LOS ANGELES, USA : Tennis greats Andre Agassi (left) Rod Laver and Pete Sampras pause for the photographers after Laver was presented a silver bowl for his tennis career before a benefit tennis match on Monday evening, in the Westwood section of Los Angeles. — AP/PTI

Inzamam, 3 others given clean chit ISLAMABAD, July 27 — The match-fixing imbroglio surrounding Pakistani cricket has taken a new turn with reports that four of the players mentioned in this connection have been given a clean chit by the new chief of Pakistan Cricket Board while skipper Wasim Akram has vowed to “fight it out” to prove his innocence.

Rafter ‘relishes’ playing Sampras
MELBOURNE, July 27 — World No 1 Pat Rafter today said he has an extra reason to celebrate his new status in tennis — knowing it could annoy Pete Sampras.

Sasikiran crushed; Thipsay posts win
BIEL (Switzerland), July 27 — India’s GM norm holders Krishnan Sasikiran and Abhijit Kunte were crushed to defeat in the seventh round of BIEL International Open Chess Tournament and lost the chance of earning another GM norm here.

Pak business group offers to sponsor
ISLAMABAD, July 27 — A Canada-based Pakistani businessman has offered to sponsor Indo-Pak cricket tournament in Toronto following Pakistan Cricket Board’s interim chief’s willingness to revive the September event.

US fitness trainer for hockey team
TIRUPATI, July 27 — Indian Women’s Hockey Federation (IWHF) has sought the services of well-known physical trainer Huber Herbert of the USA for training Indian team in the fitness aspect, Secretary Amrit Bose said here.

Enqvist sails to victory
LOS ANGELES, July 27 — Fifth-seeded Thomas Enqvist sailed to victory but fellow-Swede Jonas Bjorkman failed again in the opening-round action at the $ 350,000 Mercedes Cup.

USA unsure of repeating show
GUADALAJARA (Mexico), July 27 — Members of the US soccer team aren’t getting their hopes up for a repeat of their startling victory last year against Brazil, which they called the best team in the world.

Sarabjit elected AICF chief
CHANDIGARH, July 27 — Mr Sarabjit Singh (IPS), Director-General of Police, Punjab and chief patron, Chandigarh Carrom Association was unanimously elected president of the All-India Carrom Federation at its annual general council meeting at PAP complex, Jalandhar, yesterday.

Dale replaces Reiffel
MELBOURNE, July 27 — Queensland swing bowler Adam Dale was today chosen to replace the recently retired Paul Reiffel in Australia’s one-day international cricket squad to tour Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

• Paes bows out

Sachin most fancied candidate

CHENNAI, July 27 (UNI) — The Indian cricket team captaincy issue will be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction tomorrow with Sachin Tendulkar appearing to be the most fancied candidate for the job.

He is without doubt the most qualified Indian to take on the mantle and if he was given a sabbatical in 1998 that was more due to the typical personality politics of Indian cricket than cricketing logic.

Sachin will be a better captain in his second innings. A more mature cricketer with a truly national perspective, gone will be the obsession with some of his Mumbai colleagues’ imagined cricket skills. If he asks now for the best men in the country, he will be given them by the selectors who must back their captain if the national team is to reconstruct itself.

A touch of ruthlessness could be seen in Sachin when he drove his best bowlers on in his first term of office. In a country of “passive cricketers” as Steve Waugh, Australia’s World Cup winning captain described them , such stern demands from the captain were held against the leader who was then blamed for the breakdown rate in his bowlers.

In the wake of its listless showing in the more important segment of the World Cup, putting the team back on the rails has become a national priority. The appointment of Sachin would be just the first step in this direction and a just one, too. There is simply no arguing that a cricketer who has been compared to Don Bradman for his legendary cricket skills is not the best equipped to also lead the team while being their best performing batsman.

The selectors will have to wait for word on Mohammad Azharuddin’s fitness before they pick the squad for the tri-series in Sri Lanka in August. If fit, Azharuddin must find a batting place, especially since the tournament is in Asia, where on slow pitches the most experienced batsman and the world’s highest runmaker in one-day internationals is bound to find this touch and form once again.

