Lahore, Apr. 1 : Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar's troubled past on and off the cricket field has come to haunt him, for now a reputed surgeon has refused to operate upon him because of it.

According to The Daily Times, a famous knee specialist has refused to treat Akhtar, saying it might affect his career adversely.

Madrid - Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini could be targeted by Spanish champions Real Madrid for the next season, the AS sports daily said on its website on Wednesday.

According to AS, Pellegrini is one of the coaches preferred by Jorge Valdano, the man tipped to return as Real sporting director if Florentino Perez, as expected, wins the upcoming presidential elections.

The elections will likely take place on June 14, and Perez, who has still not officially announced his candidature, is the clear favourite to win them.

Caracas  - Venezuela obtained a crucial 2-0 home win over direct rival Colombia late Tuesday in the South American qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The result leaves Colombia on 14 points from 12 games, with Venezuela on 13 points. If the qualifiers were to end now, neither team would continue to South Africa.

Despite Abel Aguirre being sent off in the first half, Venezuela could not crack the game until the last quarter-of-an-hour of play in Puerto Ordaz.

Miami  - Roger Federer stretched his run of form at the Miami Masters as he completed his 33rd victory Tuesday in his 11th straight year at the event, reaching the quarter-finals 6-3, 6-2 over Taylor Dent.

Dent, 27, spent six months in a body cast and underwent three back operations as he missed three years of ATP play due to the serious problem. The US player returned to the game at the start of 2009 with a ranking just inside the top 500 after his inactivity.

Johannesburg (South Africa), Mar. 31 : Ricky Ponting insists Australia''s South African tour hasn''t run off the rails despite three successive losses to the Proteas.

Ponting''s men must regroup for the opening one-day international in Durban on April 3 after losing the third Test by an innings and 20 runs, Friday''s first Twenty20 International by four wickets in the final over and Sunday''s second Twenty20 game by 17 runs.

St. Lucia (West Indies), Mar. 31 : England batsman Kevin Pietersen''s international career has probably hit a major roadblock, and speculation is rife that he may be sacked if he persists with his self-centered attitude.

Pietersen is officially on record as saying that all he wants to do is go home.

There is no doubt that he is still England''s best batsman, and remains committed to the cause. When he left the field during the fourth one-day international against West Indies complaining of a back spasm there was not sympathy but scepticism.