MANCHESTER: Wasim Akram had two reasons to celebrate yesterday after being appointed Lancashire's captain shortly after leading Pakistan to victory over the West Indies in a one-day international in Lahore.

Akram, already awarded a testimonial by the English county for next season, takes over from Mike Watkinson, who stepped down recently after four years in charge. ``It's a great honour,'' said the Pakistan all-rounder. ``I am looking forward to it and I am sure we will be in with a chance of honours.''Akram's vice-captain will be England batsman John Crawley, who was one of the five captains used by Lancashire last season.

Tyson's presence felt at title fight

LAS VEGAS: Mike Tyson, even in banished exile, looms large here, casting a shadow over world champions Evander Holyfield and Michael Moorer as they prepare to fight each other on Saturday.

In the wake of comments by ex-champ Tyson made public on Monday, boxing officials here have said Tyson's possible ring return has not been discussed and Holyfield has said a third fight with Tyson is unlikely.

World Boxing Association champion Holyfield and International Boxing Federation champion Moorer will meet in the first title bout here since Tyson was disqualified for biting both of Holyfield's ears in June.

Bebeto runs back to Vitoria

RIO DE JANEIRO: World Cup-winning striker Bebeto has returned to Brazilian club Vitoria without playing for Spain's Deportivo Coruna in the latest twist of a seemingly endless saga over his future.

Sergio Toniello, a spokesman for Vitoria's partners Banco Excel, who owns the player's contract, said he had begun training with the club and was expected to play in Saturday's key Brazilian championship match against Atletico Mineiro.

Death threats stalk Tiger

CARY, NORTH CAROLINA: Tiger Woods confirmed yesterday that he had received several death threats since making a name for himself in the world of golf.``Unfortunately, I've had my share of threats since I was 16,'' said Woods, who turns 22 next month. ``That's just the way life is when you're playing a sport that traditionally hasn't been a minority sport. The things I'm doing and saying and trying to accomplish, people are taking offence,'' said the sport's newest superstar during a teleconference call to promote this month's skins game in La Quinta, California.

Lambert signs contract with Celtic

BONN: Borussia Dortmund's Scottish international midfielder Paul Lambert has signed a four-year contract with Celtic, the European champions announced yesterday at a press conference.

Lambert, 28, a member of the Dortmund team who surprisingly beat Juventus in last season's European Cup final, is expected to make his farewell appearance for Dortmund against Parma in Champions' league match today.

Agassi goes home in comeback bid

LAS VEGAS: Former world No 1 Andre Agassi, now slumped to 140th in the ATP Tour rankings, returns to the court here in his hometown next week at a $50,000 Challenger Tour event.

Agassi was given a wild-card entry into the event, whose top-rated entrant is number 81 Grant Stafford of South Africa. He will also play doubles alongside coach Brad Gilbert. The duo also got a wild-card entry. In 13 main tour events this year, Agassi has lost eight times in the first round. His record on the year is 12-12. Agassi last won a singles title at Cincinnati in 1996.

Witherspoon emerges winner soon

ROBINSONVILLE: Tim Witherspoon, trying to position himself for a shot at a third heavyweight title, needed less than two minutes Tuesday night to knock out Levi Billups in his first bout in nearly a year.

Witherspoon backed Billups into the corner just 50 seconds into the fight, his patented overhand right doing the most damage. Billups fought out of the corner, only to be knocked down for the first time by a series of solid punches. Just seconds after the first knockdown, the fight was over.

Kang, Lin to face Cunning at Ta Shee

TA SHEE, Taiwan: In a high profile flight at the Ta Shee Open golf championship American Mike Cunning, who leads this season's Omega Order of Merit, has been paired with Korea's Kang Wook-Soon, winner of last year's merit list, and Taiwan's Lin Keng-Chi, the number one player in 1995.

The tournament, which forms the 16th leg of the 1997 Omega Tour, tees off tomorrow at ta Shee Golf and Country Club and offers a total purse of $250,000.

Iraq cleared of beating players

ZURICH: A FIFA investigation has found no evidence to support claims that Iraqi players were beaten after they failed to qualify for place in next year's World Cup, said Soccer's world governing body.

A FIFA two-man investigation committee spent two days in Iraq meeting national team officials and players separately. They found no evidence to substantiate media reports of any kind of mistreatment.

During the investigation, the FIFA committee questioned the head of the Iraqi National team delegation, members of the board of Iraqi football, the team coach and 12 players. The players were also examined for any physical traces of mistreatment.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.