brought into the side to spare Rafael da Silva a repeat of his ordeal against Ronaldinho in the first leg and the former England international not only helped quell the threat of Milan's most inventive player but also set up Rooney for the first goal. "He's a remarkable man," Ferguson said. "When you've been out of the game [with injury] for a year and half it's not easy to come back and play every week at the age of 34 and now 35. He succeeded because of his will to succeed and that's really what Gary Neville is all about."

As for Beckham, Ferguson was not surprised by the crowd's affection for the former England captain. "We expected that and he deserved that," the United manager said. "Most of our former players get that type of reception. Paul Ince unfortunately went to play for Liverpool so they weren't exactly throwing garlands at him when he came back but normally they always appreciate the players who have had great careers at this club."

The only downside on the night for United was the news that Owen Hargreaves' planned comeback for the reserves against Manchester City tonight has been postponed.

Discuss the day's big issues as they happen, send us your favourite links and follow us on Twitter

9:15am: Morning everyone. Welcome to our daily sports news blog. Throughout the day we'll update this page with news, links and what's expected to happen in the hours ahead.

We'll let you know what's expected shortly following our morning news meeting. In the meantime, there's plenty to digest from last night's action, principally Manchester United's effortless mauling of Milan and David Beckham's sort-of-but-not-quite endorsement of the anti-Glazer campaign.

In the meantime, why not ease your way into the day with our weekly YouTube round-u, featuring some cricketing ultraviolence and an NFL/archery mash-up, and read Duncan Fletcher's analysis of Kevin Pietersen's troubles. TD

Florentino Pérez did not spend£240m for this. The second galácticos era has opened as the first closed – with failure. This season was always going to be defined by the European Cup, the tournament Real Madrid consider their own. The final will be held at the Bernabéu but Madrid will not be there, except as frustrated hosts at someone else's party. For the sixth successive season they have been eliminated at the first knockout stage. "We'll be back," declared the banner at the south end of the stadium. Not this season they won't. When it comes to European competition it turns out that the biggest club of them all is not really a big club at all.

Whistles and white hankies followed the defeat and few supporters imagined Manuel Pellegrini surviving as the coach but he was adamant afterwards that he expected the club to keep faith with him. "I have said it before that I will not resign," he said. "I think it's absurd to leave this behind when this is only just beginning. We are very disappointed about this and it really hurts. But I don't think this is a one year project, far from it."

Jorge Valdano, the club's director general, said he was "suffering like all Real fans" but gave Pellegrini his support and asked for patience. "It's a sad night but it's time for institutional calm. The plan is for him to continue being our coach."

A second-half goal by Miralem Pjanic had brought them to this. Cristiano Ronaldo's early opener had promised to clear an easy passage into the quarter-final. Instead, Madrid were beaten yet again. When Pjanic hit the ball past Iker Casillas in the 75th minute, the score was levelled at 1-1, leaving the French side 2-1 up on aggregate and Madrid needing two goals in quarter of an hour. They didn't get one.

It had started so well, too. Ronaldo steamed beyond Anthony Réveillère and Cris and with his left foot struck a diagonal shot between the legs of the goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Madrid still needed another but it felt like it was just a matter of time – as if, for all the talk of epic comebacks and a Bernabéu inferno, there would be no drama after all.

Events, though, did not go to script but there was certainly drama. Ronaldo had frightened Lyon but at the interval, Madrid were still waiting. A sharp save, a shot against the post, and a penalty claim turned down were responsible. Gonzalo Higuaín had spurned the best opportunity, stepping beyond Lloris only to hit the post from the right corner of the area confronted with an open goal.

As if suddenly frightened by the limitations of the scoreline, Madrid struggled as the second half began. Inside the first 10 minutes Sidney Govou's shot flew over and Casillas saved from Lisandro Lopez. Lyon were finding their feet and finding men, the introduction of Maxime Gonalons providing greater presence.

The Bernabéu went quiet. Kaká disappeared, so did Guti, and Madrid were bereft of ideas. After 70 minutes they had barely built a move, still less created any chances. And then it happened. Lisandro, with his back to goal, hit a first-time pass into Pjanic's path and when the ball sat up he hit it on the bounce. Madrid could scarcely believe it.

Pellegrini had insisted before the game that Madrid did not need an epic fight back. Now, they did. Raúl was sent on for Kaká. It was a symbol of Madrid's desperation. They not only failed to find a way through but never looked like mounting even a show of defiance. In fact, the best chances went the other way.

Pérez has not accepted failure in the past and that is exactly what this was. For him and his side the feeling was nothing new.

This week's round-up features classic cricketing ultraviolence, Celtic's other masterful team in Europe and the NFL v archery

1) Back in 1921, the stuffy old buffoons at the FA banned women's football, declaring the game "quite unfit" for females. "I do not believe women are fitted for violent leg strain," announced one doctor, propelling hot air through his hat. It was an outrageous decision, and one only reversed in 1971. This 89-year-old footage – posted by the BFI in celebration of International Women's Day – celebrates how far we've come.

2) Here's a tenuous Bill Forsyth-related segue: from the Gregory's Girl-isms of women socking it to the men, we move to the real-life Local Hero situation of a big US entrepreneur hoping to do away with a beach. Donald Trump is planning to build a massive golf course on links land near Aberdeen. Here's film-making genius Jonathan Meades having a right old pop at the bugger.

3) Staying in Scotland, it's the 40th anniversary of Celtic's second European Cup final this year. Everyone remembers the Lisbon Lions of 1967, of course, but Celtic's 1970 vintage were arguably better – and certainly should have seen off Feyenoord in the final. Ah well.

4) Last week, our Digger column broke the news that poor old John McCririck is to be used more sparingly by Channel 4 Racing. Here's the sort of knockabout nonsense they'll miss, a proper old-school blazing row with trainer Barney Curley. (Which was actually on At The Races, but the point stands.)

5) And we finish with a spot of classic cricking ultraviolence. It's Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Colin Croft and Joel Garner, the original and best Fearsome Foursome

Our favourites from last week's blog

1) Felipe Contepomi hoofs a penalty between the posts – then watches in horror as a Galway gale blows it right back in his face.

2) New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, the 2010 Super Bowl MVP, explains the science of throwing a pigskin. By launching it at an archery target. Repeatedly.

3) Jai alai is the world's fastest ballgame, it says here. We don't know whether that's true or not, but we wouldn't put our head in the way of the ball to find out.

4) J-League side Cerezo Osaka take on a team of children. It's not so one-sided as you'd think, for the kids' team has 100 players. One hundred!

5) Balls to the Cruyff Turn: the greatest piece of footballing skill by someone wearing an orange shirt was the Phil Clarkson phlick.

Spotter's badges: thecruiseboy, JPA210688, brownshoesdontmakeit, fillergallery, jimmymook

• Fly-half says 2008 loss was 'massive learning curve'
• Says England will need 'inner strength' on Saturday

Jonny Wilkinson has said that England's defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield two years ago was one of the most painful experiences of his career. The England fly-half broke the world record for Test points that afternoon but England, who had been World Cup finalists five months before, were poor. They were beaten 15-9 and Wilkinson was replaced with 11 minutes to go.

Wilkinson was then dropped for only the second time in his Test career, as the then England coach, Brian Ashton, turned to Danny Cipriani for a home victory over Ireland. Cipriani is now bound for Melbourne's new Super rugby franchise and Wilkinson is heading back to Murrayfield.

"The most painful lessons are often the most powerful and for me that is definitely the case," said Wilkinson. "That was a big experience and it has done the world of good for me. I have spent much of the time since then injured on the sidelines but that doesn't change the fact that you have to take heed of those lessons.

"The game a couple of years ago was a massive learning curve and it taught us that you need to go out there to play. You can't expect to just build a game solely from what you have planned on paper.

"We tried that against Scotland with the conditions and the weather and they did a great job of smothering us. We didn't push the situation hard enough to earn the right to win that game. We played a game that was stifled and we ended up losing the game and quite rightly so.

"I have learned it is all very well to know it on paper but I have got to put it into practice on the field."

Many would argue England have not moved on from the one-dimensional game they played at Murrayfield that day. Wilkinson has seen former team-mates claim he is not a natural playmaker and decision-maker and question whether he is the man to release England's backs.

Matt Dawson, Wilkinson's scrum-half in the World Cup-winning side of 2003, said: "He can play in the way that has been planned on a flip chart in team meetings but if it comes down to him to work out on the hoof what options to take, more often than not he will kick, and miss opportunities to attack."

Wilkinson does not dismiss criticism – "They must see it to say it, or have a reason for saying it," he said – but he is confident that his relationship with Riki Flutey, England's inside-centre, is developing well.

"One of the big things for us is communicating what we see of the whole field," he said. "We missed some chances against Ireland, which we didn't realise until we watched the video.

"The structure is still a bit new to myself as well and maybe I am a bit tied in to seeing what I am doing and likewise for him [Flutey] so we are trying to make sure we see more of the field. But he knows what I am looking for now and I am trying to understand every day what he is looking for. We have had a couple of good chats this week."

England travel to Murrayfield with their Six Nations title hopes alive. Scotland have suffered three defeats.

Wilkinson knows what to expect from a Scotland side coached by the former England coach Andy Robinson, and it is not all fire and brimstone.

"He played the way he coaches. There is no facade," said Wilkinson. "He was physical, he was intense, he was skilful and he mixed it every time he went out there. As a coach he does exactly the same thing but this time he is able to impart a huge amount of that rugby brain and experience over many years and that is why he is a good man for the job.

"We need to go in with a level of inner strength that is capable of dealing with everything on the field – and off the field."

Why the bugging affair should be the least of the FA's worries in the lead-up to the World Cup

Behind closed doors, you can't imagine. Behind closed doors, is where it happens. That's where the truth is. That's where the life is.