The vice-captaincy has to be resolved, too, more so since India is to play abroad in one-day events first before a home series against New Zealand. Ajay Jadeja is the best qualified at the moment. His contribution as the team’s ‘’ginger man’’ who buoys everybody’s spirits up with his shouts of encouragement must be rewarded in the assurance that he continues to be a valuable part of the team’s think tank.

There is, however, no contesting the fact that Karnataka’s Rahul Dravid who moved up from being a very good player to a great batsman in the World Cup should be considered a long term deputy to Tendulkar. With his orthodox technique, Dravid is about the only one besides Sachin who can be counted upon to get behind the line of the ball on Australia’s sporting and bouncy pitches.

Also, Dravid’s Test place is assured while Jadeja’s is not. But in the unlikely event of Azharuddin not making the Australian tour as he hardly has any worthwhile scores on the sporting pitches of Australia and South Africa where his worst failure as batsman and captain have come, Jadeja can fit into the late middle order without compromising the batting in any way.

The first part of India’s playing schedule in the new season will be on the slow pitches of Sri Lanka and Singapore. The selectors should follow the “horses for courses” theory and pack the bowling component of the team with experienced spinners rather than fourth and fifth seamers who made it to the World Cup squad. Toronto with its seaming pitches is one venue that will call for more seamers.

Ajit Agarkar was a curious failure in the World Cup. His confusion over whether he was a fast bowler or a medium paced seam bowler was apparent and no one seemed to be able to sort his problems out. He bowled the wrong length in all the matches he played and had to make way for Debasish Mohanty whose experience shone through. But Agarkar is not to be dumped and needs all the expert advice he can get from someone like Roger Binny, once India’s best medium paced swing and seam bowler.

While finding spinners to experiment with is never going to be a problem, to unearth fast bowlers is not going to be an easy task. Agarkar must be encouraged with the proviso that everyone’s performance is to be assessed under a microscope.

Of those who went to the World Cup, the player who should not be considered is Amay Khurasia. His inclusion was a classic case of rendering personal justice to a senior player who has scored runs by the ton in domestic cricket. Selection is not about rendering individual justice as about picking the right combination of cricketers who will deliver the goods in a national cause in the international game. Selection has more to do with judgement than justice.

One suggestion is running an exclusive batting camp for all those Indian cricketers who bat from number seven to 11. They seem to have completely forgotten their skills in this direction. The list also includes Nayan Mongia whose role as wicket-keeper batsman has to be reviewed in the wake of his failures in the World Cup.

If only the late order knew how to put together the last few runs as in the match against Zimbabwe, India may have made it to the semifinals. But such is their carelessness that their team stands condemned. It is time they drew a leaf out of Lance Klusener’s book — it hardly matters what number you bat, it only matters how you do so.

The selectors have a lot of time in which to assess the team’s performance under the captaincy of Azharuddin in the World Cup and in the disastrous couple of months before the big event. They have time to sift the performers from the failures.

If only they have the wisdom to make their choice of younger replacements for the failures well in time and back those choices over a long term, they might just do Indian cricket a big favour. Otherwise, the Indian team’s continued dismal performance would do no justice to the men who laid down their lives in Kargil and the families of those who died will get far less for the sacrifice then the lakhs and lakhs of rupees an Indian cricketer makes in one good, bad or indifferent season.

Selectors to decide: Azhar

NEW DELHI, July 27 (PTI) — Mohammad Azharuddin today said he had no problems playing under Sachin Tendulkar if the national selectors picked the master batsman tomorrow to succeed him as India’s cricket captain.

“It is for the selectors to decide. I have always played under Sachin. If you have any reservations, you are not fit enough to play cricket,” Azharuddin said. He said he did not mind playing under Ajay Jadeja if he was the one chosen.

The Indian skipper was speaking to reporters after presenting a cheque for Rs five lakh to the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, as his personal contribution towards the National Defence Fund to aid families of Kargil victims.

