Boxing
Amir Khan is willing to face Keith Thurman should the undefeated American get past Luis Collazo. Thurman and Khan are both currently hoping to be granted a bout with Floyd Mayweather this September but the Bolton born star insists that he will have no problem taking on Thurman if neither are matched up with the pound for pound champion.

Athletics
Mo Farah has been warned by a former team-mate that more revelations about his coach Alberto Salazar are in the pipeline and he risks tarnishing his reputation if he stays with the coach. On a day when Farah pledged to speak under oath to the US Anti-Doping Agency, Kara Goucher – who trained alongside Farah in 2011 and 2012 – refused to criticise him directly but urged anyone thinking of training with Salazar to “think long and hard because you’re going to be labelled something for the rest of your life”.

Cricket
Pakistan have catapulted from 6th to 3rd in the ICC Test rankings after centuries from Younis Khan and Shan Masood in the Pallekele Test helped them wrap up the series against Sri Lanka 2-1 with a record chase. Pakistan, who had begun the series with 97 points, bagged 4 points from the win and steered clear of England, India and New Zealand. On the other side, Sri Lanka lost 4 points and retained their spot at 7 with 92 points. Pakistan now lead New Zealand by 2 points while trailing second-placed Australia by 10.

Meanwhile, India and England are caught in the mid-table jam with 97 points each. England jump to second place if they win the Ashes by 3-0 or a better margin. South Africa top the table with 130 points.

TEST TABLE:

1-RSA 130pts, 2-AUS 111pts, 3. -PAK 101pts, 4-NZL 99pts, 5-IND 97pts, 6-ENG 97pts, 7-CEY 92pts, 8-WI 81pts, 9-BAN 41 pts, 10-ZIM 5pts

Football
Former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has been named player-manager of Mumbai City. Anelka, 36, played for the Indian Super League side last season under ex-Man City manager Peter Reid. Anelka has filled a player-coach role before during a season spent at Chinese club at Shanghai Shenhua in 2012. The Frenchman only managed two goals in seven league games in his first season at Mumbai but returns as the club’s marquee player, meaning he is eligible for a higher salary.

Yaya Toure wants to become Man City’s answer to Paolo Maldini. The Ivorian midfielder has revealed his intention to end his playing career at the Etihad and become an iconic figure like Maldini at AC Milan. The Italian defender spent his entire career at the San Siro – becoming synonymous with the club before retiring at 40. Toure believes he can hold a similar standing at City after ending speculation over his future earlier in the summer.

Transfers:

Arsenal are ready to offer £17.8million for Karim Benzema with Real Madrid ready to sell, according to reports.

Charlton Athletic have signed French midfielder El Hadji Ba from Sunderland for an undisclosed fee. The 22-year-old has agreed a 3-year contract with the Championship club. Ba joined Sunderland in 2013, but only played 3 games and was loaned to Bastia last season.

Norwich City have signed former West Brom midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu, 28, on a 2 -year contract. The DR Congo international was released by the Baggies at the end of the season. Mulumbu made 211 appearances in six years with Albion, having joined them from Paris St-Germain in 2009, initially on loan.