Not my words, or indeed those of covertly bugged England general Fabio Capello, but the words of music's Peter Andre – a man who scarcely even regarded the conception of his children as a something on which it might be seemly to close the doors, preferring to invite TV cameras to document every minute of his tediously "insane" life.

That Peter's adventures are marginally more predictable than a fake-tanned episode of Mr Benn doesn't matter to those who continue to watch in their droves. The desire to be let in on something – however illusory – is insatiable for some sections of the public, many of whom then cheerfully blamed the media for Peter's divorce in the same way as they will blame them for gossiping away the World Cup. Indeed, for some, this ovine voyeurism has become such a normal part of culture that it hardly seems odd that the England camp was apparently bugged by a "member of the public" – shall we call them a citizen journalist? – in the run-up to last week's Egypt game. Yes, I'm afraid the great "how to go out in the quarter-finals" battle plan may now be dangerously compromised, and Jerry's probably going to steal all our tactics. But try to keep calm and carry on.

The last football spy drama I can recall was that tale three years ago about a Cessna making flights over Manchester United's Carrington training ground. "It remained unclear who authorised the filming," panted the Mirror back then, "and whether the material is destined for this country or abroad. The covert clips of players such as Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo working on tactics, formation, free-kicks and penalties during the astonishing spying mission could be invaluable to rival clubs." Could be. But almost certainly weren't.

This time, the spy stuff is rather less lofty, with reports suggesting that though the six-hour recording may feature discussions about "World Cup tactics", it's more notable – and presumably more sellable – for chitchat about win bonuses and some joking about sex scandals. Inevitably, it has been speculatively talked up as "dynamite", but I bet it's dynamite only in the sense that anything a footballer or manager says is deemed explosively interesting, despite all evidence to the contrary (yet again we must draw a parallel with Peter Andre).

Quite rightly, the FA's lawyers have pointed out that the recording constitutes a total breach of privacy, but in the internet age the fear will be that despite newspapers' refusal to publish, the transcript or portions of it will be posted online. There's a reasonable chance that within a fortnight we'll be faced with a John Terry-type situation, where feverish internet chatter effectively rendered the player'ssuper-injunction defunct even before it was lifted.

Doubtless, then, the FA is already considering its media strategy if the tape's contents become public. Might I suggest an official line of "Get over it"?

Unfortunately, because the FA is such a serially useless governing body, no one at the top has ever been in a strong enough position to affect an air of amused sang froid about these regular teacup storms. As long as it wasn't you in the schtuck, it probably felt rather a relief to "firefight" the latest rumours about Sven's love life instead of defending your staggeringly incompetent mismanagement of, say, the Wembley Stadium project.

But sooner or later someone in public life is going to have to offer the "Get over it" response to an overexcited media and its consumers. The policy of attempting to appease people who wish only for heads to roll seems increasingly pointless.

Frankly, if whatever is on the tape needs putting into perspective, people should recall the time the England set-up willingly invited a fly on to their wall. They should recall Graham Taylor, several fathoms out of his depth, turning to his nodding dog Phil Neal and hazarding: "We'll put Wrighty on, shall we?" Watching the pair gibberingly agree that it was "made for Wrighty", they should recall the horrifying realisation that Taylor had been several times less competent even than he had looked. Quite an achievement.

That, my ducks, is a real exposé. Never mind what off-guard jokes were made at the England camp, and never mind even if the answer to the question "what's my motivation?" is "two million quid and half a point on the image rights". No matter what happened at Capello's headquarters last week, nothing, but nothing, could ever be as sensationally damning.

David Beckham flickered for Milan at Old Trafford but Wayne Rooney was in utterly superb form once again

Rumours of Wayne Rooney struggling for fitness have clearly been greatly exaggerated. Either that or a rest at Molineux last Saturday did him a power of good. He was certainly fit enough to carry the United attack on his own tonight, after his alleged over-exertion on the Wembley turf for England, and anyone keeping even half an eye on events these past couple of months will appreciate that that rendered Manchester United's progress into the Champions League quarter-finals something of a formality.

Rooney was not able to manage the full Nicklas Bendtner and neither could United emulate Arsenal's five goals, yet Milan are not Porto and Rooney's double was thoroughly impressive. The Italians defended with surprising naivety, and missed good chances, but the encouraging news for United, England and anyone else with an interest in goalscorers at the top of their profession was that no one could match Rooney for quality of movement or decisiveness of finish. He settled the tie as early as the 13th minute.

Everything that followed was mere decoration, even if it must be allowed that the way United opened up Milan for Rooney's second, before he went off just after the hour, will have given them every encouragement for the rest of the tournament, as will a notable aggregate scoreline.

Having put themselves in a strong position in Milan, it was disappointing for United to concede a late goal that allowed the Italians hope, but Sir Alex Ferguson's assessment was that if his side scored at home it ought to be enough to guarantee progress. There was some debate among United fans about whether Ferguson would select an attacking line-up or pack the midfield, yet the fact that Dimitar Berbatov was on the bench was misleading. While the Bulgarian has been in decent form, his pairing with Rooney is not necessarily United's best option. Most of the unstoppable performances Rooney has put in this year came up front on his own, and here was another one. The 3-2 win at San Siro – where United had never scored, let alone won – was achieved with a similar formation.

Predictably, Rooney had the first shot of the game, the first couple of shots actually, though Ronaldinho also came close to opening the scoring with a header before United found inspiration from an entirely unexpected source. Gary Neville was in the side for his experience, Ferguson putting a high value on the commodity for big European nights, though having seen him struggle against Matt Jarvis in the 45 minutes he played at Wolves the United support was fearful of what might happen when he was asked to contain Ronaldinho. They need not have worried. Neville got forward and caused Milan problems of his own. He had sent a dipping shot narrowly over the bar and won a commanding header on halfway by the time he sauntered down the right and sent over the cross from which Rooney opened the scoring.

Milan have no excuse for not knowing about Rooney's heading ability after San Siro, so perhaps they assumed he would not be able to leap past Daniele Bonera or to beat Christian Abbiati from 12 yards. Rooney turned a good cross into a great goal with a header from the days when centre-fowards had centre partings. Even more remarkably, for a player with much more to his all-round game who has only recently begun to display the positional sense and timing to make heading an effective part of his repertoire, it was Rooney's seventh consecutive headed goal. Any old-fashioned centre-forward would have been proud of that, particularly as few of them were routine.

While United held only a one-goal lead the tie was theoretically open, but the second half was barely a minute old before Rooney's 30th goal of the season put it to bed. Taking advantage of a sprint down the left by Nani and a perfectly judged pass inside, Rooney reached the ball ahead of Abbiati and pushed it into the net. Game over, with due respect to Park Ji-sung's strike, Darren Fletcher's first European goal and David Beckham's introduction. The sequence of headed goals was over too, though that is hardly important when a scorer is in such imperious form.

While Beckham crossed as well as ever, rolled back the years with a spectacular volley that almost caught Edwin van der Sar off guard and generally looked as if he should have started the game, he no longer has the ability to influence outcomes single-handed.

United and England now have someone else who can do that, although if Beckham seizing a green and gold scarf for a photo-opportunity at the end means his next fight will be against the Glazers, at least his money will come in handy. He may not be Goldenballs any longer, but he can still be a Red Knight.

The money to be made from the 20-over format may send the best players in Bangladesh the same way as the faltering Mohammad Ashraful

Has there ever been a more annoying invention than the phone camera? Thanks to the tabloid culture so lovingly nourished by the likes of the News of the World – after all, John Terry's dalliances are more important than climate change – and copied shamelessly in Britain's former colonies, etiquette is no longer an issue. If you have a phone, it gives you the right to point and shoot at anyone. Permission be damned.

As I waited in line to board a flight to Bangalore, a group of men not even travelling on it stood right next to me and clicked away happily at someone behind me. Bollywood starlet, I thought. But then I heard the words desh ka hero (national hero) from someone who was in true shutterbug mode. When I turned around expecting Sachin Tendulkar or Anil Kumble, I came face to face with Praveen Kumar.

Sleepy-eyed, fingernails still stained with Holi colours and wearing a hideous Christian Audigier-designed Ed Hardy T-shirt that now seems to be default civvie wear for cricketers, Praveen looked most unhappy. Even as he talked on his phone, random people came up to him, patted him on the back, grabbed his hand and aimed the flash squarely at his face.

Over the past couple of seasons, he's had a decent run in the Indian one-day team, picking up 41 wickets in 36 games. He moves the ball both ways at friendly pace and has a rudimentary batting style with an emphasis on the big heave. A Garry Sobers he's not, though he takes home more from one Indian Premier League season – $300,000 (£200,000) – than the greatest cricketer managed in his entire career.

Anand Vasu's fine piece in the Hindustan Times earlier this week addressed the paradigm shift in Indian cricket, and when you see the adulation directed at players like Praveen, you wonder how warped the celebrity-bug-infested "consumer" has become. And if it's this bad in India for a fringe player like Praveen, you can imagine what it's like in Dhaka for Mohammad Ashraful and Mashrafe Mortaza.

Mortaza will play no part in the Tests against England, with his frightening catalogue of knee problems similar to those endured by Andrew Flintoff. Like English cricket's modern-day icon, the 26-year-old Mortaza is unlikely to be seen in whites again. By some distance the best one-day bowler that his country has produced, with 135 wickets in 104 games, his recent return to the fold was none too impressive, with Shakib Al Hasan's lack of enthusiasm for his efforts palpable.

Ashraful has no fitness issues, but his mindset has been frozen in that of an impetuous teenager for far too long. A batsman capable of the sublime – a Test century against India at Chittagong and the delightful 87 that shocked South Africa at the last World Cup readily come to mind – he has spent most of the last eight years flirting consistently with mediocrity. If ever an innings encapsulated a player, it was a thrilling stroke-filled cameo against India in the second Test last January. Having eased some gorgeous drives through cover, he then succumbed to a headless-chicken charge against Pragyan Ojha. The derision in the stands as he walked off, thumping his pads in disgust, was unmistakable.