Asked about former skipper Kapil Dev’s comment that he should retire from the game, Azharuddin remarked: “I would like to thank Kapil Dev for the advice. I will keep the choice to myself”.

Azharuddin said he did not want to comment on reports that Tendulkar was likely to be appointed skipper by selectors who meet at Nagpur tomorrow.

“I don’t want to comment. Lots of rumours are floating around. It is up to the selectors to decide”.

Azharuddin, who returned home from England two days ago after recuperating from his shoulder surgery, said he had not read reports that Tendulkar was willing to don the mantle provided he was given the say in deciding the playing 11 and the batting line-up.

Asked whether he himself enjoyed this freedom, Azharuddin said “I had no problems”.

Asked when he would be able to submit fitness certificate to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Azharuddin said he expected to produce it by August 4. “I hope it (fitness report) will be positive”.

On whether he felt he was being made the scapegoat for India’s poor World Cup performance, Azharuddin was biting in his comments about strong criticism about his leadership.

“I am enjoying the affection. I didn’t know that I affected the country so much. I have been inspired by those comments,” he said.

On all-rounder Robin Singh’s recent comments that the team was not clear about the points system till India’s second league tie against Zimbabwe, Azharuddin said “everything was clear. If he had any doubts, he should have gone to the management and asked”.

Azharuddin maintained that he was not contemplating retirement and that he was hopeful of being fit to play in the one-day series in Sri Lanka next month.

“I am recovering fast from my shoulder surgery and I have been lifting weights. I have regained almost all movements of my shoulder and only the backward movement is yet to reach its full,” he said.

The 36-year-old said he will inform the BCCI by August 5 on his fitness. “I am hopeful I will regain fitness to go to Sri Lanka, but then finally it depends on how fast I recover from here,” he said. The selectors are slated to meet on August 4 or 5 to pick the team for the tournament to be held from August 22 to 31.

Declaring that he was otherwise fit, he said “I have no thoughts of retirement. My running between the wickets is still sharp and I am taking all catches in the slips which should say for my reflexes,” he said when asked to comment on reports that he had drastically slowed down of late.

Asked whether any BCCI official had spoken to him about the captaincy issue, Azharuddin said neither the President, Mr Raj Singh Dungarpur nor the Secretary, Mr Jaywant Lele, had indicated so far that he was being replaced. “I have been in constant touch with them about my shoulder, they have not said anything,” he said.

Azharuddin said the operation on his right shoulder was “more a precautionary surgery, an arthroscopy with four incisions. It is basically due to wear and tear as I have been playing non-stop for the last 16 years,” he said.

Inzamam, 3 others given clean chit

ISLAMABAD, July 27 (PTI) — The match-fixing imbroglio surrounding Pakistani cricket has taken a new turn with reports that four of the players mentioned in this connection have been given a clean chit by the new chief of Pakistan Cricket Board while skipper Wasim Akram has vowed to “fight it out” to prove his innocence.

The interim chief of the PCB, Mujibur Rehman, who had a one-to-one meeting with 12 members of the Pakistani World Cup squad, has given the go ahead to vice-captain Moin Khan, Inzamam-ul Haq, Mushtaq Ahmed and Waqar Younis to prepare themselves for the coming season, the News claimed in a report today.

The four players were mentioned in the report of an internal probe conducted by the PCB last year. Excerpts from the report were made public last Saturday by the Ehtesab (accountability) Bureau which recommended framing of charges against eight players.

The report made specific allegations against Wasim Akram, Salim Malik and Ijaz Ahmed on the basis of which the three were put under temporary suspension by the board.

The Bureau report had also named five other players — Moin Khan, Inzamam-ul Haq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Waqar Younis and Saqlain Mushtaq — and had said all of them should face probe under the conduct rules of the PCB.

The five players have not been reported as “actively involved” but their role will also be investigated, Rehman has been quoted as saying by the Dawn.

