Moya's stay at top short but sweet
KEY BISCAYNE (USA), March 23 — Carlos Moya’s reign as number one men’s tennis player in the world was short but certainly sweet. "I think it’s great. I can say I’ve been number one for two weeks," Moya said after Pete Sampras reclaimed the top spot from the Spaniard at the Lipton Championships last evening.

Fleming back in NZ team after injury
WELLINGTON, March 23 — New Zealander Stephen Fleming’s frustrating injury lay-off is over after 11 weeks on the sidelines following groin surgery.

Sampras beats Moya, regains top spot
KEY BISCAYNE (USA), March 23 — American Pete Sampras reclaimed the No 1 ranking he relinquished last week, winning in the Lipton Championships while Spain’s Carlos Moya lost.

FIH introduces new rules
CHENNAI, March 23 — A new rule has been introduced by the International Hockey Federation on an experimental basis permitting players to strike the ball with the edge of the rounded side of their sticks.

Santosh Trophy : Karnataka drub Himachal 8-0
CHENNAI, March 23 — With Karnataka virtually making it to the quarterfinal league, the qualifIers have been spotted from group II and IV of the National Football Championship here.

National hockey: Customs shock PSB, enter semis
HYDERABAD, March 23 — The unassuming Central Excise and Customs stormed into the semifinals of the 59th Senior National Hockey Championship vanquishing Punjab and Sind Bank 2-0 today in a quarterfinal encounter here.

Master Card sponsors of 2002 World Cup
NEW DELHI, March 23 — Master Card International has renewed its official sponsorship position of the world's largest sporting event soccer's World Cup — which will be held during the summer of 2002 in Japan and South Korea.

Australia announce World Cup squad
SYDNEY, March 23 — Veteran player Tom Moody won a surprise call-up and several Test stars were snubbed when Australia named a 15-man squad for the World Cup cricket tournament today.

Wills Open Golf from tomorrow Lankans skip net practice

Rejuvenated India meet Pak today

JAIPUR, March 23 (UNI) — A rejuvenated India sans star batsman Sachin Tendulkar faces a daunting task to regain the lost sheen ahead of the World Cup, when they lock horns with Pakistan in the third encounter of the Pepsi Cup Cricket Triangular Series at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium here tomorrow.

The two titans of the subcontinent will face each other on the Indian soil in the shorter version of the game after three years since the hosts’ nail-biting win over the visitors in the quarterfinal of the World Cup at Bangalore.

The Pink City, where former Pakistani President General Zia-ul-Haq, in a unique gesture, had visited to witness the Indo-Pakistan Test in 1987, will see the revival of one-dayers between the two sides after 12 years.

The records at the stadium favour of India, who had defeated Pakistan by four wickets in 1983. India have played five one-dayers here, winning three and losing two.

After registering their first win in the tournament against a depleted Sri Lanka, who have been passing through a lean phase, both India and Pakistan get focussed on the business to affirm supremacy in the limited overs game. Besides, it is also a chance for both teams to sharpen their preparations and boost confidence for the forthcoming World Cup in England.

The Indians overcame the psychological barrier of playing without run machine Sachin Tendulkar as they set a challenging target against the Lankans and won convincingly to show that India are not a one-man squad in batting.

However, Ajay Jadeja, who was dropped after a poor run in New Zealand and not considered for the two-test series against the arch rival Pakistan and the Asian Test Championship, failed to make his presence felt with the bat. This has given the selectors a point to ponder over the next choice southpaw Sadagopan Ramesh, who has a century and three half centuries in seven Test innings.

The home side would be expecting a repeat from Saurav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, who scored centuries against the Lankans at Nagpur. Man of the match Ganguly, who hit his highest one-day score of 130 not out, grabbed four wickets for 21 runs to fashion India’s comfortable 80-run victory over defending world champions Sri Lanka.

Staging a comeback after a long injury lay-off, Vinod Kambli could not rise to the occasion. But Ajit Agarkar is back into the team with a bang as he picked up three vital wickets for only runs 14.

Though the Indian bowling attack may not appear lethal but Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble have the ability to turn the match around. Newcomer Laxmi Ratan Shukla will also have to make a mark.

The batting will have to be disciplined of India is to score a big total.

Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram, who registered two consecutive hat-tricks in the Asian Test Championship and claimed three wickets in the space of five balls in the inaugural match of the triangular series helping his team to record a dramatic win over the Lankans will have the new speed sensation Shoaib Akhtar to accompany him with the new ball.

Pakistan have a strong and varied bowling attack which can make even a modest total look competitive.

One area where the hosts will have to pull their socks is fielding, which has let the team down times without number.

"Fielding has been our grey area and improvement is desperately needed. What is more important is to get acts in all department of the game together,’’ admitted Indian skipper Azhar, who has been in news for his man-management failure and apathetic body language on the field.

With the victory over Sri Lanka, India have got into the groove, but will have to play in top gear throughout to stop the Pakistanis who fight till the last ball.

Indian coach Anshuman Gaekwad discounted that the defeats in Chennai and Calcutta tests would have any psychological bearing on players while taking on a triumphant Pakistan. "They are all professionals and have already put the bad days behind. I am happy with the way our boys have started and looking forward to better deeds from them,’’said Gaekwad.

On the other hand, the Pakistan team’s morale seemed to be sky-high after their triumph in the first ever Asian Test Championship and a thrilling win in the opener. Riding on the crest of test triumphs, a buoyant Pakistan would be keen to maintain their winning streak in the shorter version of the game too.

On the eve of the match, both captains admitted that the onus would be on the batsmen to score runs to give the bowlers an opportunity to force a fight.

Though concerned about the inconsistency of the middle-order, Akram hoped that his batsmen would play to the strength. Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi, Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Azhar Mahmood are in fine nick and getting runs, and should not have any problems to score on the flat and placid wicket here.

If the visitors have a psychological relief in the absence of master blaster Sachin Tendulkar due to his back problem, the hosts too have a chance to capitalise on the suspension of off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq.

"We will certainly miss Saqlain, but Pakistan have enough fire-power to beat India,’’ team coach Javed Miandad said.

There are enough indications that off-spinner Arshad Khan will come in for Saqlain.

Indian coach and captain are not keen to experiment against Pakistan and will, in all likelihood, continue with the same 11 which played at Nagpur, while Pakistan may introduce changes. Both sides will announce their playing 11 tomorrow after inspecting the pitch and weather conditions.

A lush green outfield and the promise of a pitch full of runs raise a vision of a lively encounter here.

Teams:

India: Mohammad Azharuddin (captain), Saurav Ganguly, Ajay Jadeja, Vinod Kambli, Rahul Dravid, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Nayan Mongia, Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Javagal Srinath, Nikhil Chopra, Sadagopan Ramesh, Amay Khurasia and Gyanendra Pandey.

Pakistan: Wasim Akram (captain), Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi, Ijaz Ahmed, Imran Nazir, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Moin Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, Azhar Mahmood, Arshad Khan, Abdul Razzak, and Shahid Nazir.

Umpires: Jasbir Singh (Chandigarh) and Sudhir Asnani (Indore)

Third umpire: Vijay Chopra (Delhi).

Hours of play: 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., 1.15 p.m. to 4.45 p.m.

Anand leads in rapid chess

MONTE CARLO, March 23 (PTI) — Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand maintained his reign atop the rapid chess section with a fine win over Boris Gelfand but continued to face setbacks in the blindfold in which the Belarussian held him to a draw in the Amber Chess tournament here.

The 1.5-0.5 victory over Gelfand, who showed signs of resurrection after plumbing the bottom from the start with a 2-0 win in the last round, last night propelled the world number two Indian to fourth position in overall standings after six rounds.

Anand (6.5) was clubbed together with Spain’s Alexy Shirov and FIDE world champion Anatoly Karpov (Russia), who lost to Ljubomir Ljubojevic.

Russia’s Vladimir Kramnik, favourite to win the title, maintained his overall lead with nine points from six games. He had five points from rapid and four from blindfold.

Vaselin Topalov defeated Predrag Nikolic in rapid play and shared the point in blindfold version to catch Frenchman Joel Leutier (7.5) at the second place. Leutier drew both his games against Shirov of Spain.

Anand, who had reasonable success in rapid play, continued in the same vein as he outplayed Gelfand. Though Gelfand managed equality early in a sicilian game, he could achieve little after that as Anand played very good combinations and went on to win in 38 moves.