He may only be 25, but it's hard to see where Ashraful will fit in under the current dispensation. In recent times, Bangladesh have squandered promising positions against better sides, most notably in the first Test against India and the second ODI against England, but there have been signs of progress under Shakib and Jamie Siddons, the coach. Ashraful, with his crumbling-biscuit temperament, represents a past that it's perhaps best to draw a line under.

You also wonder how much both he and Mortaza have been affected by IPL fortune. The Knight Riders' signing of Mortaza for $600,000 represented perhaps the most bizarre acquisition in the annals of sport. As everyone assembled at the auction in Goa and thousands watching on TV scratched heads in disbelief, he joined the august rank of misfits like the footballers Andrea Silenzi and Juan Sebastián Verón. Apart from being carted all over the park by Rohit Sharma in a match that the Knight Riders had as good as won, he did next to nothing in South Africa.

Ashraful's $75,000 from the Mumbai Indians may have seemed like small change in comparison, but it was still comfortably more than your average Bangladeshi cricketer can dream of making in six months, leave alone six weeks. When he signed up, he spoke of his excitement at sharing a dressing room with Tendulkar and of the possibility of meeting another hero, Shah Rukh Khan, the Bollywood star, but like Mortaza his impact on the tournament was mosquito bite rather than shark attack.

As Vasu wrote of India's youngsters, it's no longer imperative for players to crave the national cap. A season or two of IPL can set you up for life, provided you have slightly better advisers than Mike Tyson did. Dennis Lillee and others risked crippling themselves to play Test cricket a generation ago. They had no option. If you didn't play at the highest level, you didn't put food on the table. With more than a million banked, the likes of Mortaza hardly need to worry about the groceries.

In any case, the future is Shakib. From the time I first watched him play, at the World Cup in the Caribbean, his composure and maturity were eye-catching. This was a young man who knew his game and its strengths, and played to them. As with one so young, there will be mistakes – witness the daft sweep that precipitated a slide to defeat against India – but with the right guidance, he has it in him to be Bangladeshi's Tiger Pataudi, a young leader with the ability to lead his team from the hinterlands of promise to the periphery of achievement.

England's bowling firepower should be too much for Bangladesh to handle, but if Tamim Iqbal can pull off the sort of innings he managed against India, and give the phalanx of left-arm spinners a score to defend, things could get very interesting indeed.

Tigers not to grab by the tail:

Shakib Al Hasan: Starred in the series win against a depleted West Indies, but didn't do himself justice with the bat against India. His left-arm spin is invariably tidy and clever. One world-class player that England should be especially wary of.

Shahadat Hossain: Think of Steve Harmison's early years, or a kid with a garden hose. Shahadat is as erratic as they come, but is capable of touching 140kph and getting steep bounce from lifeless pitches. Broke Rahul Dravid's jaw in January.

Mahmudullah Riyad: Made a superb century in New Zealand after falling just short against India. Has been a revelation since he came into the side, adding ballast to a lightweight tail and giving Shakib one more spin option. Won't hold back if Swann and Tredwell toss them up.

Abdul Razzak: Like Aftab Ahmed, he's never been able to translate the odd dazzling one-day display into anything more tangible. His action is certainly not Bedi-smooth, but on slow and low pitches he shouldn't be underestimated.

Mushfiqur Rahim: As with Kamran Akmal, his wicketkeeping appears to have deteriorated markedly in recent times. A doughty batsman capable of the big shots, he's one of the core group that the team of the future will be built around.

Raqibul Hasan: Fresh from a century in the tour game, Raqibul appears to have resuscitated his game after a nightmare series against India. When in form, he's the glue in the middle order, the Bangladeshi answer to Dravid and Paul Collingwood.

Shafiul Islam: Impressed at times in the recent one-day games. Has a nice easy action and can hurry the batsmen with his pace. Is still very raw, though, and with Mortaza no longer around, there's no one to mentor him either.

• Benítez looking for a reaction after Wigan defeat
• Mmanager has consulted Valencia about French opponents

Rafael Benítez has told his underachieving players to demonstrate "desire" at Lille in northern France this evening as Liverpool strive to reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League. "We have to show we're ready to win," added Benítez before his team's first-leg, last-16 tie.

Normally protective of his squad, Liverpool's manager was stung by Monday's Premier League defeat at Wigan, which has damaged the Merseysiders' hopes of a top-four spot and Champions League qualification. "We are looking for a reaction," said the Spaniard. "Everyone knows Wigan was a bad performance and a missed opportunity.

"We know it's sometimes not so easy when you have another game so very quickly, but it can be very positive. Hopefully we'll react well and show we are a strong side with character. The players realise they have to perform with desire. They know they have to improve. I've had conversations with them."

Liverpool now enjoy scant margin for error at home or abroad, where the aim now is to secure the Europa League trophy. "We don't have too much room for mistakes, we have to perform now," said Benítez, who has consulted friends at his former club, Valencia, for information about Lille.

Although Valencia took four points from Lille in the group stage they reported the French side, currently fifth in Ligue 1, four points behind the leaders Bordeaux, to be dangerous opponents. Not for nothing are they known as the Mastiffs.

"Lille are a good team," Benítez added. "People don't know too much about them but I've spoken to staff from Valencia and they say they have real ability and will give you a difficult game.

"They are good at home, have great motivation and this is an important competition for them. That makes them even more dangerous."

The Spaniard clearly feels attack may be his side's best form of defence. "We cannot be like we were at Wigan, we have to go out to score," he said.

Liverpool's overlapping potential from full-back should be enhanced as Glen Johnson is likely to make a first start following recovery from injury. Yossi Benayoun, though, is doubtful with the ankle problem sustained at Wigan.

With Lille aiming to mark their first meeting against Liverpool by reaching the quarter-finals of a European competition for the first time, Johnson and company will need to be mindful of Yao Gervinho, the much-admired Ivory Coast striker.

If Gervinho's future is excitingly uncertain, Liverpool are tired of endless talk about debt and a potential change of ownership at Anfield ."We have had in the past a situation that wasn't very clear," said Benítez, clearly fed up with the enduring impasse. "Now we have to do the same as we did then. We need to stick together and work hard. We have to concentrate on things on the pitch.

"We talk about investors, we talk about the new stadium, we talk about all these same things for maybe one or two years now. Everybody is waiting for something to happen and expecting something to happen. When I decided to stay I decided to fight and the best for the club is for me to be concentrated on football and to try to get the best from the players."That's something I can do, and something I have to do for the fans. Inside the club, I will talk to the people who have a responsibility and we will try to do our best."

The Football Association has confirmed Steven Gerrard will face no action following allegations the midfielder made a V sign towards the referee Andre Marriner during the defeat at Wigan.

It is understood Marriner saw the gesture at the time but did not deem it worthy of further punishment.

Under those circumstances, the FA cannot take retrospective action.

Benítez said after the game he had not seen the incident and after reviewing it on video believes there is no case to answer.

"Sometimes you move your fingers," said Benítez. "It was nothing." We are not considering it, it was nothing. All the players know they have to behave on the pitch. I was more worried about the silly fouls we were giving to Wigan."

Lille (4-3-2-1, probable): Lloris; Cris, Boumsong, Cissokho, Réveillère; Kallstrom, Bodmer, Makoun; Bastos, Govou; Gomis.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1, probable): Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insúa; Mascherano, Lucas; Aquilani, Gerrard, Kuyt; Torres.

TV: Channel Five, kick-off 5.45pm

Brian Clough, who when leading Middlesbrough's attack once scored half of their six goals at The Valley and still saw them fail to beat Charlton, was enraged by what he called "goals that meant nothing" because they earned no points.

For Brian Laws, who played under the great man at Nottingham Forest, David Nugent's goals have nearly always meant something. His header that rescued what threatened to be one of Burnley's most deflating nights of an increasingly joyless season was his sixth. And, aside from one in the weekend's predictable defeat at Arsenal, they have all brought points: three against Sunderland and West Ham and one each against Bolton and now Stoke.

A point was the bare minimum Burnley required from this fixture. Until Laws takes his team to Hull on 10 April, Burnley will not leave the old borders of Lancashire and it is there that their fate will be decided. Saturday's game with Wolves is the kind of must-win match that comes in capitals and with triple underlining.

Laws said that come April, "this could be a massive point" and it is true that Stoke have toughened up their act outside the Britannia. This was their seventh draw away from home and one local radio commentator suggested that if Stoke were a James Bond villain they would not bother with any elaborate plan to kill 007, they would simply shoot him in the head. They got the job done. They usually do.

"We are still in nappies in terms of the Premier League," their manager, Tony Pulis, suggested. "There is no way we can come to a ground and take any team lightly. We were a bit flat in the second half but there is no sign of second-season syndrome. We could get more points in our second season than our first and in the Premier League I think only Blackburn have ever managed that."

There is no danger of Rory Delap edging out Wayne Rooney for the main award when the great and the good gather at the Royal Lancaster hotel, but the Stoke player has been one of the footballers of the year. It might be pushing it to say the one-time junior javelin champion's way with a long throw has revolutionised football in the way Dick Fosbury changed the high jump, but he has altered football in the Potteries.

Laws had discussed at length how Burnley would deal with Delap and this included talks with Leon Cort, who had shared a dressing room with him, and the tactic of moving the advertising hoardings closer to the touchline to deny him a run-up.

It was, as Baldrick would say, a cunning plan but midway through the first half Delap discovered a way round it by running diagonally before launching the ball into the Burnley area. The huge frame of Mamady Sidibe flicked it on and Tuncay Sanli accelerated his run to head the ball past Brian Jensen. It was the Turk's fifth of the season and the 10th Stoke have scored from Delap's throws.