Skipper Wasim Akram, arguably the greatest left-arm bowler in the history of cricket, who is returning home from England tomorrow, appears determined to clear his name. He has strongly denied the allegations.

“I am coming home and am ready to face allegations because I have not done anything wrong,” the 33-year-old captain said from London.

Akram, who is the only bowler to have taken more than 300 wickets both in Tests as well as one-dayers said: “I am sad and disappointed whatever has happened, but I am confident to fight it out”.

Akram’s lawyer Khwaja Ahmed Tariq Raheem, contacted by PTI in Lahore today, rejected the allegations against the bowler saying that he has been charged on the basis of the report of a probe committee which never heard the Pakistani skipper.

Raheem said that there was no hurry to rush through on the basis of the PCB probe committee report in view of the fact that the judicial commission is in the last stages of its inquiry.

Explaining the background of the match-fixing inquiries, Akram’s lawyer said the internal probe by the three-member PCB inquiry committee headed by Justice Ijaz Yousuf was the basis of the constitution of the one-member judicial commission headed by Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum.

The President of Pakistan had constituted the judicial commission under the Commission of Inquiries Act of 1956 and it was asked to make a thorough inquiry into the whole affair.

“How can they charge-sheet Akram and others even before the report of the judicial commission is yet to come out?”, Raheem asked.

When he was asked whether Akram or any other player had ever appeared before the PCB probe committee he said, “never” and went on to add, “The report was prepared simply on the basis of the allegations of two players Aamir Sohail and Ata-ur- Rehman”.

“But these two players are not coming for cross examination in the judicial commission”, Raheem said adding that at least on two occasions they failed to appear before the commission despite summons being issued to them.

He further said they also produced before the commission an alleged bookie named Younus who initially claimed he had given Rs 1 million to Akram’s brother. But during the course of cross examination he virtually broke down and revealed he was simply a rickshaw driver, Raheem said.

Rafter ‘relishes’ playing Sampras

MELBOURNE, July 27 (Reuters) — World No 1 Pat Rafter today said he has an extra reason to celebrate his new status in tennis — knowing it could annoy Pete Sampras.

Rafter, who took over the top ranking from French Open champion Andre Agassi yesterday, makes no secret of his rivalry with the American who has dominated men’s tennis for most of the 1990s.

“It’s always nice to beat Pete, whether it’s on the court, whether it’s a ranking thing or in Davis Cup. I get an incredible amount of enjoyment from being on top of him and pretty well just annoying him,’’ Rafter said.

He added: “To be honest it’s not a real play on Pete, it’s an achievement that I’m really feeling for myself — but if I know Pete’s upset about it then it makes it even better.’’

The US Open winner, speaking with reporters in a conference call from his Bermuda base, said he was “bloody happy’’ to be the first Australian since John Newcombe in 1974 and only the 17th man to hold the men’s No 1 ranking.

“It’s a really exciting thing,’’ said Rafter, who leads Wimbledon champion Sampras by just 79 points and is unlikely to keep the top sport for long under tour’s points rankings system.

“I don’t feel the pressure...People want to beat you if you are No 2 in the world or No 1 in the world and it doesn’t make any difference whatsoever to the way I approach things,’’ the 26-year-old said.

Rafter and 12-times Grand Slam singles winner Sampras are developing a fierce on-court rivalry. But it has at times spilled over into off-court needling between the pair.

In the run-up to Rafter’s successful US Open title defence last year, Sampras was asked what the difference was between him and the Australian. “About 10 Grand Slams,’’ he replied.

Sampras leads their head-to-head clashes 8-4, but Rafter has won their last three matches, including the semifinals of last year’s US Open, a tournament Sampras considers his own.

Rafter pinpointed that win, in which the American carried a thigh injury but did “some pretty extraordinary things’’, as a “milestone’’ match in his rise.

He said he relished playing Sampras. “I really enjoy the rivalry, whether I’m winning or losing. I think it’s pretty healthy for both of us,’’ he said.

