Expert comments by Allan Border Lanka’s hopes rest on Murali THE triangular one-day series between Sri Lanka, India and Australia looms as a very interesting, exciting and important series of matches. Important for a lot of reasons. Asia-Pacific meet India expect a rich haul NEW DELHI, Aug 21 — India will hope to exploit home conditions while Chinese Taipei, Korea and Hong Kong will look to cash in on the absence of many Chinese and Australian stars in the 13th Asia-Pacific Swimming and Diving Championships starting tomorrow. Nandrolone use ‘Athletes may have been unaware’ SEVILLE (Spain), Aug 21 —The IAAF drug chief said yesterday athletes testing positive for nandrolone may had taken the anabolic steroid unwittingly, as part of a food supplement.

SEVILLE, SPAIN : Members of the Indian team enter the Olympic Stadium in Seville, Spain, Friday Aug. 20, 1999, during the opening ceremony of the seventh World Track and Field Championships. AP/PTI

Chris Cairns halts England comeback
LONDON, Aug 21 — Chris Cairns belted four sixes off off-spinner Phil Tufnell in defiant 80 today as New Zealand set England 245- run target for victory on the third day of the fourth Test at the Oval.

Chadha’s functioning under scrutiny
MUMBAI, Aug 21 — The functioning of the Indian cricket team’s doctor, Ravinder Chadha, came under the microscope of the members of the cricket board (BCCI) at its working committee meeting held here yesterday.

Pak ‘dismayed’ at India’s pullout
ISLAMABAD, Aug 21 — The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today described India’s pullout of next month’s one-day cricket series in Toronto as “high unprofessional” and said it was ready to play India anywhere in the world.

Shakti fails to qualify
SEVILLE, Aug 21 — India made a disappointing start to their campaign on the opening day of the world athletic championship when male shot putter Shakti Singh tumbled out in the qualifiers with a below par effort.

India go down 1-2 in last Test
JOHANNESBURG, Aug 21 — India’s embarrassing campaign in the South African tour ended today when they went down 1-2 in the fifth and final hockey Test at the Randpark here to lose the five-match series 0-3.

Weather holds key to Aussie-Lanka tie

GALLE, Aug 21 (PTI) — Australia will be keen to kick off their campaign as newly-crowned World Cup champions in style when they take on wounded lions Sri Lanka in the opening tie of the AIWA triangular one-day cricket tournament tomorrow.

But incessant rain lashing several parts of the island threatens to play spoilsport ahead of the double-header — India are scheduled to meet Australia on August 23 — to be held at the picturesque Galle international cricket stadium.

Australian skipper Steve Waugh has admitted his team might be a bit rusty after the two-month break since the win in England, but the team from Down Under will still hold a slender edge over the new-look Sri Lankan side.

Led by explosive opener Sanath Jayasuriya with Aussie coach Dave Whatmore restored, the hosts without axed skipper Arjuna Ranatunga and his ex-deputy Aravinda De Silva, will be keen to bounce back from the tumult that followed the debacle in England where their title defence went to bits.

The tournament holds much importance for India too as master batsman Sachin Tendulkar, reinstated skipper, will look to lead his team from the front and motivate the players to return to the winning ways despite many injury scares.

The Indian team, expected to arrive here this evening, was forced to miss nets at the Sinhalese Sports Club stadium in Colombo due to heavy downpour and had to be content with stretching exercises indoors.

All three teams enter action for the first time since the World Cup, but India and Sri Lanka will be more determined for their failure in England.

Sri Lanka will also have a point or two to prove tomorrow after their highly controversial and eventful tour of Australia where off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was called for chucking by Ross Emerson, leading to Ranatunga almost walking away with his side from the field.

Both Steve Waugh and Jayasuriya announced yesterday they were making efforts to remove the bitterness between the two teams, but with Muralitharan himself — fresh from his exploits with English county Lancashire — in the forefront of the host bowling, the sparks are expected to fly.