With one point outside Turf Moor in seven months, Burnley have an addict's dependency on their home form. Having blown the chance to beat Portsmouth, pressure was everywhere, written on every face whether in the crowd or on the pitch, even though Laws argued that since "every man and his dog thinks Burnley won't be in the Premier League next season, there should be no pressure".

Until Nugent's intervention, errors were everywhere. Chris Eagles gave no indication of his Manchester United pedigree by attempting a shot so badly sliced that it finished behind him. Graham Alexander, one of Laws' most reliable performers, delivered a routine crossfield pass and picked out someone in the crowd. A season that began with some admirably pure footballing beliefs was being turned by fear into a thing of scuffs and miskicks.

Derby were forced to field their captain Robbie Savage in goal for nearly 50 minutes as they slumped to a heavy Coca-Cola Championship defeat at Reading.

Savage took the gloves in the 41st minute when the substitute Saul Deeney was shown a red card on his Rams debut and pulled off a stunning second-half save before being beaten. Deeney had come on less than half an hour earlier when Stephen Bywater was injured to leave manager Nigel Clough with the unenviable necessity of putting Savage between the posts.

"I've never lost two keepers in a night before," said Clough. "Stephen has been playing with a back injury and it seized up so he had to come off.

"Saul was doing well until he got sent off. I had no complaints with the penalty decision. Robbie wasn't getting a kick in midfield so we thought he was the best candidate."

On-song striker Shane Long opened the scoring for the hosts but Clough's side rallied when Gilles Sunu scored his first professional goal. Jimmy Kebe had Reading back ahead before Deeney was dismissed and Long struck the resulting penalty high over the crossbar.

Savage then entertained the crowd with a couple of fine stops before Ryan Bertrand hit a deflected shot past him to kill the game off and Simon Church grabbed a late fourth. The win lifts Brian McDermott's men points four clear of the drop zone while Derby remain in trouble.

The in-form Kebe flashed a cross across the face of goal before he created the opener for Long in the eighth minute. Former Derby favourite Grzegorz Rasiak started the move with a fine turn before spreading the ball wide to Kebe. Kebe drilled a first-time pass into Long's feet but the striker showed a great touch to kill the ball and then knock it past the defender Shaun Barker.

There was no contest in the sprint for the ball and Long confidently struck his shot past Bywater and into the far corner for his eighth of the season. Bywater then hobbled off with an injury to give replacement Deeney his Rams debut before Kebe scooped an effort over after Rasiak had seen a volley blocked.

Clough's side had failed to show any invention but drew level with their first attack in the 21st minute. Stephen Pearson and Rob Hulse worked a smart one-two on the left side of the area and when Pearson was halted by a challenge, on-loan Arsenal teenager Sunu poked the loose ball past Adam Federici from the edge of the area.

Hulse then had the ball in the net again but was offside while Deeney made his first save for Derby as he rushed out to block Bertrand's effort. It was a brave stop but counted for little as Kebe put the hosts back ahead in the 34th minute.

Jay Tabb played the ball through and after left-back Jay McEveley made a hash of intercepting the pass, Kebe was clear to sprint through and finish. Kebe then hammered a volley over from a Long cross as Reading looked for a killer third before Deeney saw red in the 41st minute. Paul Green was at fault for underhitting a back-pass and Tabb raced through before being hauled down by the debutant.

Savage took the gloves to the delight of the home crowd and watched on as Long smashed the penalty miles over the crossbar. Savage kept the keeper's jersey for the second half and dashed out to clear from Long.

Savage then had the whole ground on their feet with a magnificent save to tip over a dipping free-kick from Gylfi Sigurdsson before he was finally beaten in the 69th minute. Bertrand cut in from the left and hammered in a shot from 15 yards which was deflected cruelly past Savage – who had no chance.

The substitute Church made it four from close range with six minutes left after Kebe had again skinned the defence to give Reading three valuable points.

• Manchester United face biggest potential exodus of supporters
• Rising living costs behind thoughts not to renew next season

Up to one in four season ticket holders of Premier League clubs are considering not renewing for next season in a bid to cut costs, according to a survey published today.

The Virgin Money's authoritative Football Fans' Inflation Index shows 25% of season ticket holders are thinking of giving up at the end of the season with 4% planning on no longer going to any games while 21% intend to buy tickets when it suits them.

Manchester United face the biggest potential exodus of season ticket holders with 15% giving up going to games entirely while another 44% will only buy tickets when it suits them. United, currently facing supporters-led green-and-gold protests against the Glazer family, who own the club, could see up to 59% of fans cancelling season tickets with Wolves the next most at risk in the Premier League with 54% of supporters considering giving up for next season.

The backlash against season tickets comes despite Virgin's index showing that the cost of attending games has fallen by 6.8% in the past year. Lower ticket prices and reduced costs for replica kit means the match-day cost has fallen to £89.09 compared with £95.60 in January 2009.

That is still 14.29% higher than the match-day cost when the index was launched in January 2006 but is substantially lower than the all-time high of £106.21 in October 2008. Average match tickets across all leagues peaked at £27.38 in July 2009 but have now fallen to an average of £22.59.

The research among more than 3,896 fans representing all 92 clubs in the Football League shows fans of Liverpool and Stoke City are the least likely to give up their season tickets next year with just 9% of supporters considering cutbacks.

"The drop in costs is welcome but season tickets are still priced astronomically compared with other major European leagues such as Spain, Italy and Germany," said Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters' Federation. "At many clubs there's little or no recognition of loyalty in the prices charged compared with buying match by match. Prices for essentials like food, rent, transport and petrol are going up and football fans like everybody else are struggling with frozen or declining pay and unemployment. Clubs need to bear this in mind when setting next season's prices.

"Shamefully, Manchester United was the only Premier League club that put up their prices for the current season. Every other club froze or reduced them. Huge numbers of United fans are in open revolt against the Glazer family's huge cash drain on the club. They're paying the price for the leveraged buyout in 2005 that has loaded a massive £700m debt on to United's books. The Glazer regime has put up ticket prices by half in less than five years. No wonder almost six out of 10 Old Trafford season ticket holders are thinking of not renewing."

Percentage of Premier League club supporters considering cancelling their season tickets next season

Manchester United 59%

Wolves 54%

Burnley 31%

Fulham 29%

Everton 28%

Blackburn 28%

Portsmouth 28%

West Ham 27%

Aston Villa 24%

Sunderland 23%

Wigan 21%

Tottenham 19%

Manchester City 18%

Birmingham 17%

Chelsea 17%

Hull 17%

Arsenal 14%

Bolton 13%

Liverpool 9%

Stoke City 9%

• Cuts made to non-playing staff
• Peter Storrie now on 'less than £500,000'

The administrator running Portsmouth today moved to slash the club's overheads by making more than a quarter of the staff redundant. Eighty-five of 320 employees will lose their jobs but the administrator, Andrew Andronikou, said the chief executive, Peter Storrie, would remain on a salary of "under £500,000" until the club was sold.

Andronikou, who has been running the Premier League club for UHY Hacker Young since Portsmouth's latest owner, Balram Chainrai, put the club into administration days ago with debts of around £78m, said it was vital to cut overheads if the club is to survive. Chainrai has underwritten an overdraft facility of £15m for the administrator but that money will have to be repaid by any buyer. Andronikou said "no physical cash" had yet been drawn down.

Andronikou believes he can run the club until the end of the season on around half the £14m suggested by the insolvency specialist Vantis in its report for the high court. Other funding sources – Premier League parachute and television payments and the potential proceeds of player sales – are unlikely to be available until the end of the season, despite imminent efforts to bring them forward.

Storrie, who earned £1.23m in 2008, the year that Portsmouth won the FA Cup, has said he will resign once the sale process is complete.

"He is still chief executive today," said Andronikou. "He is still earning a wage and having spoken to Peter he would like it known he has taken a 40% cut in his basic wage. As regards to his basic wage, he will be earning significantly less than £500,000. I don't believe there will be any bonuses this year."

Andronikou said that cuts had been made "across the board" but in a "sympathetic" way. There was anger among some of those made redundant – including office staff, employees in the ticket office, assistants in the club shop, coaches and press officers – that they were being made to carry the can for the mistakes of former employers. None of the 49 members of the playing staff can be made redundant or be forced to take wage cuts, protected as they are by the "football creditors rule".

Mike Crawford, who has worked in the kit warehouse for five years, said: "I feel betrayed by the club, I feel let down. I feel there are a lot of people to be blamed for doing this to the club. What I have been on, players have been earning in three days."

Storrie was not at Fratton Park today and was said to be at Wembley finalising arrangements for the club's FA Cup semi-final.

Having met Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs yesterday , Andronikou said he was "not unduly concerned" and is confident that HMRC would today ratify the process by which the club was placed in administration. HMRC is owed around £15m by the club.

• Goalkeeper should be fit to face Blackburn in nine days' time
• Henrique Hilário to start against Internazionale

Petr Cech is confident of returning to the Chelsea first team ahead of schedule for their Premier League game against Blackburn Rovers in nine days' time, his rehabilitation from a calf injury progressing encouragingly, although Henrique Hilário will be in goal against Internazionale for the second leg of the Champions League last-16 tie next week.

The Czech tore a calf muscle having leapt unchallenged to claim a cross after an hour of the first leg at San Siro and departed in discomfort on a stretcher with his side trailing 2-1.

A scan confirmed the injury and Chelsea were expected to be without their first-choice goalkeeper for a month, potentially ruling him out of four Premier League matches as well as FA Cup and Champions League ties. That diagnosis may now be revised, with a return for the televised game against Blackburn on 21 March more realistic after the 27-year-old made steady progress in recovery.