The blindfold game was a dullish 28-move draw with Anand, careful not to give away any advantage to his rival after managing only two points from six games, playing safe.

Karpov suffered yet another loss, losing to Ljubomir Ljubojevic of Yugoslavia in just 20 moves after a poor opening in the queen’s gambit accepted.

The FIDE world champion, however, managed a win in the blindfold event to even out matters, but slipped three places to joint fourth.

Kramnik won both his games in style against Vaselly Ivanchuk.

Results:

Rapid play: v Anand (Ind) bt B. Gelfand (Bel), v Kramnik (Rus) bt V. Ivanchuk (Ukr), L. Ljubojevic (Yug) bt A. Karpov (Rus), A. Shirov (Esp) drew with J. Lautier (Fra), V. Topalov (Bul) bt P. Nikolic (Bih), L. Van Wely (Hol) drew with J. Piket (Hol).

Blind: J. Lautier drew with A. Shirov, P. Nikolic drew with V. Topalov, A. Karpov bt L. Ljubojevic, V. Ivanchuk lost to V. Kramnik, B. Gelfand drew with V. Anand, J. Piket lost to L. Van Wely.

Overall standings (after sixth round): Kramnik 9; Topalov and Lautier 7.5; Anand, Shirov and Karpov 6.5; Nikolic 6; Ivanchuk 5.5; Ljubojevic, Van Wely and Gelfand 4.5; J. Piket 3.5.

Moya's stay at top short but sweet

KEY BISCAYNE (USA), March 23 (Reuters) — Carlos Moya’s reign as number one men’s tennis player in the world was short but certainly sweet.

"I think it’s great. I can say I’ve been number one for two weeks," Moya said after Pete Sampras reclaimed the top spot from the Spaniard at the Lipton Championships last evening.

"Who knows if I’m going to be longer there. But at least I can say I’ve been number one. I think not many players can say that," he said.

Moya had become only the 15th player in the history of the men’s rankings to reach number one and the first Spaniard when he deposed Sampras at the tour’s prior event in Indian Wells.

Moya’s brief stay in the top ranking ended when he fell to Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean 3-6 6-4 7-6 (9-7), while Sampras moved into the quarterfinals with a 6-4 6-4 win over Spaniard Albert Costa.

Grosjean’s battle with Moya was a thrilling contest that had fellow players glued to television sets in the players lounge watching the third-set tussle turn out in the 74th-ranked Grosjean’s favour.

"I’m just trying to forget about that match," Moya said. "It’s not easy because it hurts."

For Grosjean, Moya was the first ever top-10 player he had ever beaten. Moya was quick to acknowledge that Grosjean was the better man yesterday, adding: "If he’s able to play like this every day, he will be top 10, for sure."

Despite Moya’s philosophical tone in his English speaking Press conference, he told Spanish speaking media that he believed Americans did not like for the world number one player to be from a country other than their own.

Moya, in fact, said he did not truly experience the total aura of being top-ranked because he was in the USA.

"It was great to be here in the states for me because I didn’t have pressure from the people and the press," he said. "I didn’t even see any picture of me, so I didn’t feel like number one."

Fleming back in NZ team after injury

WELLINGTON, March 23 (Reuters) — New Zealander Stephen Fleming’s frustrating injury lay-off is over after 11 weeks on the sidelines following groin surgery. The elegant left hander has been recalled as captain of the New Zealand one-day squad to face South Africa in the final three one-day matches of the season.

Fleming was injured in the first one-day international against India in Taupo on January 9 and underwent surgery 13 days later.

His recovery, initially expected to take six weeks, took nearly 10 weeks and he missed the first three one dayers against South Africa as well as the Tests.

"I’m 100 per cent fit now, and I’m looking forward to returning. It’s been a frustrating time but it’ll be quickly forgotten if we can build on our two-one lead and win the one-day series," Fleming said at the Basin Reserve where the squad was announced.

Fleming’s fitness only partially makes up for the continued absence through injury of key all rounder Chris Cairns and hard hitting batsman Craig McMillan.

Although Cairns will probably not play again until the World Cup in England in May, McMillan may return for the second or third one-day games against South Africa after suffering a broken bone in his right hand in the first Test against South Africa two weeks ago.