Sri Lanka will also be without the seasoned Roshan Mahanama and left-hander Hashan Tillekeratne and young batsmen like Russel Arnold and Avishka Gunawardena and a set of pacemen like Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa will have their task cut out.

Australia, who posted a six-wicket win yesterday in their warm-up tie against the Board President’s XI in Colombo, are here with virtually the same team that won the World Cup.

The Aussies, who have been at the receiving end in Sri Lanka in earlier trips, will bank on their all-round strength and the cutting edge provided by batsmen Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Michael Bevan and paceman Glenn McGrath and leg spin wizard Shane Warne.

The organisers have their fingers crossed as three one-day ties involving India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka last year had to be cancelled without a ball being bowled since this stadium went international last year.

The Indian camp, which had to grapple with quite a few injury worries, was a relieved one with skipper Tendulkar declaring himself fit after raising an injury scare during the Chennai camp two days ago following back stiffness.

Tendulkar, whose first stint of captaincy began here in 1996 and ended on a poor note, will be keen to put those memories behind, especially with fellow opener Saurav Ganguly and the stylish Rahul Dravid riding on their confidence gained at the World Cup.

The Indian attack will rely on pacemen Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad and leg-spinner Anil Kumble with all-rounders Robin Singh, teenager Laxmi Rattan Shukla, medium-pacer Debasish Mohanty and off-spinner Nikhil Chopra playing the supporting roles.

Sachin must be rested if unfit
By Abhijit Chatterjee
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 21— Alarm bells started ringing two days ago when newly-appointed Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar missed out practice at Chennai just prior to the departure of the national cricket squad for the three-nation tournament in Sri Lanka. According to reports, Sachin’s back problem, which first surfaced , ironically, at the same centre when India were playing Pakistan in the first match of what was known as the “Friendship series”. Then also, in spite of the injury, the Indian super-star went on to play in the second Test (after losing the first Test by a thin margin of 12 runs) of the series in Delhi, and taking India to a victory, after strapping a big belt round his back.

Indian cricket was extremely lucky that Sachin did not suffer any permanent damage then. Common sense says that Sachin should have been rested then and even now if there was an iota of doubt about the fitness of the Indian captain. But then the Indian cricket management seems to think that a half-fit Sachin is better than any other fully fit player.

Why do alarm bells ring every time Sachin is forced to sit out of a match? Is the Indian bench strength so poor that Sachin has to turn up match after match even if he is not 100 per cent fit? And should not Sachin, if indeed he is suffering from a recurring back problem be nursed for the big games as, say, South Africa is doing in the case of their superstar Allan Donald?

Immediately after he was injured in the series against Pakistan, Sachin was first treated by doctors in India before he flew to London to be treated by specialist Dr Ken Kennedy, who in the past had treated players like Ian Chappell of Australia. Since Dr Kennedy has some knowledge of cricket he was able to analyse Sachin’s problems and offer ideas how to prevent such injuries in future.

When Sachin was first injured certain medical experts were of the view that Sachin suffered a severe back problem due to the heavy bat he used. Sachin, now 26, started playing when still in his teens and his body not fully developed with a 3lb 2 ounces bat when most players prefer bats a little over 2 lb. Sachin did try to play with a lighter bat but was unable to execute the shots the way he wanted to and, therefore, once again shifted to the more heavier bat. And this, say the experts, led to the back problems which first surfaced early this year.

Over the past couple of years Indian cricketers are playing non-stop cricket. If it is not a home series then it is Sharjah, Toronto, Nairobi, Singapore , Colombo — the list is endless. It is these tournaments which should be used by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for grooming youngsters. Instead the board insists that the best talent be sent time and again to such tournaments. This move is bound to tell on the players, specially the senior ones, as time and again the players have to go through the motions without giving their 100 per cent.

What the board should do, specially with so much cricket to be played, is to give an opportunity to the fringe players to make their presence felt. By doing so two purposes can be served: one the seniors would get some well deserved rest and, secondly, the fringe players would get an opportunity to stake a claim

But to carry out such a scheme the board must offer annual contracts to the players so that they do not suffer any financial loss. One must remember that the players are playing for money and if they are paid on a match to match basis as is done now they tend to hide small injuries and only when it magnifies do they inform the board.