“He doesn’t really bug me that much,’’ added after. “There are times he makes certain comments that annoy me but to drive me to No. 1, it doesn’t really, it’s something I’ve always wanted to achieve with or without the rivalry between myself and Pete.

“He just says some really funny things at the wrong times. “We’re out there busting our guts and he doesn’t show a lot of respect at the end of the day...And he tries to play down the reason why he lost, and giving no respect to the other player.

‘That’s what really upsets me about him and the reason why I try to piss him off as much as I can.’’

Sasikiran crushed; Thipsay posts win

BIEL (Switzerland), July 27 (PTI) — India’s GM norm holders Krishnan Sasikiran and Abhijit Kunte were crushed to defeat in the seventh round of BIEL International Open Chess Tournament and lost the chance of earning another GM norm here.

National champion Sasikiran (4) chose the kings Indian defence but IM Rufat Bagirov of Azerbijan countered with the positional Fianchetto variation to inflict a crushing defeat.

Kunte (4) went down fighting to GM Milos Pavlovic of Yugoslavia, and with just four rounds remaining, his hopes of final GM norm and title have faded.

IM Bagirov (5) played a tactical game to outwit Sasikiran after gaining space advantage in the middle game by planting his knight on D5 square.

Playing with white against Kunte, Pavlovic (5) started aggressively in the Sicilian Scheveningen opening to score a convincing victory against Kunte.

Then Indian double-GM norm holder was forced to give his rook for Pavlovic’s knight to ward off a mating attack, but the Yugoslavian conducted the king side attack precisely to pocket the point with a neat rook sacrifice.

Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay (4), who had slumped to defeat in the sixth round, bounced back with a facile win by accounting for Oliver Koeller of Germany.

Koeller chose the centre counter opening but played passively, which allowed a lasting advantage for Thipsay. The Indian won a pawn on the queen side and traded pieces to reach a winning bishop versus knight ending.

D.V. Prasad reached 3.5 and scored a fine victory against Loetscher of Switzerland. Prasad opted for the modern Benoni defence and launched a vigorous kingside onslaught which resulted in an exchange.

Prasad later converted the material advantage in his favour to win in 28 moves. IM V. Saravanan (3.5) was held to a draw by Ermini of Switzerland. IWM Anupama Gokhale lost to Wolfgan Haist of Germany to remain at 2.5 points. Junior national champion S. Kidambi fought a marathon battle of 120 moves to salvage a draw against Yugoslavian IM Pikula Dejan.

Results:

Milov (6) Switzerland b Volkov (5) Russia; Rashkovsky (3.5) Russia drew Grisschuk (5) Russia Shariazhdhanov (5) Russia drew Chermev (5) Russia Tyomking (5) Israel drew Nataf (5) France Raemsky (5) Russia drew Tukmakov (5) Ukraine; Bagirov (5) Azerbijan b Sasikiran (4) India; Pavlovic (5) Yugoslavia b Kunte (4) India Thipsay (4) India b Koeller (3) Germany Loetscher (2.5) Switzerland lost to Prasad (3.5) India Saravanan (3.5) India drew Ermeni (3.5) Switzerland; Kidambi (4) India drew Dejan (4) Yugoslavia; Anupana (2.5) India lost to Mast (3.5) Germany.

Pak business group offers to sponsor

ISLAMABAD, July 27 (PTI) — A Canada-based Pakistani businessman has offered to sponsor Indo-Pak cricket tournament in Toronto following Pakistan Cricket Board’s interim chief’s willingness to revive the September event.

The DBS Group of Canada has formally submitted its offer to sponsor the five-match tournament — in its fourth year.

The event was being sponsored by Indian business group Sahara for first three years before withdrawing their sponsorship last month following strained relations between the two countries following Kargil conflict.

Sahara had originally signed the contract to sponsor the tournament for five years.

According to reports available here the deal is being negotiated with the “relevant authorities” (IMG, events’ right holders).

An official of the Toronto-based DBS Group told the Pakistani daily Dawn that the group’s president Bilal Chapti has offered to sponsor the tournament following Sahara’s withdrawal of sponsorship.