The one surprise in New Zealand’s squad is the omission of seamer Simon Doull in favour of uncapped Wellington fast bowler Carl Bulfin.

"Carl will give us a bit of firepower up front and we believe he deserves his chance," selection chief Ross Dykes said after the final Test which South Africa won by eight wickets to win the series one-nil.

The fourth one-day match will be played in Napier on Thursday with the fifth match following on Saturday in Auckland. The sixth and last match is back in Wellington on Tuesday.

Squad: Stephen Fleming (captain), Matthew Horne, Nathan Astle, Bryan Young, Roger Twose, Chris Harris, Dion Nash, Adam Parore, Daniel Vettori, Gavin Larsen, Geoff Allott, Carl Bulfin.

Sampras beats Moya, regains top spot

KEY BISCAYNE (USA), March 23 (AP) — American Pete Sampras reclaimed the No 1 ranking he relinquished last week, winning in the Lipton Championships while Spain’s Carlos Moya lost.

Sampras advanced to the quarterfinals yesterday by beating Spain’s Albert Costa 6-4, 6-4. Hours earlier, the top-ranked Moya succumbed to fatigue, nerves and France’s Sebastien Grosjean, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6, (11-9).

The results ensure that Sampras will return to No 1 when the new computer rankings are released next Monday. It will be his 263rd week on top, seven shy of Ivan Lendl’s record.

Other top-15 players also lost — No 4 Alex Corretja of Spain and No 12 Karol Kucey.

In women’s third-round play, American teen star Serena Williams beat Spain’s Magui Serna 6-1, 6-0. France’s Mary Pierce Russia’s Anna Kournikova and South Africa’s Amanda Coetzer also won.

Sampras was unhappy about being scheduled to play Costa on the grandstand court, and as it turned out, his complaints were premature. Centre court became available late in the afternoon, so officials moved the match there.

And Sampras looked right at home, dispatching the dangerous Costa in 80 minutes.

At 4-4 in the second set, Sampras delivered the shot of the match — a lunging forehand winner from three metres beyond the sideline. That gave him a break point, and he converted with another forehand winner, then served out the match.

Moya, the first Spaniard to be ranked No 1, squandered three match points in his tense tiebreaker against the unseeded Grosjean. Moya was playing his third three-setter in as many days, and his weariness showed in the late stages of the two-hour, 40-minute marathon.

Each player lost his serve three times in the final set, and there were repeated mishits and unforced errors before Grosjean closed out the victory with a running forehand winner.

Four other top-15 players also lost — No 4 Alex Corretja of Spain, No 12 Karol Kucera of Slovakia, No 13 Greg Rusedski of Britain and No 8 Marcelo Rios of Chile, the defending champion.

Corretja had a chance at No 1 until he was eliminated by Sweden’s Thomas Enqvist 7-5, 6-3. Australia’s Patrick Rafter and Russia’s Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who also came to Key Biscayne with a shot at No 1, lost in the first week of the tournament.

Spain’s Francisco Clavet edged unseeded Vince Spadea 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, leaving Sampras as the only American in the men’s draw.

No 7 Richard Krajicek of the Netherlands beat Russia’s Marat Safin 6-3, 6-1 and will face Sampras on Tuesday. Krajicek, the last player to beat Sampras at Wimbledon, holds a 5-2 lead in their rivalry.

"He seems very calm when he plays me," Sampras said.

In women’s third-round play, American teen stars Serena and Venus Williams moved closer to a sibling showdown in the final. Serena beat Spain’s Magui Serna 6-1, 6-0, and Venus eliminated Colombia’s Fabiola Zuluaga 6-3, 6-4. Jana Novotna of the Czech Republic, Mary Pierce of France and Anna Kournikova of Russia also won.

Sampras was unhappy about being scheduled to play costa on the grandstand court, but as it turned out, his complaints were premature. Center court became available late in the afternoon, so officials moved the match there.

And Sampras looked right at home, dispatching the dangerous Costa in 80 minutes.

"Strange things can happen when you’re out on the grandstand," Sampras said. "Fortunately the matches went pretty quick on the stadium, so I was able to get out there."

Maybe Sampras was right to worry, because Moya’s loss came on the grandstand.