Mohun Bagan humble Muktijoddha

CALCUTTA, Aug 21 (PTI) — Local giants Mohun Bagan missed chances galore and survived close calls before humbling Muktijoddha Sansad of Bangladesh 2-1 in an opening round exchange of the 19th Asian Club Championship here today.

The result, however, put the Bangladesh outfit on an even keel with Bagan, as every goal scored by a team playing an away match is counted as two. The second leg match between the two sides would be played in Dhaka on September 11.

Veteran Nigerian striker Chima Okerie put Bagan into the lead in the first half, while Bakhtiaruddin Khan restored parity in the second before Dipendu Biswas struck the winner.

After an early flourish, Bagan seemed to lose the initiative with the visitors taking control of the midfield.

But Okerie, who had a good match, and time and again caused scare in the Muktijoddha defence by playing in tandem with his campatriot Emeka Achilefu, drew first blood in the 26th minute. Receiving a stray ball with his head to the left of the box, Okerie moved to the right, bulldozed in dodged past an opponent player, and shot in with an angular right footer.

The scoreline became 1-1 in the 56th minute as Dhaka league to scorer Naquib snatched the ball from Debjit Ghosh near the box and essayed a short forward pass to Bakhtiaruddin who found the target with a fine right footer.

But Bagan settled the issue eight minutes later, as Biswas, brought in as a substitute a little while back, headed home a long cross from Basudeb Mandal. But Muktijoddha soon found their Rhythm and a sudden solo run from an in-form Bakhtiaruddin caught the Bagan defence off-guard. But his placement just missed the far post.

Despite their midfield playing well, the visitors, tired after turning up for seven matches in a fortnight in the Dhaka league, failed to put the Bagan defenders under pressure.

Meanwhile, Bagan raids continued with the central defenders of Muktijoddha looking sluggish.

Towards the close of the first half, Okerie again cut loose, and essayed a lovely cross but Achilefu failed to take position and the ball went over his head.

Easy wins for Greene, Jones

SEVILLE (Spain), Aug 21 (AP) — Marion Jones launched her bid for an unprecedented four gold medals and Maurice Greene opened his quest for a rare sprint double at the World Championships today, easily winning their first-round heats in the 100-metre dash.

The electrifying Jones, the fastest woman in the world this year, didn’t have to work hard to win in 11.22 seconds. She never appeared to exert much energy and eased up about halfway through the race.

“I’m excited that the track is fast,” Jones said. “It’s burning up already.”

Jones, who is seeking gold medals in the 100, 200, long jump and a relay, was to run her second-round heat in the 100m and begin long jump qualifying later in the day.

One of her US team-mates, Inger Miller, also won her opening heat in 11.21, .01 second faster than Jones, and the third American, Gail Devers, the two-time world champion in the 100 hurdles, was second in her 100 heat at 11.32.

France’s Christine Arron and Greece’s Ekaterini Thanou posted the fastest times in the seven heats, each clocking 11.10.

Greene, also with an ambitious plan for the championships, didn’t go all out either in winning in 10.30.

He is trying for three golds — in the men’s 100, 200 and 400 relay.

A third American attempting to win multiple medals, John Godina, began his bid for a third straight shotput title, qualifying for tonight’s final with a heave of 20.69 metres, the best of the day.

Kevin Toth, also of the USA, had the second-best qualifying throw, 20.52 (67-4), and the other two Americans, Andy Bloom and C.J. Hunter, Jones’ husband, also made the shot put final.

In today’s opening event of the heptathlon, the 100 hurdles, France’s Eunice Barber, the European champion, made a strong impression, winning her heat in a personal-best 12.89 seconds. The next-fastest time among the 22 competitors was 13.28 by US champion Shelia Burrell.

Another American, Tiffany Lott-Hogan, was disqualified for two false starts.

Only one thing could steal the stage today from the world’s No. 1 sprinters: the revelation of a drug case involving yet another big star.