“We understand that perhaps they (Sahara) are not sponsoring the cup but only the International Cricket Council (ICC) or the London-based Trans World International (TWI) can confirm or deny the report”, the official was quoted as saying.

The DBS official also said if their offer was accepted then the tournament will be known as “Bulk ‘n Bitz Cricket Cup”, as the Bulk ‘n Bitz is a sister concern of the DBS Group Holding Inc.

PCB ad-hoc committee chief Mujeebur Rehman, when contacted, however, expressed his ignorance about the offer by Canadian company but said that he is all for the revival of the tournament.

“I will go for it”, Rehman said when asked if such an offer comes to PCB what will be his response and added that he wants to continue with the cricketing ties between India and Pakistan.

He, however, said a decision with regard to Sahara Cup should be taken as soon as possible as PCB has to chalk out the itinerary for the coming season.

Paes bows out

LOS ANGELES, July 27 (Reuters) — Leander Paes was today beaten in straight sets in the opening round of the $ 350,000 Mercedes Benz Cup tournament.

The Indian number one, who this month won the Wimbledon doubles and mixed doubles title pairing with countryman Mahesh Bhupathi and Lisa Raymond (USA) respectively, bowed out in the opening round here losing to Eric Taino of the USA 7-6, (7-4), 6-1.

US fitness trainer for hockey team

TIRUPATI, July 27 (PTI) — Indian Women’s Hockey Federation (IWHF) has sought the services of well-known physical trainer Huber Herbert of the USA for training Indian team in the fitness aspect, Secretary Amrit Bose said here.

The Union Government had cleared the federation’s proposal and Herbert was expected to arrive in India in the first week of next month, Ms Bose told PTI.

Under the proposal, the American would study the players at a Patiala camp, along with senior national team coach G.S. Banghu and the under-21 squad coach P.P. Antony, who led the junior team to victory at the four-nation tournament at New Jersey last month.

Ms Bose, who was here in connection with the Federation Cup, said Hubert would be in the country for two weeks and the IWHF might consider extending his tenure, if needed.

Banghu and Antony would interact with Hubert and get a few tips on the coaching aspect, she said, adding that the exercise was being taken up on an experimental basis.

Ms Bose, said the IWHF had no plans to appoint a full-time foreign coach for the senior team. IWHF was, however, looking for a coach from Australia for the under-21 team.

IWHF has proposed to send Indian coaches to FIH-run clinics to give them more exposure and provide an opportunity to interact with international coaches.

On the preparation for the Asia Cup, she said the IWHF was considering inviting either South Africa, New Zealand or Germany to play in the country, ahead of the Asia Cup in December.

Asked about conducting such a premier tournament like the Federation Cup on non astro-turf in view of the players having difficulty, she said the IWHF had been left with no other choice as sponsors were not coming forward in major cities.

“At least, the tournament, which was not held for the past two years, had been revived. We did not want to starve players of top-level competition,” she said.

On the steps being taken by the federation to sustain the momentum gained by the senior team’s silver medal effort at the Bangkok Asian Games and the junior teams’ showing at New Jersey, she said the IWHF would give more thrust on endurance camps, along with the regular camp at Patiala.

Enqvist sails to victory

LOS ANGELES, July 27 (Reuters) — Fifth-seeded Thomas Enqvist sailed to victory but fellow-Swede Jonas Bjorkman failed again in the opening-round action at the $ 350,000 Mercedes Cup.

Enqvist yesterday eliminated Mark Woodforde of Australia 6-3 6-4, while unheralded Frenchman Anthony Dupuis bounced Bjorkman 6-4 6-4.

“I played a good match,” said Enqvist, a two-time finalist on the hard-courts of UCLA, who slammed 10 aces and broke service three times in the 66-minute sweep. “I was serving well and had less unforced errors. I played a solid game.”

Dupuis, ranked 136th, registered lone service breaks in the seventh game of each set in his 62-minute win - only the second ATP tour victory of his six-year career.