His absence was keenly felt when Manchester City exploited Hilário's rustiness to win 4-2 at Stamford Bridge last month, the title challengers' first home defeat in 38 matches, but Chelsea will have to rely on their recently capped Portuguese goalkeeper as they seek to progress beyond Inter and into the Champions League quarter-finals.

The 34-year-old Hilário, a perennial understudy to Cech since moving to west London from Madeira's Nacional in 2006, made his international debut as a second-half substitute in a 2-0 friendly victory over China this month, though his opportunities to impress at club level have been limited.

He kept a somewhat unconvincing clean sheet in the FA Cup at home to Stoke City last Sunday and will play against West Ham United on Saturday before facing José Mourinho's Inter side.

Yuri Zhirkov, troubled by his own calf problems in recent weeks, returned to training with the first-team squad at Cobham today and may now be available for the visit of West Ham.

• World Cup bid preference went to Owls
• Davies becomes Bolton owner and banker

Sheffield United are heading to the high court to call for a judicial review of Sheffield City Council's decision to grant conditional planning permission for Sheffield Wednesday's redevelopment of Hillsborough. In their submission, United have accused the council of "bias" in fast-tracking approval for a planning application.

United and Wednesday submitted applications to redevelop their grounds to 45,000 capacities within 10 days of each other last August. Both have been approved. But now the Blades are heading to the high court to complain about how Hillsborough will be redeveloped.

Intriguingly, there were only five complaints from local residents during the consultation process.

But since the main objections related to restrictions in car parking and television reception – points that were also raised by two of three local respondents to the Bramall Lane application – it is unsurprising that United will not rely on the residents' concerns in their complaint.

Sheffield City Council is contesting the action. In its defence documents the council expressed its surprise at the Blades' objections to Wednesday's stadium expansion, given that Hillsborough is four miles from their own ground and so is unlikely to obstruct views from Bramall Lane's north stand.

What are the chances that the litigation might have something to do with the council's decision to put forward Hillsborough, and not Bramall Lane, as its England 2018 host venue?

Steady, Eddie?

Eddie Davies's exposure to Bolton Wanderers' fortunes is now total after he effectively became the club's banker as well as their owner. The millionaire industrialist pumped fresh funds into the club in October after banks refused to refinance their debts. A senior figure at the club said: "We don't have bank debt any more. Mr Davies is effectively our banker and he's supporting the club." Bolton's needs were particularly pressing following the collapse of Singer & Friedlander in the Icelandic financial crisis. It is unknown how much Davies has injected or what the terms are but his previous loans amounted to £23m and carried an interest requirement of 10%. With Bolton's net debts reaching £64m, Davies will be very keen to ensure their Premier League survival.

League of his own

The Football League will hold a board meeting at Gloucester Place, London, today at which the identities of the two candidates to be independent chairman will be revealed. The fact that there is still a short list leads to the conclusion that Lord Mawhinney will remain in post for a while beyond his scheduled swan song, the Football League awards on Sunday.

Red Rose raise red flag

Lancashire County Cricket Club yesterday sent out a rousing press release about the pressure they will apply to Trafford Council ahead of tonight's meeting to decide whether to grant planning permission for redevelopment of the ground. In staging what the club yesterday termed a "march from Old Trafford cricket ground", Lancashire's chief executive, Jim Cumbes, the club mascot, cricketers and local residents, businesses and fans, will take to the streets. Actually, more specifically: the street. The march begins at 5.30pm and ends at 5.40pm, when the demonstrators will have crossed the Talbot Road from the ground to Trafford town hall.

Sugababes' bitter pill

Kent County Cricket Club has learned the hard way how Hanging On A Star is not the way to balance the books. The club bust their budget after concerts held at Canterbury by the Sugababes and James Morrison, below, produced poor ticket sales. Far from being in Denial, the club admitted yesterday to suffering "acute disappointment". A statement said: "The two concerts incurred losses of over £190,000 – our budget was predicated on very significant returns." Oh dear. So it turned out that the spiralling Spitfires needed the Sugababes like a Hole In The Head. (OK – I'll stop now.)

• Company behind club failed to settle debts with HMRC
• Cardiff and Southend given more time to pay their debts

The debt-ridden company behind Chester City FC has today been wound up, the club have confirmed.

Chester City FC 2004 Ltd failed to settle its debts with HM Revenue & Customs resulting in the adjudication at the high court in London this morning.

In January, the company was given six weeks to finalise proposals for a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) aimed at enabling the club, which was formed in 1885, to clear their immediate debts – £26,125 of which is owed to the taxman.

They, however, failed to do that and so today succumbed to a compulsory winding up order.

But supporters have vowed to resurrect Chester, which was expelled from the Blue Square Premier division last month.

Speaking outside the high court, supporting creditor David Evans, who is on the board of City Fans Ltd, said: "It's quite emotional but it means a fresh start. It means we can have our club back. We hope we will now be a reformed club."

Fellow fan Sue Choularton added: "In a way it is very sad, but we are planning on starting up a 'phoenix club' to start again, possibly in Unibond League One. We have already got 1,000 members."

The registrar's ruling means the club's affairs will effectively be handed over to an Official Receiver. His job is then to do his best to ensure that debts are paid off by selling any assets available and then bringing business to a close.

A Football Association spokesperson said: "The FA notes today's decision of the High Court in relation to Chester City. The winding up of any club is a loss to the game and in particular to the supporters of that club.

"In order to maintain a senior football club in the city of Chester, the FA will welcome applications if the club wishes to reform. Any such applications will be considered by the FA's Leagues Committee."

Meanwhile, Cardiff City have been given 56 days and Southend 35 days to settle their own winding-up orders.

Both clubs were given more time by a High Court registrar to make a "full and final" payment to HM Revenue and Customs of VAT and PAYE debts.

Matthew Smith, representing HMRC, told Mrs Registrar Derrett that both clubs were insolvent and Cardiff was "robbing Peter to pay Paul" in order to stay afloat.

He said the Championship side owed around £1.9m and League One Southend £411,000.

Lawyers for Southend agreed staff at the club had not been paid but this would be settled on Monday.

The registrar was told that Southend will receive funds soon, including £800,000 from season ticket sales.

Elaine Palser, representing Cardiff, said a "third party" investor would be providing the club with £6m in funds and the tax debts would be paid.

She said the company was not insolvent and had substantial assets including £30m worth of players and the problems had been caused by a "temporary cash flow difficulties".

• National broadcaster says Hiddink will take job for two months
• Coach's agent believes he needs to end contract with Russia

The Dutch national broadcaster NOS says that Guus Hiddink has agreed to coach Ivory Coast in this year's World Cup.

NOS says the Dutchman will lead Ivory Coast from 15 May to 15 July before taking over as Turkey coach. In its report but he that before signing with Ivory Coast, Hiddink must first confirm that his contract with Russia has been ended.

The Dutch daily De Telegraaf quotes Hiddink's agent, Cees van Nieuwenhuizen, as saying that the negotiations with Russia are a barrier to the Ivory Coast deal.

Hiddink coached Holland to the World Cup semi-finals in 1998, South Korea to the same stage four years later and led Australia at the World Cup in Germany four years ago.

This week's round-up features an FA Cup classic, Kriss Akabusi in the shower and the most ludicrous own goal you will ever see

1) With the FA Cup back on the agenda this weekend we got to thinking of classic quarter-final moments and Tottenham fans will remember few more fondly than David Ginola's silky weave in from the touchline to score against Barnsley in 1999. And now that we're reminiscing about Ginola, here he is letting Leeds have it with a magnificent volley (he almost scored an even better goal in the same game) and making mugs of Ferencvaros. Oh, and here he is getting naked.

2) After Australia had batted superbly to match New Zealand's score of 214 in their Twenty20 international last week, fast bowler Shaun Tait fell apart in the super over tie-breaker.

3) Frank Warren has secured Kevin Mitchell a WBO lightweight title-fight against Michael Katsidis on 8 May. Let's hope the fight can live up to the standards set the last time the Australian visited London.

4) At the NFL's annual Scouting Combine, TV anchor Rich Eisen takes on the nation's best college graduates in the 40-yard dash.

5) Combat-Ki expert Kirby Roy takes a world record kick to the testicles from MMA fighter Justice Smith - in the name of scientific inquiry. Other notable studies by Fox's Sports Science series include getting Padraig Harrington to try a 'Happy Gilmore' swing (more successful than you might think) and finding out whether men or women punch harder.

Our favourites from last week's blog

1) Brett Lee: fast bowler, lower-order batsman, pop star. The former Sweden manager Lars Lagerbäck, on the other hand, may not have the voice, but he does have the music video

2) Feyenoord's Georginio Wijnaldum didn't score at the end of his mazy run against ADO Den Haag, but he did manage to injure three opponents without fouling any of them - or even touching two of them.

3) Gaël Monfils dispels the popular myth that it's easier to play tennis shots with at least one of your feet touching the ground.

4) The most ludicrous own goal you will ever see.

5) Ever wonder how long Kriss Akabusi takes in the shower? Well, now you know.

Spotters' badges: Dappertutto, hemeantthatalright, Yassassin, BestNotMiss, siimon

Your surefire route to a lie-in every morning

You get bored at work, we get bored at work; the difference is, we don't get sacked for playing these games. Not yet, anyway.

Collected below are some of our favourite games on t'internet, so get stuck in and putt, kick, or skate your way to the JobCentre.

If you know something we don't, send a link to your favourite online (sports) game headlined The greatest games ever ... to sports.editor@guardianunlimited.co.uk (with a few lines telling us why it's so good) and we'll add them to our list - vigorous quality control guaranteed, reader.

Our latest finds

Basketball: Not got the required inches to be a master of the hoops? Well, now you don't need to. This little gem of a game tests your prowess at judging height and distance and gives you a new area of the court to shoot from with every shot you take. You can also see how you rank against other work-shy competitors around the globe. Simple and very addictive. P45 rating ***

Zombie Football: Hot on the heels of the popular Zombe Cricket comes its footballing brother. There's a little more to it - angles and movement - and you can pick your Premier League side. Frighteningly good.