A string of positive tests involving some of athletics’ biggest names — Merlene Ottey, Javier Sotomayor, Linford Christie and Dennis Mitchell — has dulled some of the anticipation. Yet another case was disclosed yesterday, this one involving Dutch sprinter Troy Douglas.

“Over the last couple of weeks our beautiful and lovely sport has been marred by all of this,” said Jones, unbeaten since 1997 in the two sprints.

“We hope that our wonderful performances will overshadow what has happened.”

Greene also has been dismayed by the drug revelations and has called for blood testing as a solution.

“I can’t wait until that time comes,” he said. “The number of positive tests have been very bad for our sport.”

Of Jones’ four events, the long jump is the most problematic. However, Jones’ long jump hopes improved yesterday when Heike Drechsler of Germany, the former Olympic and world champion and one-time world record-holder, withdrew because of a calf injury.

Expert comments by Allan Border
Lanka’s hopes rest on Murali

THE triangular one-day series between Sri Lanka, India and Australia looms as a very interesting, exciting and important series of matches. Important for a lot of reasons.

Sri Lanka, the host nation, will want to re-group, led by a new captain and a new crop of players after what has been a wonderful era under the leadership of Arjuna Ranatunga. The absence of so many players, who took Sri Lanka through their golden period including a World Cup victory in 1996, will test the mettle of the young players brought in to the side. This tournament could be the making of young Jaywardene who so impressed the Australian players and public during the last summer down under. I am certain this stylish right-hander has a huge future in the game.

Sanath Jayasuriya, the new captain, has big shoes to fill. He will have to make sure the new role as captain doesn’t affect his sparkling batting at the top of the order. I’m reasonably confident he is experienced enough to cope with the added responsibilities but he will notice some changes and will need to make some adjustments.

To be brutally frank, the hopes of this Sri Lankan side rest solely on the shoulders of the effervescent Muttiah Murilitharan. His performances in one-day cricket have been outstanding and his current form playing in England for Lancashire has been nothing short of amazing. The support should come from Chaminda Vaas who, when in form, can prove to be quite a handful. The one thing that might help the Lankans is home ground advantage.

The Indian team arrives in Colombo with a host of world class players who, you would have to say, under achieved in the recent World Cup. The standout players were Ganguly and Dravid, but the rest only showed glimpses of their true form. The big talking point for the Indians is the appointment of Sachin Tendulkar as the new skipper. It appears from a number of reports he is hesitant about the role. I can relate to those feelings having had similar doubts when I took over as Australian captain. My advice would be to grab the role by the scruff of the neck, back your own instincts and gut feel and go for it. He has the respect of all India and, lets face it, apart from his masterful batting; he possesses an excellent cricket brain. For India to do well in this tournament the bowling needs to lift and this is where Srinath and Kumble should come to the fore.

So to the Aussies. They head to Sri Lanka as the world champions. It is a mantle that was won with some magnificent performances in England. Who will ever forget the two matches, but particularly the semifinal, against Sought Africa? I happened to be watching that game from a hotel room, one minute jumping up and down, the next burying my head in my pillow. I have no fingernails left as a result. I know Steve Waugh will be keen to keep the ball rolling forward as far as Australia’s one-day performances and status are concerned. The return to form of Shane Warne is the most pleasing thing for the Australians. I find myself licking my lips at the renewed showdown between the master leg spinner and the little maestro Sachin Tendulkar.

A lot has been written and said about the relationship between the Australian and Sri Lankan players as a result of recent dramas in Australia. I can assure everyone that as far as the cricketers are concerned, they themselves as a group get on very well. The problems seem to have stemmed from disagreements with Australian umpires. The Shane Warne/Arjuna Ranatunga spat is the only notable exception — and this is just a case of two hard-nosed professionals not seeing eye-to-eye.

If I have to stick my neck out and predict a winner, it may seem a little biased but I believe the Australian’s will have too much fire power and after their recent World Cup victory, will win this triangular tournament as well.

Let the fun begin!