“I didn’t play very good and didn’t have any confidence the last three months,” said Dupuis after taking the scalp of the highest ranked (36) player he has faced. “But today, I tried to push him to his limit. I’m really happy.”

Bjorkman didn’t know what to expect in his first match back since a two-week holiday following Wimbledon. He remains puzzled over his current slide which has seen his 1999 match-record drop to a disappointing 13-14.

“I just played really bad,” admitted Bjorkman, who has now exited in the opening round of half the 14 events played this year. “I didn’t expect too much but I expected to play better than I did today.”

In other matches, Justin Gimelstob, a semifinalist here last year, beat fellow-American Taylor Dent 6-2 6-2, and qualifier James Sekulov of Australia defeated Martin Damm of the Czech Republic 7-5 4-6 7-5.

Bjorkman earned a career-high number four ranking on the ATP Tour in 1997 and made it to the quarter-finals of the Australian and US Opens a year later but has gone into a tailspin since.

“I’ve lost the fun part on the court, I’m not really enjoying it,” said the 27-year-old Bjorkman. “I still have goals but I don’t know if I have lost the motivation a little bit.”

While Bjorkman tries to find his game, Marcelo Rios hopes to find his health.

The former world number one withdrew from the field that includes six-time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras and French Open winner Andre Agassi due to tendinitis in both hips.

“I felt it a couple of weeks ago and last week it starting hurting much more,” the world number four said. “I’ve been having a little bit of bad luck this year.”

Though the Chilean lefthander has compiled a 28-9 match record this year, including an ATP Tour title in Hamburg, Germany, he has been bothered by back problems most of 1999.

“It’s the worst year of my four-year career,” Rios said. “It’s the first time I’ve been injured this much. My back is fine but now this. But that’s the way it goes. I will take treatment, see how it goes, and try to come back.”

Rios will be replaced in the 32-player field by Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand, a “lucky loser” in the qualifying.

Top-seeded Agassi will face fellow American Jan-Michael Gambill on Tuesday night after second-seeded Sampras tangles with local wild-card entry Phillip King.

USA unsure of repeating show

GUADALAJARA (Mexico), July 27 (AP) — Members of the US soccer team aren’t getting their hopes up for a repeat of their startling victory last year against Brazil, which they called the best team in the world.

The USA beat Brazil 1-0 last year in the Gold Cup in Florida, shocking soccer fans around the world. Kasey Keller, who is still on the US team, gave what Brazilian forward Rivaldo called the best goalkeeping performance he had ever seen.

“It just happened to be one of those special nights,” Keller said yesterday. “I’m not expecting to have the same performance. If I did it would be very unrealistic.”

Coach Bruce Arena also said the team wasn’t getting its hopes up too high for Wednesday’s match, noting: “We’re playing against the best team in the world.”

He said the Brazilians were especially impressive because the team has a system of play that transcends any one player. The Brazilians came to the Confederations Cup without many of their big stars.

“They continue to look like a great team regardless of who’s on the field,” Arena said.

US players said they knew what they were up against, and would do their best to prevent the Brazilians from creating scoring opportunities.

“We’re going to have to be very focused mentally and very strong physically,” said midfielder Cobi Jones, who played in the US win against Brazil.

Brazil announced their lineup on Monday night for the game -exactly the same lineup they used against Germany in the 4-0 victory on Saturday.

The only surprise was that Flavio Conceicao will remain a starter instead of Alex, who subbed in the second half in the game against Germany and scored two goals.

Brazilian coach Wanderley Luxemburgo said the team had performed well against Germany and he didn’t see any need to change the lineup.

The Brazilians said they were mindful of their history with the Americans.

“That adversary has always been difficult for our country,” defender Serginho said. “By tradition, the US team has always been complicated for us.”

He also said the Brazilians weren’t worrying about the players who begged off of the team, including stars Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos and Cafu.

“We’re a family here,” he said. “Independent of which players came or didn’t come, the level stays the same.”

