SPORTS

Yorkshire batsman Jonny Bairstow has replaced Gary Ballance in the England squad for the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston, starting on 29 July. The inclusion of Bairstow, 25, is the only change to the squad beaten by 405 runs in the second Test at Lord’s where Australia levelled the series at 1-1. Bairstow, who has 14 Test caps, has scored ...

African footballers as young as 14 are being trafficked to Asia and forced to sign contracts, the BBC has learnt. Six minors are still with top Laos side Champasak United, after it imported 23 under-age players from West Africa to an unregistered football academy in February, a BBC investigation found. Fifa regulations prohibit the movement of players to a foreign ...

The logistics of Barcelona’s North American tour are tough enough, coach Luis Enrique makes no apologies for letting stars including Lionel Messi skip the pre-season excursion. The Spanish giants landed in Los Angeles on Sunday to begin preparations for a three-match tour that opens with a game against Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday. ...

Britain’s Geraint Thomas suffered a spectacular crash on the 16th stage of the Tour de France as he collided with Warren Barguil on the final descent. The Team Sky rider hit his head on a telegraph pole and fell off the side of the road but was soon back on his bike. Spain’s Ruben Plaza held off green jersey leader ...

Veteran star Ronaldinho joined Rio side Fluminense on Sunday, the fourth Brazilian club of his widely-travelled career. The 35-year-old, a former World Cup winner, started his career with hometown club Gremio of Porto Alegre before moving to Europe where he starred with Paris Saint Germain, Barcelona and AC Milan. He then returned to Brazil representing Flamengo (2011-2012) and Atletico Mineiro ...

Zambia defender Aaron Katebe’s departure to attend trials at Wydad Casablanca have been delayed due to a visa problem. The defender from Zimbabwean club FC Platinum was due to travel to Morocco late last week. “Aaron is slated to travel to Morocco on Monday. However there are some logistical challenges holding up the trip,” Katebe’s agent Amalaye Oyake said. “He ...

Power Dynamos stayed second on the Faz Super League table on Saturday after a deserved 1-0 home win over Zanaco at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe. The win was Power’s first league victory over Zanaco since April 2012 when they beat The Bankers 3-0 at the same venue before subsequently losing four and drawing two league matches against them. Power ...

Didier Drogba, the 37-year-old striker who called it quits for Chelsea earlier this year, is being wooed by Major League Soccer but has competition from Qatar, ESPN reported on Friday. Several MLS teams are reportedly in the hunt for Drogba, with the Chicago Fire making the biggest move for the Ivory Coast forward, ESPN reporting the Fire were prepared to ...

Zambia youngsters resume their quest for a debut qualification when they visit Cote d’Ivoire. in a Senegal 2015 Caf under-23 Cup final round, first leg tie in Abidjan. The meeting will be the two sides first since 2007 when they meet in the group phase of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games football tournament qualifiers. Zambia beat Cote d’Ivoire 2-0 in ...

Former Zambia defender Joseph Musonda has revealed that he has not made a decision whether to rejoin Nkana. Musonda has been a free agent since leaving South African club Polokwane City at the end of the 2014/2015 season. He is currently back home in Zambia where he has been training in Kitwe with his former club Nkana over the last ...