Other sport

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has stopped renovation work at the country's main stadium, saying irregularities had been discovered in the construction work. PCB chairman Ejaz Butt had ordered the work to be stopped after costs rose to 471 million rupees ($6.28 million) from an initial estimate of 142 million rupees. An inquiry had been ordered into the cost over-run as well as the faulty design.

Olympics

Tokyo's 2016 Olympic bid has been given a boost after the city's proposed venues for the Games were approved by the 26 participating international sports bodies. The 26 federations have given the thumbs-up on operational and logistical aspects for each of Tokyo's venues. Tokyo, faces competition from Chicago, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro in the race to host the 2016 Summer Games.

Motor racing

Ferrari have switched tomorrow's launch of their 2009 Formula One car to Mugello because of the condition of their Fiorano track at Maranello following snow, the team said in a statement.

Rallying

Carlos Sainz won the seventh stage of the Dakar Rally to regain the overall lead from South African Giniel De Villiers on Friday night. The Spaniard, who notched his third stage victory in the car race, completed the rain-shortened 243-km leg in two hours 35.27 minutes to lead De Villiers by nine seconds after his closest rival finished sixth.

Rugby

Former British and Irish Lions flyhalf Gregor Townsend has joined Scotland's coaching team for the 2009 Six Nations championship. The 35-year-old, who won 82 Scotland caps and was instrumental in helping the Lions defeat South Africa in 1997, will coach Scotland's back line.

Tennis

World number one Jelena Jankovic pulled out of the Hong Kong World Team Challenge with a stomach ailment yesterday. The 23-year-old Serbian's Australian Open hopes hung in the balance after she was forced to withdraw from the exhibition tournament just nine days before the start of season's opening grand slam.