"I just want to say two things," Moya said. "First, which ranking do I have to have to play on centre court? And second, never mind, because we are in the USA, so everything can happen here."

Carry on good work, President tells Sachin
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, March 23 — "I am proud of you. Carry on the good work,’’ was how the President, Mr K R Narayanan, greeted leading cricketer Sachin Tendulkar while honouring him with Padma Shree Award at the Rashtrapati Bhawan today.

Tendulkar, who along with weightlifter Karnam Malleswari, were two of the youngest to be presented the Padma Shree Award, was the cynosure of all eyes.

Having just returned from England after treatment to his injured back, Tendulkar was besieged by autograph seekers among whom were some of the recipients and also security personnel.

Malleswari, who won laurels for the country in women’s weightlifting, was also greeted with warmth by the President, the Home Minister, Mr L K Advani and the Minister of State for Sports Ms Uma Bharati.

"What inspired you to take up the sport,’’ the Home Minister inquired with Malleswari.

Earlier speaking to correspondents, Tendulkar said he was happy that the Indian team had performed well in the Nagpur one-day, the first in many years without him.

Asked how he felt Tendulkar replied: "I am sure all the players are capable enough. I have played with them for a long-long time and I know their capabilities well’’.

FIH introduces new rules

CHENNAI, March 23 (PTI) — A new rule has been introduced by the International Hockey Federation on an experimental basis permitting players to strike the ball with the edge of the rounded side of their sticks.

The Federation Internationale De Hockey (FIH) has made it mandatory for all national federations to implement the rule immediately, according to an FIH press note.

The federation’s executive board approved this rule and a number of important other ones recommended by the FIH hockey rules board at its meeting in Brussels last week.

The experimental rule (rule 4A - the stick) recognises ‘the whole of the first face and the edges of the rounded side’ as ‘the playing side of the stick’.

The FIH said playing the ball using the back edge of the stick had become common in recent years and had proved to be quite spectacular. However, the practice had not been accounted for previously in the rules.

The mandatory experiment would encourage the development of this striking skill and help determine whether the method should be officially incorporated into the rules. The issue of safety would be closely monitored and the existing rules on ‘dangerous play’ would apply, it said.

The FIH has made its earlier mandatory experiment allowing completion of awarded penalty corners at half-time and full-time, after the time expires, a rule.

Saying that no further rules of the game would be changed prior to the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the FIH said the umpires would be given more scope and permitted to officiate the game from anywhere on the pitch.

According to the press note, the current practice dictates that having selected one end of the field of play, umpires do not normally make calls within the 25 yard line area and, particularly from the striking circle of the other umpire.

Trial of these suggestions, if approved by the world body, would take place in the men’s and women’s Champions Trophy (June 10-20) to be held in Brisbane (Australia).

The FIH also praised the suggestions made by former India captain Pargat Singh at the meeting.

Santosh Trophy
Karnataka drub Himachal 8-0

CHENNAI, March 23 (PTI) — With Karnataka virtually making it to the quarterfinal league, the qualifIers have been spotted from group II and IV of the National Football Championship here.

Playing their first league tie in group II (cluster D), Karnataka drubbed Himachal Pradesh 8-0, in which striker R.C. Prakash accounted for three goals. They led 4-0 at half time.

Prakash struck in the 37th, 39th and 79th minutes. While rest were scored by Anto Vinod (1st), Dayanand (44th), Rishi Kapoor (54th), Murali (84th) and substitute Sunil (89). Orissa now have to beat Karnataka by seven-goal difference to upset their entry to the quarters.

Karnataka were far superior in attack and defence. But HP almost scored in the 12th minute when a rasping 25-yard shot from Pradeep Monkobia on the right flank shook the horizontal and defender Sunil Kumar cleared it.

HP were able to thwart Karnataka’s moves only for a brief period. Karnataka again scored in the 38th minute. Following a throw in, Murali crossed to Ganesh, who moved to the centre and shot in, beating the goalkeeper all ends up. A minute later, Prakash scored again, heading home across by Xavier Vijay Kumar.

Just before the break, Dayanand, substituting for Bheema Rao, netted the fourth, off a Sampath Kumar pass.

Himachal have now conceded 37 goals in three matches.

In the second half, Karnataka were in total command. Their defenders had nothing much to do and Himachal seemed to be awaiting the final whistle.