RBS Drop Kick: Just in time for the Six Nations. Watch for the scrum half's signal, catch his pass and ping the ball between the posts. Not as easy as it sounds. P45 rating **

The Hand of Henry: This game is all in French but it's easy enough to work out how to 'jouer'. The graphics are basic but it's fun to play. My score: France 31-1 Ireland. Pretty handy.
P45 rating **

And the full catalogue...

CRICKET

Ashes Desktop Challenge: Not a million miles away from the tabletop childhood game of yore Test Match Cricket. Addictive but ultimately quite frustrating, much like the Ashes then.
P45 rating ****

Test Catch Cricket: Pretty tricky to get the hang of, then hours of fun. And rather addictive, if only for the rare pleasure of taking a one-handed catch at full-stretch. And then keeping the mouse moving for added flamboyance.
P45 rating: ***

Little Master Cricket: One of our favourites. Ever. The very best internet games share the same characteristics - they're simple and they're fiendishley addictive. We're grateful to Mark Jones for suggesting this little beauty. "Try to beat my high score of 366," he says, "either in a Pietersen like smashathon, or in an Boycott-type forward defensive inspired resolute innings." Our best? A hard-hitting 107 after 45 minutes determined effort.
P45 rating: ****

Battrick: "The Barmy Army is all over the game," so 'Shailes' tells us. Manage a cricket team against others from across the globe in First Class, 50- and 20-over competitions, as well as buying, selling, and ground-developing. Like the football version, Hat-trick, which you can find below, you've got to be in for the long haul on this one.
P45 Rating ****

Stick Cricket: Takes a while to get the knack of, but worth the effort for the first time you knock Dennis Lillee out of the ground.
P45 rating: ****

Slog Cricket: You are the bat! Pretty simple. Until it gets quite hard.
P45 rating: ***

Ashes2Ashes zombie cricket: This game has entertaining graphics as Ricky Ponting-lookalike zombies limp towards the batsman whenever he fails to crack a six. But the dimensions are not quite right, making it really tricky to judge when to hit the ball. Or maybe we're just bad at cricket.
P45 rating ***

FOOTBALL

Gaelic Football Challenge: Take on a quick seven-a-side game, or register for the All-Ireland Championship mode for a more immersive experience. Shades of Sensible Soccer give this decent playability, though you may need some serious interest in Gaelic Football to get the most out of it.
P45 rating ***

Jumpers for Goalposts: Start from the bottom and work your way up, gaining contracts, international honours and, most importantly, girls along the way. Surprisingly addictive for an abstract football-based RPG.
P45 Rating ****

Goal Street: Have you ever tried to breakdance and strike a ball at the same time? Get down with a load of no good punk kids in this street football game that frankly makes it all a bit too easy.
P45 Rating ***

Bumperball: "It's football, but in bumper cars, on an ice rink," writes Nathan Jones. "What is there not to love?" Erm ...
P45 rating: ***

Football Agent: Buy! Sell! Be the Mr 10% and rake in enough cash to buy a mansion. Tough, but in a good way
P45 rating: ****

Roby Baggio's Free-Kick Game: An old classic. We've found the trick is swinging the ball in Bolton-style for the onrushing centre-forward, rather than going for spectacular Baggioesque finishes.
P45 rating: ***

Super Soccer: Finally a football game which doesn't involve posing as a faded star playing keepy-uppy. Sadly, despite reading the instructions three times, we're rubbish at it. Hours must be spent perfecting our skills, clearly.
P45 rating: ***

Hat-trick: This is a slow burner - register your team, develop your youth squad, make transfers, all in aid of winning the 16 week league. Could cut your working day by hours.
P45 rating: ****

Volley Challenge 07/08: Pick your team, play a season, and make your striker hump the ball over the crossbar. Over and over again.
P45 rating: ***

Free-kick Fusion: As suggested by Zach Parrott: "This game ruined my summer job during WC 2006. It's amazing because you compulsively seek a higher and higher score. You're only inches away from the next level each time!"
P45 rating: **

RUGBY

Flick n Kick rugby: A peculiar little game, this is a combination of digital Subbuteo and rugby. Of course, it's so obvious. Pick up points for avoiding tackles, collecting power-ups (if you're playing Wales you can turn into a dragon, no less), and of course scoring tries and conversions. Won't get you the sack, but will amuse for a few minutes.
P45 rating: **

Game of 3 Halves: A kind of Sensible Rugby, but with three of your fellas taking on an entire team of opposition. And a streaker. And a sheep.
P45 rating: ***

GOLF

Lumix World Golf: Travel the world, see the sights ... play crazy golf. Negotiate courses based around Easter Island, Sydney harbour, and the Big Apple, among others, all with just your putter and a keen appreciation of angles.
P45 rating: ****

Office Minigolf: "That's the game that you really play in the office - for sure after your colleagues have gone," chuckles someone called simply 'Joe', before adding: "nice dice". We're not sure what he means but this is a quirky, very playable effort.
P45 rating: ***

Cat with a bow golf: Ah, golf. Funny trousers, silly terminology and a cat firing itself at a target with a bow and arrow. A good walk ruined.
P45 rating: ****

Golf Drive: Apparently it's a "relaxing game of golf the prehistoric way". Very tricky, but very nice graphics and takes a bit of thought.
P45 rating: ****

Mini Putt 2: The graphics on this aren't as good as Electrotank, but the gameplay is better. We suggest organising an office championship (our best score is 33, by the way)
P45 rating: *****

Crazy Golf: See if you can resist the temptation to give it a whack and hope for the best.
P45 rating: ***

Driving Mad: Driving in the Tiger Woods sense, not Kimi Raikkonen, this is another game which sets you simple targets and even tells you you're great when you're not [like us]. Bonus points for taking down the odd pigeon, too.
P45 rating: ***

Pandaf Golf: Slightly insane, very annoying sound effects, but rather addictive all the same. "This one is a definite candidate for rapid P45 delivery. Once you have finished the 100 or so levels you can make up your own layouts!" squeals Mark Bermingham, probably clapping his hands, too.
P45 rating: ****

Line Golfer: As much Tony Hart as it is Tony Jacklin, you can design your own course using virtual crayons (the dafter and more complex the better), set your own par, play other people's courses and – you never know – you might even make the leader board. It's unlikely though. Courses designed in the shape of appendages will be frowned upon.
P45 Rating ***

World Golf Tour: Very impressive graphics for a free online game and pretty playable too. "This one cost me a pay rise last year," writes Neil McCallum. "A quick nine without the boss noticing is as much a challenge as the game itself."
P45 rating: ****

Galactic Gravity Golf: Based on the admittedly flimsy premise that golf in space would be made more difficult by planets' gravitation pull it proves fiendishly addictive if a little unrealistic.
P45 rating ***

Tiger Woods Outrun: Imagine you're a golfer being chased by a golf club-wielding blonde and you must avoid a series of obstacles including trees and fire hydrants. It would never happen in the real world, of course, but it's fun to pretend. P45 rating ***

TENNIS

Table Tennis: Rob Bentham reckons "it's really addictive, and sounds great as well". We reckon it might be a little infuriating.
P45 rating: If self-confessed temp Rob is anything to go by, ****

Tennis Ace: "I think this is the best tennis game - it has a practice option and three levels of difficulty too. Nice umpiring too!" says Bryan Coleman. Be warned, you'll be a lot better in training than in the match ...
P45 rating: ***

Rong: It's ping-pong Jim, but not as we know it. Rather ridiculously addictive
P45 rating: *****

The Optus tennis challenge: Keepy-uppy with a tennis ball, essentially - but pity the poor souls with time enough on their hands to notch up high scores of close to 2000.
P45 rating: ***

BOWLING

League Bowling: Enjoyably retro.
P45 rating: ***

Super Bowling: Ego-boostingly simple to play. Get that swerve on
P45 rating: ****

WINTER SPORTS

Horace goes skiing: Not big or particularly clever, but it's a trip down memory lane for anyone who once owned a ZX81.
P45 rating **

Snowboarding: We would like to say this game is, like, totally rad dude. But we've no idea how to retain control.
P45 rating: ***

PUB SPORTS

English Pub Pool
Cracking physics, plenty of options so you can keep the rules exactly as you have them when at the pub, and includes the tear-inducing moment as you realise you've accidentally knocked in the black. All that, and opponents with low rent names.
P45 rating ****

Let's Play Darts: Mark Ingle suggests this little beauty from Holland. "The best bit (other than hitting multiple 180s) is the sound effects, delivered by a genuine dart scorer legend," says Mark. There's also a daily Top 100 score board. Our best? 22.2sec. Oh yeah.
P45 rating: ****

Lightning Break: Easy controls, simple objectives, endlessly entertaining.
P45 rating: ****

First2zero virtual darts: Pick an overweight, cartoon dartsmith and toss your 'arras at the treble 20, simple. The only game that involves less effort than real darts.
P45 rating: ***

Blast Billiards: Ian Gale calls this "a fiendishly addictive way to waste an hour or three at work." Even though we're shamefully useless at this game, we're inclined to agree. And they've added side spin options in the later versions, for anyone who just needs more control
P45 rating: *****

AMERICAN SPORTS

Candystand Baseball: Takes a few innings to get used to the controls, particularly when you are the fielding team. But it's worth the 10 minutes of head-scratching and running in the wrong direction when you do get the hang of it. Surprisingly representative, very playable, and includes some nice details, such as the pitcher mocking you when you swing and miss. Goodbye Mr Spalding and other such hackneyed phrases.
P45 rating: ****

