An annual award for the best female cricketer will be named after the late RACHAEL HEYHOE FLINT, the Int'l Cricket Council has announced. The former England captain died in January, aged 77, after a short illness. Heyhoe Flint played in 22 Tests and 23 one-day internationals, and "became the first woman to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame" in '10 (BBC, 3/8). ... Bayern Munich midfielder XABI ALONSO confirmed "he will retire when his contract expires in the summer." Alongside a picture of him waving goodbye, the 35-year-old Spain int'l wrote on Twitter, "Lived it. Loved it. Farewell beautiful game." He won club honors with Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern (BBC, 3/9). ... The Rugby Football League "closed the door on any possible chance" of TIM SIMONA "salvaging his career in England." The National Rugby League side Wests Tigers center has been "suspended indefinitely" after the league "issued a notice to cancel his registration following allegations he had placed bets on matches involving his team." The 24-year-old is accused of placing more than 60 wagers last year and, "if found guilty, is expected to avoid a life ban and slugged with a four-year suspension when a final decision is announced by the NRL integrity unit later this week or early next week" (AAP, 3/10). ... DEJAN STANKOVIĆ is starting a new career with UEFA. Stanković will take up a role as football development adviser. He will work on UEFA projects assisting national associations to develop talent (UEFA). ... IAAF President SEBASTIAN COE is pushing for JESSICA ENNIS-HILL to receive her 2011 World Championships gold medal "inside the former Olympic Stadium during London 2017." TATYANA CHERNOVA is "among a host of athletes to have been sanctioned for doping violations and the Russian was stripped of that title in November, making Ennis-Hill a three-time world champion" (London EVENING STANDARD, 3/9).
RANGERS GIG: PEDRO CAIXINHA has been "cleared to take over" as Scottish Premiership side Rangers manager by his current club. Qatari side Al-Gharafa announced on Twitter that it gave the Portuguese coach "permission to join Rangers." The 46-year-old now looks to "quickly" agree to a deal with Rangers (PA, 3/9).
MARADONA'S NEW ROLE: DIEGO MARADONA announced that he will be an ambassador for the Chinese Super League. Maradona said in an Instagram post, "Thanks a lot, Tang Qinghui [his agent in China] for this opportunity to work in China, I will be forever grateful" (EFE, 3/9).