Karnataka again scored three more through Prakash (79), Murali (84) and substitute Sunil (89th).

National hockey
Customs shock PSB, enter semis

HYDERABAD, March 23 (UNI) — The unassuming Central Excise and Customs stormed into the semifinals of the 59th Senior National Hockey Championship vanquishing Punjab and Sind Bank 2-0 today in a quarterfinal encounter here.

Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB) who beat fancied Air-India in their last league match to move to the last eight looked jaded today.

PSB had the lion's share of the match but their forwards failed to capitalise half a dozen chances which came their way.

On the other hand Central Excise employed man to man marking and never allowed the nippy bank forward line to function in full steam.

The Excise men scored both their goals through penalty corners. Just before half time the Excise men got a penalty corner and Rajinder Singh with a rasping drive sounded the board to put his team ahead by 1-0.

After the break the bank men tried to come with renewed vigour but it was in vain as the Excise men kept the pressure on the rival side by bottling the banks forwards especially Sanjeev Kumar, Parminder and Baljit Singh Chandi.

Central Excise who are playing after a day's rest looked fresh as compared to the bank men who indulged in rough tackling.

The bank’s Baljit Singh Saini and Baljit Singh Chandi were shown the green card for rough play.

In the 53rd minute of the match Central Excise secured a penalty corner and this time Jarnail Singh scored.

In a three-man move, after the penalty push the ball was diverted to Suresh who pushed the ball to Jarnail Singh. The lanky Sardar had only to push the ball to beat PSB goalkeeper Alloyosius Edward .

Punjab and Sind Bank should blame themselves as they wasted five penalty corners while Excise got two which they converted.

'Bankrupt' judge has $ 30,000 in bank

LONDON, March 23 (AFP) — The ‘bankrupt’ American boxing judge at the centre of the enquiry into the Lennox Lewis-Evander Holyfield heavyweight fight has over $ 30,000 in two bank accounts despite declaring herself bankrupt, British tabloid newspaper ‘The Sunday Mirror’ has claimed.

The newspaper claims to have discovered that Ms Eugenia Williams had a total of ‘more than 20,000 pounds’ lodged in two separate American bank accounts.

Ms Williams, who filed for bankruptcy six weeks ago, scored the fight in Holyfield’s favour despite many observers believing Lewis had won easily.

Particularly controversial was the fifth round which Ms Williams awarded to Holyfield, when Lewis had thrown 43 punches to 11 for the American. Williams later said she was unsighted during that round.

Last Thursday, Ms Williams denied there had been any pay-off conspiracy but told the American state Senate committee on investigations that after watching the fight on video she would have scored it a draw.

When confronted by the Sunday Mirror over the bank account claims, Ms Williams said by telephone: "I’ve been told I can’t say anything. Talk to my attorney," the paper reported.

The paper quoted New York state Senator Roy Goodman as saying: "This is stunning news and must be looked into further. Clearly something is not right."

Ms Williams’s decision to give the verdict to American Holyfield meant last weekend’s fight was drawn after one judge scored it in Lewis’s favour and the third judged it even, prompting uproar on both sides of the Atlantic.

Lewis on Thursday blamed what he called ‘some kind of conspiracy’ for the decision.

The state Senate probe is one of three inquiries into the fight. The state athletic commission is investigating to determine if it should replace the sanctioning bodies as the group that assigns judges to title fights.

A rematch has been ordered.

Ms Williams is an experienced judge, who has officiated in a reported 28 world title fights.

Master Card sponsors of 2002 World Cup

NEW DELHI, March 23 (UNI) — Master Card International has renewed its official sponsorship position of the world's largest sporting event soccer's World Cup — which will be held during the summer of 2002 in Japan and South Korea.

This is the first time the World Cup will be held in Asia.

At the same time, Master Card announced the continuation of its relationship with three time world cup champion Pele, who has been Master Card's exclusive World Cup Spokesman since 1991, through the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

As an official sponsor of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Master Card maintains exclusively in the card-based payment category, which includes all card account access devices such as credit and debit cards, ATM cards, telephone cards, etc., and receives exclusive global category rights to use the FIFA World Cup official marks, logos and designations in advertising, promoting and merchandising.

