Sporting briefs

Serie B: Serie B matches due to be played tomorrow have been postponed to April 21 as a mark of respect to the victims of the earthquake in Italy's Abruzzo region. A mass state funeral and a national day of mourning are expected to be held tomorrow. A league spokeswoman said the second division games had been put back but that Saturday's Serie A programme remained unchanged.

Andrade: Juventus have released centre-back Jorge Andrade from his contract after the Portugal international suffered two serious knee injuries in two years. The 30-year-old, signed for about 10 million euros from Deportivo in 2007, missed almost all of last season and has not played this term following a third operation. Juve said last year they feared he would never be fit enough to cope with the demands of professional football.

O'Neill: Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has been charged with improper conduct over an incident following his team's 3-2 defeat at Manchester United last weekend. The charge follows complaints by O'Neill to the referee after the final whistle over some of his decisions at Old Trafford.

Aguero: Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero said his decision on whether to remain at the club did not depend on qualifying for next season's Champions League. "Whether I stay or not does not depend on whether the team is in the Champions League," he said. "But we'll also have to see if the club needs a transfer at the end of the season."

The Championship: Cardiff vs Derby County 4-1.

Scottish Premier: Celtic vs Falkirk 4-0; St Mirren vs Rangers 1-2.

Cricket: Private security bodyguards will be hired for the one-day series between Pakistan and Australia to be staged in Dubai and Abu Dhabi this month, a Pakistan Cricket Board official said. Pakistan play the world champions in five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match from April 22 after Australia refused to tour Pakistan because of security concerns.

Giro d'Italia: The 10th stage of May's Giro d'Italia has been altered because of planning difficulties in the Alps, organisers said. The Cuneo-Pinerolo stage on May 19, a favourite of riders, will now take place on the Italian side of the Alps only after it was decided the original route was too remote and French radio communication could not be assured.

Boxing: Britain's Amir Khan will fight WBA world light-welterweight champion Andreas Kotelnik, of Ukraine, in June, his promoter Frank Warren said. Khan, who will step up a division for his first crack at a world title, beat former seven-time world champion Antonio Barerra in March. Kotelnik has made two successful title defences against Norio Kimura and Marcos Rene Maidana both on points.

Tennis: Top-seeded Americans James Blake and Mardy Fish were eliminated in the first round of the US Clay Court Championships in Houston. No. 1 seed Blake fell to Guillermo Canas 6-4 6-4 after the second-seeded Fish was ousted by Bjorn Phau 6-3 5-7 6-3.

Ice hockey: Would-be buyers are being asked to submit formal offers for the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team this week. Fortune Magazine estimates the Canadiens to be worth about $335 million. George Gillett, who owns 80.1 per cent of the Canadiens, has denied reports that he is considering selling his sporting assets, which also include Premiership club Liverpool.