London, Apr 7 : Kent skipper Rob Key has emerged as a front runner to be England's Twenty20 captain after Andrew Strauss was dramatically axed from the list of probables.

Key tops the list for World Twenty20 event because he is a sharp thinker, aggressive batsman and a respected leader, The Sun reported.

He has long been regarded as England captaincy material as Key led the A team in New Zealand this winter and takes charge of an MCC side, including Michael Vaughan against Durham at Lord's on Thursday.

Sydney  - Swimmer Nick D'Arcy was Tuesday kicked off the Australian team for July's world championships in Rome following his conviction for assaulting former Commonwealth Games champion Simon Cowley.

Last year's assault left Cowley with a broken nose, eye socket, jaw and cheekbone, and metal plates in his jaw and skull.

The case came to court last month and D'Arcy was given a 14-month suspended sentence.

The incident forced D'Arcy's exclusion from the Beijing Olympics and his conviction is likely to end his career.

London, Apr. 7 : Manchester United coach-cum-manager Alex Ferguson flipped on Monday as his portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo was again quizzed about his future at the club.

Ronaldo continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid in the summer.

But despite that, both manager and player bristled at a press conference yesterday when Ronaldo was questioned about whether he will go.

Fergie: "How many times have we had that question, how many times have we had that question?" Ronaldo: "Always this question."

Skopje, Macedonia - Srecko Katanec

Hamburg - Former Ireland manager Brian Kerr on Monday signed a two-and-a-half-year contract as Faroe Islands national team coach, the Faroe football federation said in a statement.

Kerr, 56, will be in charge until the end of the qualifying campaign for Euro 2012.

He will take charge of the North Atlantic islands team immediately, his first match coming in June against Serbia in World Cup 2010 qualifying. The Faroes lie bottom of Group 7 with just one points while Serbia top the standings.

Lahore, Apr. 6 : `Rawalpindi Express' Shoaib Akhtar has been included in Pakistan's squad for the one-day series against Australia in the UAE.

Selection committee chairman Abdul Qadir announced the squad at a press conference here on Monday.

A five match series will be played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.