Three point shootout: Another in the 'simple but addictive' category. Attempt three point shots from all around the basketball court with nothing more than a swish of your mouse, just like they do in the NBA's All-Star weekend. Well, kind of. It's easy to learn, but tough to master. Once you get in the zone you'll be hitting nothing but net, and inner monologuing 'LeBron from way downtown', in a rather pathetic way.
P45 rating ***

Pinch Hitter 2: Take a strange large-headed boy from hitting balls in his backyard to the major league. With hour upon hour of practice of course.
P45 rating: ***

Trick hoops challenge: This one is all about showing off with the most outrageous attempts at the basket, if you can get it in off the wall you are far better than us.
P45 rating: ***

Baseball: Badda-badda…..Shwiiiiiiiiiiiing…..badda-badda. It's the bottom of the ninth, you need two runs for victory and there's a gum-chewing schmuck on the pitching mound with some curve-balls up his sleeve. Swing for the sweet-spot.
P45 Rating ****

HORSES AND DOGS

Steeplechase Challenge: There's something deeply retro about this one. The secret is in judicious use of the whip and perfect timing in the jump.
P45 rating *** (***** if your betting syndicate is rumbled)

Greyhound Racer Rampage: Greyhound training crossed with Guitar Hero doesn't sound the most thrilling combination, but the pride we felt when our dog - Carl - finally crossed the finish line first ... well, it was emotional, put it that way. Quirky, clever and made with a bit of love.
P45 rating ***

MOTOR SPORTS

Stick Rally X: Despite the name, this very playable top-down rally romp is about as un-'sticky' as they get. Like a more sober version of Micro Machines, you get to whizz around various dirt tracks, unlocking new circuits and cars along the way. Want to go faster? Then hit that nitro boost button, baby!
P45 rating: ***

Stunt Dirt Bike: A mix of impressive acceleration and chronic problems with staying vertical make this the Didier Drogba of internet sports games. Much more popular around the office though.
P45 rating: ****

Drag Racing: Sadly, no 15st blokes hotfooting it on heels here. But sneaking a win on the line in a Honda Civic is enjoyment enough.
P45 rating: ***

OLD SCHOOL
Sidering knockout: A old style beat 'em up with energy bars and combo moves. Take your humble slugger up through ranks and finally earn a title fight.
P45 rating: ***

Denise Lewis Heptathlon: While it is not the most covert operation (bashing the B and N keys for all your worth) and is likely to cause debilitating finger cramps, this old style arcade game is maddeningly addictive.
P45: *****

3-D Pong: Just when you thought pong couldn't get any better, they go and make it 3D. So hard you will inevitably spend hours of company time playing it.
P45 rating: ****

ATHLETICS

Olympix Summer Games: Suffering from Beijing withdrawal symptoms? Well, fear not. Here you can try your hand at the 100m, the 110m hurdles, the javelin and the long jump. It's pretty straightforward, rather addictive, suitable time-consuming and you can't fare any worse than GB's track and field athletes.
P45 rating: **

QWOP Athletics: From the people who brought you Little Master cricket, here's a game in which you control an athletes calves and thighs. Anyone who can do more than spasm and fall over deserves some sort of prize.
P45 rating: **

Janey Thomson's marathon: This is a finger-clicking nightmare of a game that is likely to reduce your life expectancy. It was removed from arcades after its release in 1984 because kids found it too tiring. You have been warned ...
P45 rating **

WATER SPORTS

Kayak King: "Bad title pun aside, this canoe game is pretty damn addictive," says Jack Iles. We enjoyed the first level. Then found it infuriatingly difficult.
P45 rating: **

CYCLING

King of the Road: This finger-bashing effort tries to recreate the Tour de France. Its replete with photographers and dogs to halt your progress and is reminiscent of Daley Thompson's Decathlon.
P45 rating ****

MISCELLANEOUS

OK, so these are not strictly sports. But they should be.

Ball Blitz: Use your balls to knock the other guys balls out of the ring. It's life in flash game format.
P45 rating: ***

Crash Test Dummy Olympics: There's not much to these events, but getting them right is infuriatingly tough. A guaranteed time-waster.
P45 rating: ***

Escapa: This has got office tournament written all over it. You are a red square trying to escape the accelerating wrath of some blue squares. Get anywhere near 20 and you're doing well. 19.966 since you ask.
P45 rating: ***

Yeti Sports: All the Pingu smacking fun you can handle, on one site. Repetitive, but strangely pleasurable.
P45 rating: ***

Home Run: Admittedly, this isn't strictly a sports game but it can technically be shoehorned into the Pub Sports category. Stop yourself from keeling over as you stagger home after a beer too many. Mindlessly simple and therefore highly amusing. Bet you can't beat 200m.
P45 rating: ***

Starring: A quick thinking keeper, referees getting shoved, and a shoot-out dilemma

Click to enlarge, and debate the strip below the line. Keith Hackett's official answers appear in Sunday's Observer and here from Monday.

Keith Hackett's answers

1) This is one incident with two offences: handball and encroachment. First punish the most serious, which is handball - award a direct free kick where the handball took place. Then, show the player a yellow card for encroachment (failing to respect the required distance). You wouldn't show two yellow cards (one for deliberate handball, one for encroachment) because this is all one incident, not two. Thanks to Donal O'Brien for the question.
2) No. This is a tough one: you should never have been in the way – a good referee will always try to position himself so that he avoids physical contact with players - but the player has roughly shoved you: an act of violent conduct. So you have no choice: disallow the goal and send him off. Restart with an indirect free kick from where you were pushed. Peter Winlow wins the shirt for this question.
3) During a shoot-out, the only player who can be substituted (assuming the team have substitutions remaining) is the goalkeeper. Outfield players who are injured or sent off are not replaced. So in this situation, if the two players fail to take their kicks, their penalties are recorded as misses, while the opposition continue with the shoot-out. If the opposition don't score either of these two kicks (and thus win the sudden death shoot-out), then the kicks continue, and players can take their second penalties in any order. Thanks to Johannah Carroll.

Competition: win an official club shirt of your choice

For a chance to win a club shirt from the range at Kitbag.com send us your questions for You are the Ref to you.are.the.ref@observer.co.uk. The best scenario used in the new Observer YATR strip each Sunday wins a shirt of your choice from Kitbag. Terms & conditions apply.

For more on the fifty year history of You Are The Ref, click here.

This article has been amended after its initial publication. The original version was launched with the wrong question on the second picture. Apologies to all those who had already submitted answers

• World champion predicts a season to remember
• 'With the new regulations we don't know who is the quickest'

Jenson Button believes this season in Formula One will be "a belter" and that Michael Schumacher will prove he can still compete at the age of 41.

Button lifted the drivers' crown last year with Brawn GP, but has since joined his predecessor as world champion and fellow Briton Lewis Hamilton at McLaren.

The 30-year-old hopes that new regulations, with no refuelling during the race, and the return of the seven-times champion Schumacher – never one to shy away from controversy – will bring many fans back to the sport.

"I think it will be a belter of a year this year," Button said after receiving the Laureus Breakthrough of the Year Award in Abu Dhabi. "Not for me, I think for Formula One as a whole and for all of us who love Formula One and racing in Formula One.

"You've got four top teams, maybe even five or six that are going to be quick and competitive. With the new regulations we don't really know who is the quickest team. It's a great position to be in. I think it's great for the sport and hopefully will attract more viewers and fans.

"Michael Schumacher coming back I think is great for the sport. He's 41 – people are saying he's too old, but he's not. I'm 30, and at 41 I can't imagine myself racing, I'll go and do something else, but Michael's realised I think it's difficult to find something else to do that gives you that buzz like Formula One does.

"He's back and with four world champions on the grid all in competitive cars [Button, Hamilton, Schumacher and Fernando Alonso], and new regulations, it should be a very exciting season.

"Last year was great having a couple of new teams fighting at the front but there were some negatives as well, mostly off circuit."

Cook will have support in and around the dressing room as he becomes England's fifth youngest Test captain in Chittagong

Alastair Cook is that rare thing, an England captain taking charge for the first time in a Test in an atmosphere of peace and contentment. There is no divided or downcast dressing room to concern him, and nobody is condemning his appointment from the rooftops, or indeed the Red Tops.

It makes it easier for Cook that he is only in temporary charge, as Andrew Strauss sits out the tour, and it helps, too, that Bangladesh are a Test side that England are confident of beating, even an England side that must field a bowling attack of shreds and patches. But as introductions go it is genial, much like Cook himself. Messages of goodwill abound. He is a lucky lad.

Cook will become England's 79th Test captain at the ZA Chowdhury Stadium on Friday. If you want a favourable omen, 79 is the atomic number of gold in the periodic table, so we can sit back and watch the trophies pile high. For a side only fifth in the Test rankings that would be a turn-up, but if you cannot be optimistic at the start of an England captain's career then you never will because it will get harder.

He will become the fifth youngest Test captain for England — at 25 years and 77 days – and the youngest since Ian Botham in 1980. As Cook sat good humouredly on the boundary edge on another sunny day, one of those present was Michael Atherton, who was a few months older than Cook when he took charge of England for the first time, also at 25. Those were harsher times. The Ashes had been lost and Graham Gooch, now Cook's batting mentor, had resigned, demoralised.

Atherton, who went on to lead England in a record 54 Tests, has often observed that he got the job too early, even if it did sharpen his batting form initially. But these days the job is not so lonely – indeed, it is difficult to move in the dressing room without bumping into psychologists, nutritionists and masseurs all offering support – and for Cook the experience has come at a good time.

It was observed in this newspaper a few months ago that Cook seemed to be sleepwalking into the captaincy, and so he was. The selectors had identified something revealed to few. He had shown no great desire for leadership and there was little evidence that he was an astute tactician. His England batting career, too, was also in the doldrums as technical flaws, most clinically exposed by Australia, left him increasingly uncertain.