— PMG

Asia-Pacific meet
India expect a rich haul

NEW DELHI, Aug 21 (PTI) — India will hope to exploit home conditions while Chinese Taipei, Korea and Hong Kong will look to cash in on the absence of many Chinese and Australian stars in the 13th Asia-Pacific Swimming and Diving Championships starting tomorrow.

With the only continental-level age-group meet returning to the Talkatora swimming complex here after a gap of five years, the hosts are expecting a rich haul after their dismal show last year when they finished 11th out of 16 countries.

Despite a meagre haul of 11 medals, four silver and seven bronze in the previous edition in Kuala Lumpur, India are determined to improve on their best ever performance returned in 1994 when they bagged 71 medals, including 19 of the golden hue, at the same venue and are fielding a huge 75-member contingent of 57 swimmers and 14 divers.

More than 450 competitors from 18 countries will vie for medals in 104 swimming and 22 diving events in four age groups in both men’s and women’s sections — open category (18 years and above), Group I (15 to 17), Group II (13 to 14) and Group III (11 to 12 years) in the three-day meet.

Japan no longer enter this meet while Australia have skipped this edition as they are hosting the Pan Pacific meet from today. China, Hong Kong and Singapore have sent only their second string teams, reflecting the importance they attach to this meet.

China are participating only in lower age groups, leaving it to Chinese Taipei, Korea and Hong Kong to fight it out with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgystan.

With a strong 75-member squad to fight it out in all races, Chinese Taipei, which topped the medal tally at Kuala Lumpur relegating strong contenders Australia to second place, will hope to repeat their performance.

However, they are expected to face a tough fight from Hong Kong, last year’s third place finishers, Korea and China in the lower age groups.

Hong Kong, who are fielding a 42-member squad, are looking to improve their last year’s position despite the absence of top stars, competing in the Pan Pacific meet in Sydney.

“We have brought a strong side. In the absence of Australia and with China confining to lower age group events, I think we have a good chance of improving upon our position,” David Wai Chen Ng, manager of the Hong Kong team said.

They won over 30 medals, including 16 golds, last year.

But they will face a strong challenge from the Central Asian Republics and hosts India will also be in pursuit.

The hosts are banking on top stars like ace woman swimmer Nisha Millet, Elvis Ali Hazarika, Kailash Nath and a talented crop in the lower age groups to help them realise their dream.

Millet, still searching for her first medal in the meet, will be the biggest Indian hope.

Though competition in expected to be very tough in the girls section, the 17-year-old Bangalore-based swimmer has clocked good times during training which compare well with those of last year’s medal winners.

Most of the teams, barring Kazakhistan and Tajikistan, have arrived in the capital.

Nandrolone use
‘Athletes may have been unaware’

SEVILLE (Spain), Aug 21 (AP)—The IAAF drug chief said yesterday athletes testing positive for nandrolone may had taken the anabolic steroid unwittingly, as part of a food supplement.

He raised fears the recent rash of high-profile cases could be successfully challenged in court.

“The more and more we learn about this, it stems from food supplements spiked with nandrolone,” said Dr. Arne Ljungqvist.

“It may be taken totally inadvertently.”

Merlene Ottey, the most-medalled athlete in the history of the world championships, was linked to the banned steroid on Wednesday, one of the latest in a series of positive nandrolone tests.

Last month, 1992 Olympic Champion Linford Christie was suspended following a positive test, and on Friday, Dutch sprinter Troy Douglas’ name was added to the growing list of positive cases.

The surprise resurgence of nandrolone, a drug that has been around for decades and detectable for years, led Dr Ljungqvist to examine the newest special food supplements athletes take to stay in shape. Following contacts with experts, he suspects the lack of controls and proper labelling may have duped athletes into using illegal substances.

“The seemingly epidemic spread of this can be explained by the presence of nandrolone precursors found in food supplements,” he said yesterday, on the eve of the world championships.

“The problem is that athletes may have taken it without real control. The food supplements may not have been labelled.”

