Briefs-Mushtaq quits rebel cricket league for England role

Oct 30 (Reuters) - Sports news in brief from around the world.

Cricket - Former Pakistan international Mushtaq Ahmed, who has been hired as a spin bowling coach by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), has severed his ties with the rebel Indian Cricket League at the request of his new employers.

"I have reached an amicable agreement with them and given my resignation as a persistent knee problem was not allowing me to play in the ICL," Mushtaq, who took 185 test and 161 one-day international wickets, told Reuters.

The 38-year-old leg-spinner was a member of the Lahore Badshah's team made up of Pakistani players.

Soccer - Defending champions United Arab Emirates have a tricky group for January's Gulf Cup of Nations after being drawn with Qatar and regional giants Saudi Arabia.

They will also play Yemen in Group B, while hosts Oman take on Bahrain and Asian champions Iraq in Group A. Nine-times champions Kuwait will join Group B if a FIFA suspension is lifted in time for the fiercely contested Jan. 4-17 tournament. (Editing by John O'Brien)