Confirming his contract with the Nottinghamshire, Akhtar told a Pakistani daily over phone from London that he was approached by as many as 11 counties with Lancashire and Nottinghamsire being the frontrunners.

The 23-year-old Akhtar, who had stayed back in England after the World Cup, said his contract with Nottinghamshire would not affect his commitments with the Pakistan team. He apparently has been given the go ahead by Pakistan Cricket Board.

Atherton, Gough serve notice

LONDON: Newly-appointed England coach Duncan Fletcher says he's on the look out for an opener and an all-rounder when he takes over the team full time.

Former skipper Mike Atherton might have saved Fletcher some work. His unbeaten 176 for Lancashire against Glamorgan was almost on cue yesterday inthe English county game at Blackpool.

Meanwhile, England pace spearhead Darren Gough showed his return from injury is ahead of schedule by taking four wickets for Yorkshire against Warwickshire.

The England Cricket Board yesterday re-appointed David Graveney as chairman of selectors for a further two years.

Graveney, whose current contract was due to end August 31, will continue until the end of the 2001 season.

``I believe we are making real progress as an international side and I'm looking forward to playing my part in ensuring we continue with that progress over the months and years that follow,'' Graveney said.

Coca-Cola Cup in Sharjah

DUBAI: Sri Lanka will clash with the West Indies in the inaugural tie of the three-nation Coca-Cola Cup one-day cricket tournament at Sharjah to be held from October 13-20.

World Cup finalist Pakistan are the third team in the day-night competition at the desert venue, tournament organisers said here today.

The contestants face each other twice in adouble-leg round-robin league with the top two teams making it to the final.

SCHEDULE

Oct 13: Sri Lanka vs West Indies

Oct 14: Pakistan vs West Indies

Oct 15: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka

Oct 16: Rest day

Oct 17: West Indies vs Sri Lanka

Oct 18: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka

Oct 19: Pakistan vs West Indies

Oct 20-21: Rest days

Oct 22: Final.

It's impractical: Doig

WELLINGTON: New Zealand cricket chief executive Christoper Doig today dismissed as impractical Australia's idea for a four-nation one-day cricket series in Australia and New Zealand next January.

Australian Cricket Board chief executive Malcolm Speed floated the idea as a possible alternative if Pakistan or India were to pull out of the scheduled series with Australia because of mounting political tension over Kargil region.

New Zealand were due to host the West Indies for a Test and one-day series and Speed suggested they could join Australia and either Pakistan or India in a four-nationone-day tournament.

Doig said it was unlikely New Zealand would change their schedule. ``I think it may have been a spur-of-the-moment comment by Malcolm Speed. It is impractical, really. We have our own television responsibilities and sponsorships to consider. We can't just drop them and race off to help Australia.''

MCC members' ire

LONDON: Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) members gave the committee a vote of confidence at a special general meeting yesterday that was called after a storm over World Cup tickets.

Members were furious at having to pay for tickets to watch matches at Lord's during the recent World Cup. It was a break with tradition as members normally have free admission to Lord's which is owned by MCC.

Some 80 per cent of the membership backed the committee in the vote.

MCC president and former England captain Tony Lewis said: ``This debate has consumed precious time and has deflected us from our work in many areas. I hope that members will now accept that this chapter isclosed.''