The IAAF currently suspends athletes based on the presence of illegal substances only and does not take non-medical circumstances into account.

“This could cause juridical and legal problems if the athletes don’t know they take something forbidden and there is no label on the product. They can say they did nothing wrong,” said the IAAF spokesman, Mr Giorgio Reineri.

“For our rules it is a positive case because an athlete is responsible for what is found in his body. From a legal point of view some problems can arise,” Mr Reineri added.

Dr Ljungqvist said he would not be surprised if more nandrolone cases showed up on the world championships which end on August 29 - and added athletes may knowingly take it, too.

The Swedish doctor said the unusually high number of veterans being caught could be the result of their reliance on food supplements to stretch their careers an extra few years.

Ottey and Christie are 39, Douglas is 37.

Chris Cairns halts England comeback

LONDON, Aug 21 (AP) — Chris Cairns belted four sixes off off-spinner Phil Tufnell in defiant 80 today as New Zealand set England 245- run target for victory on the third day of the fourth Test at the Oval.

The veteran allrounder took five wickets as the Kiwis skittled England out for 153 to take an 83-run first innings lead and then went to the crease with New Zealand reeling at 39 for six as his team was all out for 162 just after tea break.

Cairns almost single handedly turned the game back into New Zealand’s favour after the English bowlers wiped out the top order batting lineup.

With the series level at 1-1, Cairns’ innings could be critical in deciding the series outcome.

Chasing New Zealand’s first innings of 236, England resumed today at 150 for seven before Daniel Vettori took a wicket and Cairns picked off the last two.

But England struck back immediately, with Ed Giddins taking three wickets as New Zealand went into the lunch interval at 37 for four.

Andy Caddick, who removed Matthew Bell in the morning session, returned to remove Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming in the first over after the break without addition to the score.

SCOREBOARD
New Zealand (Ist innings): 236
England (Ist innings): 153

New Zealand (IInd innings):
Horne lbw b Giddins 10
Bell c Irani b Caddick 4
Fleming c Thorpe b Caddick 4
Astle c Irani b Giddins 5
Twose c Stewart b Giddins 0
McMillan lbw b Mullally 26
Parore by Caddick 1
Cairns c and b Mullally 80
Nash not out 10
Vettori c Ramparkash b Tufnell 6
O’Connor b Tufnell 6

Extras (lb-4, w-1, nb-5) 10

Total (all out, 54 overs) 162

Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-15, 3-22, 4-37, 5-37, 6-39, 7-79, 8-149, 9-156.

Bowling: Andy Caddick 17-4-35-3, Alan Mullally 11-2-27-2, Ed Giddins 10-3-38-3, Phil Tufnell 16-3-58-2.

Chadha’s functioning under scrutiny

MUMBAI, Aug 21 (PTI) — The functioning of the Indian cricket team’s doctor, Ravinder Chadha, came under the microscope of the members of the cricket board (BCCI) at its working committee meeting held here yesterday.

Chadha was singled out for some harsh criticism at the one-day sitting of the BCCI’s all-powerful committee, board sources said today, especially in the wake of the undetected little finger and wrist fractures sustained by stumper Nayan Mongia during the World Cup.

Mongia had leapt high to his left to stop a ball during India’s second league clash against Zimbabwe at Leicester and injured his left palm.

He could not keep wickets later in that match and Rahul Dravid had to step in to take his place for the remainder of the Zimbabwe innings and in the subsequent clash against Sri Lanka at Taunton.

Mongia returned to don the gloves for the fourth match onwards against Kenya at Bristol but had to grin and bear the pain on his injured hand for the rest of the tournament though, at that stage, he did not know the severity of the injuries, board sources said.

It was only on his return home that Mongia went to a specialist in Baroda to have an MRI and bonescan done which revealed not one but two fractures in his left hand and he had to pull out of India’s twin tours to Sri Lanka and Singapore.

Interestingly, among those who attended yesterday’s working committee meeting was World Cup manager Brijesh Patel. The ex-Test batsman is the secretary of the Karnataka association.