As part of Master Card's agreement with Pele, which will mark his third consecutive World Cup as Master Card's official spokesman, he will appear in company and member advertisements and promotional materials worldwide in support of Master Card's World Cup sponsorship.

Born Edson Arantes Do Nascimento in Tres Coracoes, Brazil on October 23, 1940, Pele burst onto the international soccer scene as a 17-year-old at the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden. Pele scored a total of six goals including two in a 5-2 triumph over Sweden to give Brazil its first-ever World Cup. He finished his career with 1,282 goals in 1,365 games and led Brazil to World Cup victories in 1962 and 1970.

Lankans skip net practice

MUMBAI, March 23 (PTI) — Reigning world champions Sri Lanka, who returned from Nagpur last night after their 80-run loss to India in the second tri-nation one-day cricket series tie, skipped net practice today and instead opted for the cool retreat of their hotel rooms.

The Lankans, who were to practise at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) for two days before proceeding to Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), decided to rest today after arriving here late in the night, according to Indian cricket board officials.

They would have nets tomorrow morning.

Sri Lanka will play their third match of the series against Pakistan at Vishakapatnam on March 27.

The Lankans, hit by injuries to their key players, had lost narrowly to Pakistan in the opener at Jamshedpur on March 19.

Australia announce World Cup squad

SYDNEY, March 23 (AP) — Veteran player Tom Moody won a surprise call-up and several Test stars were snubbed when Australia named a 15-man squad for the World Cup cricket tournament today.

Moody last played for Australia at the Commonwealth games in September last year but has significant experience in England, which will host the cup starting in May.

Test openers Michael Slater and Matthew Elliott missed out. While Elliott is struggling on the tour of the West Indies, Slater has been in brilliant form since returning to the team last year and can score at a rapid rate.

Mark Waugh and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist have established themselves as the one-day team’s opening pair.

Leg-spinner Stuart MacGill, currently in better form than Shane Warne, has also missed out with the selectors opting for vice-captain Warne as the sole leg-spinner.

Squad: Steve Waugh (captain), Shane Warne (vice-captain), Michael Bevan, Adam Dale, Damien Fleming, Adam Gilchrist, Brendon Julian, Shane Lee, Darren Lehmann, Glenn McGrath, Damien Martyn, Tom Moody, Ricky Ponting, Paul Reiffel, Mark Waugh.

Wills Open Golf from tomorrow
From Our Sports Reporter

MEERUT, March 23 — Vijay Kumar, the current leader in the order of merit and winner of five tournaments this year, Shiv Prakash, Feroz Ali Sher and S.S. Chowrasia are among many professionals who will be seen in action on the 12-hole 6,785-yard course in the AGC-Wills Open Golf Championship here from Thursday (March 25).

As many as 72 professionals and three amateurs will tee-off on Thursday morning.

The winner will get Rs 83,300 of the Rs 5 lakh prize money. The runner-up will be presented Rs 55,550.

Under care of Indian Army and Mr Bhimsen Jain, who is considered father of the course, the course has sparkling clean fairways and true greens.

No competition could be held last year. But in the 1997 contest (AGC-Siel), Calcutta's Feroz Ali won the title with 10-under 278.

The championship will be preceded by Pro-Am tomorrow.

This is the 21st tournament under the umbrella of Wills Sports and Tiger Sports.

Seminar on football tomorrow

CHANDIGARH, March 23 (TNS) — The Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh Memorial Football Tournament Committee, Banga, will organise a seminar on football at Sikh National College, Banga, on March 25, according to a press note issued by Mr Jaspal Singh, secretary of the committee.

Former international and current national coach Sukhwinder Singh of JCT, Phagwara, Olympian Jarnail Singh besides a host of other persons connected with the game and the media will attend the seminar. Eminent Punjabi journalist Harbhajan Singh Halwarvi will be the chief guest.

Football trials

CHANDIGARH, March 23 (TNS) — Sports Authority of India will hold two-day selection trials for boys under-12 in football at Nangal Khilarian Village, 20 km from Hoshiarpur, from March 30.

Interested youngsters with kit and proof-of-age should report at 9 a.m. at the stadium on March 30. Boys under-14 can also take part. They must bring their state national level performance certificates.

The selected footballers will be provided free education upto class 12 besides free board and lodging in a top school at Chandigarh.