Wasim replaces Warne at Hampshire

Hampshire have signed the Pakistan all-rounder Wasim Akram as their second overseas player. Wasim met with county officials in a London hotel yesterday and agreed a one-year contract. Hampshire had agreed a deal with Shane Warne before the leg-spinner tested positive for a banned diuretic just before the World Cup in February and was banned from cricket for a year.

They were then linked with a move for Wasim's compatriot, Shoaib Akhtar, but it fell through because of the fast bowler's Test commitments. Wasim has now flown out to St Lucia to play in a tournament there but will join his new team-mates on Wednesday.

The 36-year-old has played in 104 Tests and 356 one-day internationals. In the World Cup he became the first player to take the 500-wicket in limited-overs internationals.

Teams failing to complete their overs in the allotted time in one-day internationals will no longer be docked overs when they bat second, the ICC announced yesterday. The new ruling, under which players will be fined for slow over rates instead, will be implemented from today's opening Sharjah Cup match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

Each member of the bowling team will be fined five per cent of his match fee per lost over. Penalties will be doubled for the captain. If the shortfall is more than two overs, the captain will also be charged for deliberate time-wasting.

The rules will also apply in Tests, with the increased penalties coming into effect after five rather than two overs.

Glenn McGrath, the Australian fast bowler, is returning home before his side's tour of the West Indies after receiving medical advice about his wife, Jane.

Bob Woolmer has rejected the chance to suceed Dav Whatmore as Sri Lanka's coach.