Chadha, a former Ranji trophy cricketer from Haryana, had taken over the job from Dr Ali Irani, after the latter’s near-decade-long association with the team, since India’s home series against Sri Lanka in November, 1997.

One of the chief causes for concern for the board of late is the spate of injuries occurring to leading players and the list includes deposed skipper Mohammed Azharuddin, the man who replaced him at the helm — Sachin Tendulkar, Mongia, Ajit Agarkar and Vinod Kambli.

Pak ‘dismayed’ at India’s pullout

ISLAMABAD, Aug 21 (PTI) — The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today described India’s pullout of next month’s one-day cricket series in Toronto as “high unprofessional” and said it was ready to play India anywhere in the world.

“The announcement came as a surprise to me”, PCB ad-hoc committee chairman Mujibur Rehman told PTI reacting to the Indian cricket board’s (BCCI) announcement yesterday that the team will not travel to Toronto after the government refused permission.

Several top players led by former Indian skipper Kapil Dev had demanded snapping of cricketing ties with Pakistan over the Kargil intrusions. The series was scheduled to begin on September 12.

Rehman expressed dismay over the delay in making this announcement saying, “they (BCCI) should have announced it earlier because we were already making arrangements for sending our team and have spent lot of money on that”.

Rehman said in the past couple of weeks he had spoken to International Cricket Council President Jagmohan Dalmiya many times on this issue and once to BCCI Secretary Jaywant Lele.

Shakti fails to qualify

SEVILLE, Aug 21 (PTI) — India made a disappointing start to their campaign on the opening day of the world athletic championship when male shot putter Shakti Singh tumbled out in the qualifiers with a below par effort.

The 38-year-old Shakti Singh, who set a national record of 19.85 metres at Thiruvananthapuram on August 3 before embarking for the meet, once again showed that his “strength” lay only at home.

Reigning champion John Godina of the USA led the list of top 12 who qualified to the final with a heave of 20.69 m.

Interestingly, Saulius Kleiza of Lithuania clinched the 12th and final qualifying spot with an effort of 19.83 m.

India go down 1-2 in last Test

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 21 (PTI) — India’s embarrassing campaign in the South African tour ended today when they went down 1-2 in the fifth and final hockey Test at the Randpark here to lose the five-match series 0-3.

Despite dominating the game in the first half, India failed to defend a handy 1-0 lead as South Africa struck two quick goals in the last 20 minutes to clinch the issue.

India went down 1-2 and 1-4 in the second and third Tests after a goalless draw in the first. The two teams were levelled 2-2 in the fourth match of the tour marked by poor refereeing and illness problems for the visitors.

Cash incentives for shuttlers
From Our Sports Reporter
JALANDHAR, Aug 20 — The Jalandhar District Badminton Association will honour the position holders with monthly scholarships. Mr Som Parkash, president of the association-cum-Deputy Commissioner, has announced a scheme of cash incentives amounting to Rs 4,05,000 in the shape of monthly cash scholarships, for players achieving the first two positions in the state championships or in the national championships or National Games.

District players who bring laurels to Jalandhar will also be suitably honoured.

Mr Rajinder Kalsi, secretary of association, while giving details of the scholarships said Jalandhar-based players who emerge winners in the state championships will get the incentive under this plan ranging from Rs 150 to Rs 600 per month.

PCA Colts win
By Our Sports Reporter
CHANDIGARH, Aug 21 — On the opening day of the Major Sandeep Singh Sagar Memorial Cricket Tournament being played here at the Gursagar Grounds today, PCA Colts outclassed Life Insurance Corporation of India team by a narrow margin of four runs.

Brief scores:
PAC Colts: 156 for eight in 35 overs (Obaid Kamal 43 n.o., Navdeep Singh 33, Munish Arora 27, Amit Uniyal 16, Amardeep Singh 2 for 22).

LIC XI: 152 all out in 34.4 overs (Lakshay 42, Nagesh Gupta 23, Anurag 17, Bharti Vij 3 for 26, Navdeep Singh 2 for 34, Obaid Kamal 2 for 26).