Duncan Fletcher, his first England coach, also in these pages, suggested his appointment was a mistake. He needed to be concentrating on his own game, Fletcher said. If he had the aptitude for captaincy then this would develop of its own accord. Cook, though, has had a good few weeks. He was in prime form as England won the one-day series 3-0 and he has taken on the captaincy with a striking serenity. He does not seem overexerted and much of the reason for that rests with Andy Flower, England's coach, who has taken on a more dominant role than he has when working alongside Strauss, a much more rounded leader.

Most of the recent England captains have been immensely strong-willed – not just Atherton but Nasser Hussain, a streetfighter by nature, and Michael Vaughan, another shrewd cookieas well as quite a politician. At the heart of Kevin Pietersen's reign was a more flamboyant egotism.

Cook lacks the same edge, but there are signs that a temporary stint as captain will be good for him,kicking him on, forcing him to assume cricketing adulthood.

Rather than plan for authority, he needs authority to be thrust upon him. Popular with his team-mates, he is sensitive enough to be aware of their concerns. Who knows, he might return to the back of the bus after this tour, never to return, because the world is full of heirs apparent who never make it, but he would return to the back of the bus older and more battle-hardened.

"You find yourself thinking about different things, such as the make-up of the side and who I want to go into the Test with," he said. "I have enjoyed the extra responsibility. The night before the first warm-up game I didn't sleep at all. I kept thinking, 'Who is going to bowl here and field there?' I thought that if it was going to be like this it was going to be a long tour. But apart from that I have slept really well.

"I'm excited and proud to know that not many people have done what I am going to do now. I feel ready. I feel as though I have done the job well. You are judged on results and it has gone well. Andy Flower has been exceptional, trying to take as much pressure off me as possible, especially with decisions away from the cricket itself."

When he was appointed, Cook admitted that he was a conservative leader. As Stuart Broad went through a second day of fitness Tests today, and another fast bowler, Graham Onions, was ruled out because of a back injury, Cook seemed to be tilting towards playing six batsmen, certainly more so than Flower had been 24 hours earlier. Publication of the latest ICC Test rankings, which showed not a single England batsman in the top 20, would add ammunition to such a case.

Some of the reasoning for that lies with Pietersen's troubled form. Jamie Siddons, Bangladesh's Australian coach, is certainly heartened by Pietersen's travails against spin on this tour. "If he struggles against slow left-armers then he's got two bloody good ones against him [here]," he said.

Bangladesh were left in turmoil today when Raqibul Hasan announced his international retirement for "personal reasons'. He was left out for the one-day series against England but earned a place in the Test squad after scoring an unbeaten century for Bangladesh A in the warm-up match. Jahurul Islam is expected to be promoted to the squad although the Board has yet to accept Raqibul's retirement.

• Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan banned for a year
• Shahid Afridi and Akmal brothers fined and on probation

Pakistan's defence of the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean next month and their Test prospects against England later this year were todaydealt a severe blow after four players were banished from the team and three others punished by a Pakistan Cricket Board inquiry into the calamitous recent tour of Australia.

Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan, the last two men to captain Pakistan in Tests, have been banned indefinitely for "infighting which … brought down the whole team". Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan have been banned for a year and fined. Shahid Afridi, the captain of the Twenty20 side, was fined and put on probation for six months over his "shameful act" of biting the ball in Perth. The Akmal brothers, Kamran and Umar, were treated similarly and told their conduct would be strictly monitored.

The former Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis, who will coach the team in the Twenty20 World Cup, told the website Cricinfo: "It's a huge shock for me, definitely. I want to speak to the board about it to get more details on it before saying more, but it is definitely a big step. It is a big step the board has taken and I hope they have solid evidence for taking the actions that they have taken. All evidence must be there and they must have spoken to a lot of people for this. Once a player is banned it is a label you have put on him so it is a big thing."

A PCB committee led by Wasim Bari, a stalwart of Pakistan teams in the 1970s and 80s, interviewed 13 people, including eight players, over three days.

In a convoluted statement, the PCB said: "Mohammed Yousuf and [Younus] Khan, keeping in view their infighting which resulted in bringing down the whole team, their attitude has a trickledown effect which is a bad influence for the whole team [and] should not be part of [the] national team in any format."

The decision prompted protesters in Hyderabad to burn bats but later the PCB made clear its position: "PCB wishes to clarify that the recommendation of the committee is not a life ban on these cricketers. There is no specified term in the recommendation for these two players. As and when the PCB deems appropriate, these players will be considered for selection for the national team."

Neither Yousuf nor Younis is likely to play for Pakistan while Ijaz Butt heads the board. Few know why Yousuf was targeted. In Younis's case, it is understood it was felt to be time to draw a line under his increasingly difficult behaviour. A source said: "I think the message to Younis is that they have had enough with his antics. Constantly resigning, not having the support of players, things like that."

Malik's 2m rupee fine [£15,900] was imposed for allegedly undermining team morale. Sources told the Guardian that Rana was banned over an argument with Yousuf in Australia.

The sanctions against Afridi – imposed, according to the PCB, "for the shameful act [of biting the ball] which has brought the game and country into disrepute" – Umar and Kamran were easier to rationalise. Kamran said publicly he would be selected for the third Test against Australia, after being dropped. Umar, his younger brother, was punished for allegedly feigning injury in support of Kamran, though he did later play in Hobart.

With one of the five members of the inquiry committee being a lawyer, it seems the PCB believes itself to be on solid ground legally. But the long-term effect of such sanctions from an unpopular administration is uncertain.

The board said "This will go a long way to arrest the decline of Pakistan cricket ." The PCB will hope that the squad sent to England this summer, in the absence of the banned players, will be sufficiently competitive not to affect ticket sales.

• Coach says Ireland captain 'deserves accolades' for 100th cap
• Wales captain Williams: 'He's got the complete package'

The Wales head coach, Warren Gatland, has paid tribute to Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll ahead of Saturday's Six Nations match in Dublin.

The Ireland captain will become the 13th player to reach 100 caps for his country – following the Ireland prop John Hayes, who reached the mark against England two weeks ago – in the match at Croke Park.

Gatland, who was in charge of Ireland for 38 Tests between 1998 and 2001, gave O'Driscoll his Test debut, against Australia in Brisbane almost 11 years ago. He also worked with O'Driscoll on last summer's Lions tour to South Africa.

"I gave him his first cap, and it was an honour for me to be involved with him with the Lions last year to see how he has developed," said Gatland. "I was incredibly impressed with his leadership and his understanding of the game.

"He was one of the main reasons [the Wales centre] Jamie Roberts ended up having such a good tour. He deserves all the accolades, and I will be one of the first to stand up in the coaching box on Saturday and clap him.

"I am absolutely delighted for him and proud I have had an association with him. Brian has got natural flair, is a good passer off both hands, has got a step and fantastic pace. He would most definitely be in most people's World XV of the last decade."

O'Driscoll has toured three times with the Lions, captaining the 2005 squad in New Zealand, and has led Ireland 63 times, winning a Six Nations title, a grand slam and four triple crowns. He won the Heineken Cup with Leinster in 2009.

Gatland said his favourite O'Driscoll display had come in Paris in 2000. Two months after his 21st birthday, O'Driscoll scored three tries in a thrilling Ireland victory at the Stade de France, their first in Paris for 27 years.

"That is my greatest memory of Brian," said Gatland. "I remember the French great Philippe Sella coming into the changing room to congratulate him afterwards and saying it was one of the most impressive centre performances he had ever seen."

The Wales flanker Martyn Williams, another three-tour Lion, will captain Wales in Dublin, in place of the injured Ryan Jones.

Williams said: "Brian is without doubt the best player in the northern hemisphere over the last decade, and probably one of the greatest ever.

"For me, there is nothing he can't do. A lot of players maybe are really good defenders and have great passing skills, but he's got the complete package. I cannot speak highly enough of him. He is an unbelievable player."

• Heavyweights met to discuss follow-up to 2003 showdown
• 'His mum decided he wasn't going to fight,' said Ukrainian

Vitali Klitschko has revealed how Lennox Lewis's mother stopped him getting a rematch with the former world heavyweight champion.

Lewis beat Klitschko in June 2003 in controversial circumstances, retaining his WBC title when the fight was stopped after the sixth round in Los Angeles. The Ukrainian had a deep cut above his left eye but led on the judges' scorecards when officials ruled he could not continue. In the referee's opinion the cut had been caused by a punch, which meant that Lewis was automatically declared the winner.

If it had been ruled that the cut had been caused by a headbutt, Klitschko would have won the title as he was ahead on the scorecards at the time.

Plans for an eagerly anticipated rematch never materialised, with Klitschko yesterday offering an interesting explanation for why that was the case. "Lennox promised me but his mum decided he wasn't going to fight," said the 38-year-old ahead of the Laureus World Sports Awards in Abu Dhabi. "He invited me to London, without managers. He said he wanted to talk just together. I came to the room and his mum is there. We talked for two hours and his mum was looking at me and scanning me.

"After that I went away and he called me a couple of hours later and said, 'Sorry, but no'. I felt it wasn't his decision, his mum decided. I tried to change his decision, but it's difficult.

"But I was appreciative to Lennox Lewis that I got the chance to prove my skills against the toughest fighter in the world. But he was lucky, because I was ahead before the doctor stopped the fight with the cut."

Klitschko will defend his WBC heavyweight title against the London-based Pole Albert Sosnowski on 29 May, but a fight with Britain's WBA champion David Haye remains high on the agenda.

Haye faces the first defence of his title against the American John Ruiz next month and Klitschko added: "I keep my fingers crossed that Haye beats Ruiz. Not because I like him, but I want his title and to shut his mouth.

"Maybe we [Vitali and his brother Wladimir] will decide by coins who fights him. For Wladimir it is personal, but for me I want the title.

"My brother already has three but I have to clear it with him. I hope he listens to his older brother."