Sarabjit elected AICF chief
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 27 — Mr Sarabjit Singh (IPS), Director-General of Police, Punjab and chief patron, Chandigarh Carrom Association was unanimously elected president of the All-India Carrom Federation (AICF) at its annual general council meeting at PAP complex, Jalandhar, yesterday.

Mr S.K. Sharma of Haryana was unanimously elected general-secretary for the second consecutive term.

The following are the newly-elected office-bearers of the federation: president — Mr Sarabjit Singh (Chandigarh); senior vice-president — Mr B. Bangaru Babu (Tamil Nadu); vice-presidents — Mr S.A. Basheer (Karnataka), Mr Pardeep Hazarika (Assam), Mr Bharat Bhushan (Bihar), Mr R.K. Mudgal (Delhi) and Mr Manohar Phool (Vidarbha); general secretary — Mr S.K. Sharma (Haryana); assistant general secretary — Mr P. Ravindran (Kerala); treasurer — Mr Khurshid Khan (MP); joint secretaries — Mr Mahesh Sekhri (Chandigarh), Mr S. Uday Kumar (Pondicherry), Mr Rupak Debroy (Tripura), Mr Gautam Sen (West Begal) and Ms Kunja Phanse (Gujarat).

Representative from Maharashtra, Orissa, Hyderabad, Punjab, Himachal, Manipur and Andhra Pradesh will constitute the working committee.

Dale replaces Reiffel

MELBOURNE, July 27 (Reuters) — Queensland swing bowler Adam Dale was today chosen to replace the recently retired Paul Reiffel in Australia’s one-day international cricket squad to tour Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

Australia play a one-day tournament in Sri Lanka in August and three one-day games against Zimbabwe in November.

The Australian Cricket Board also announced that Dale’s Queensland team-mate, Stuart Law, will replace Reiffel on the ACB’s list of contracted players.

Dale was forced to return from Australia’s tour of the West Indies with pneumonia before rejoining the World Cup squad in England, but played in only two early round games during the tournament.

The 30-year-old medium pacer has played 26 one-day internationals, taking 28 wickets at an average of 31.21 with best figures of 3-18 against South Africa at Port Elizabeth in 1996.

He has also played two Test matches, but is primarily thought of as a one-day specialist.

Ganguly auctions Taunton bat

SILIGURI, July 27 (PTI) — Ace Indian batsman Sourav Ganguly yesterday auctioned the bat and kit used in his famous 183-run knock in Taunton at the England World Cup at a function here to raise funds for the Army personnel who died during the Kargil conflict.

The bat and the kit, including Ganguly’s helmet, fetched Rs 1,11,000 and was bought by a local businessman, Mr Yograj Garg.

Fifteen other bats, signed by the southpaw, were auctioned for Rs 2,60,500 with the highest being fetched for one bat being Rs 31,000 at the function organised by Siliguri Municipal Corporation.

Ganguly said he would contribute to take up the collected sum of Rs 3,71,000 to a round figure of Rs 4 lakh and hand over the cheque to the state Chief Minister Jyoti Basu at Calcutta within a few days.

Himachal b'minton

SHIMLA, July 27 (TNS) — The Himachal Pradesh Inter-District and State Badminton Championship will be held at Mandi from September 5 to 10, according to Mr Devinder Saraswati, Secretary, Himachal Pradesh Badminton Association.

The championship would include senior as well as junior men and women categories. The Mini-State Championship and veterans meet will also be organised at Shimla in September.

Mr Saraswati said the teams for the North Zone badminton Championship, which are to he held at Jammu, will be selected during the state championship.

Award for PSEB athlete

PATIALA, July 27 (FOSR) — International athlete Madhuri Saxena of PSEB has been honoured with the Uttar Pradesh Government’s highest state award, the Laxman Award.

The award has been conferred on Madhuri in recognition of the gold medal she won in the 5 km race in South Asian Federation (SAF) Games held at Chennai. Madhuri also won a bronze in the Asian cross country meet held in Japan apart from participating in the World Cross Country Championships held in Cape Town (South Africa) last year.