S P O R T

Incessant rain spoils Asia Cup opener
DHAKA, May 28 — The inaugural tie of the seventh Asia Cup cricket championship between hosts Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, scheduled to begin today, has been postponed by a day because of rain which has lashed the city for past six days.

Indian team arrives in Dhaka
DHAKA, May 28 — The 14-member Indian cricket team led by Sourav Ganguly arrived here today amid tight security. From the Dhaka airport, the players went to the hotel and headed straightaway to their respective rooms.

Cricket coach and former captain Kapil Dev surrounded by media persons in New Delhi on Sunday prior to his departure for the Asia Cup series at Dacca.— Photograph by Sondeep Shankar

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Incessant rain spoils Asia Cup opener

DHAKA, May 28 (UNI, PTI) — The inaugural tie of the seventh Asia Cup cricket championship between hosts Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, scheduled to begin today, has been postponed by a day because of rain which has lashed the city for past six days.

Match refree John Reed informed that he had an inspection of the ground at the Bangabandhu Stadium in afternoon along with umpires Selim Badar and S Venkatraghavan and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) secretary Syed Ashraful Haq.

After inspection, Reed announced that the opening encounter between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had been postponed by a day because of unplayable ground conditions.

Reed said he along with umpires would inspect the ground tomorrow and hoped if there was no further rain, the match could be held.

It has been learnt that organisers are planning to utilise three rest days falling on May 29, 31 and June 4. Matches which could not be organised on scheduled date due to rain or any other reasons, could be held on these rest days.

Soggy ground condition and torrential downpour ruled out prospect of staging the match even in the truncated form.

While ponds of water around the outfield and flooded pitch providing sorry sight, weathermen today made forecast of further rains throughout rest of the week.

“Even if the rain stops, we need at least two sunny days to ready the ground,” a member of the stadium staff said. “If it continues like this, we will be lucky to get any play at all.”

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Saber Hussain Chowdhury, contrary to the reports, ruled out shifting the tournament out of the country in case the weather did not clear.

“That’s not an option,” he said. “Even this tournament can not be extended beyond June 8 since Pakistan will be touring Sri Lanka after this.”

Indian team arrives in Dhaka

DHAKA, May 28 (UNI) — The 14-member Indian cricket team led by Sourav Ganguly arrived here today amid tight security.

From the Dhaka airport, the players went to the hotel and headed straightaway to their respective rooms.

While the large contingent of Indian and local press remained waiting for the hotel lobby, the skipper and coach refrained themselves from usual “meeting with the press on arrival.”

Later, administrative manager of the team Samiran Chakravarty informed mediapersons that the Indian team management had decided not to speak to the press before any match. They would meet the press after the match only. It was not the Indian cricket board’s decision, he said adding that it was decided by the Indian team management here.

While vice-captain Rahul Dravid reached earlier this morning straight from England where he had been playing county cricket, others arrived here from New Delhi.

Mr Chakravarty said all players were in fine fettle and raring to go for the meet. The Indian team would have their first net practice tomorrow at an indoor wicket in the city.

Asked about the bowling strength of the team without seasoned campaigner Javagal Srinath, Mr Chakarvarty reiterated Ganguly’s view that this was the best side available at the moment.

Earlier in Calcutta, Ganguly expressed confidence about India’s performance in the seventh Asia Cup and said, “If all of us play to our potential, we will return as champions from Dhaka. The players chosen for the tournament are the best available in the country now. The wicket here is batting-friendly and we have a good batting line-up. Batting would decide the fate of the match.”

India will start their campaign on May 30 against hosts Bangladesh. After playing against holders Sri Lanka on June 1, they will take on Pakistan in their last league match on June 3.

Among all the four participating teams, India’s performance is best in the Asia Cup.

CBI waits for Ajay Sharma’s return

NEW DELHI, May 28 (UNI) — The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is waiting for former India Test player Ajay Sharma to return to India to question him about his alleged links with bookies and possible involvement in match-fixing.

The bureau sources told UNI that his questioning is important as certain allegations of his close association with bookies had been made. Unofficially it is also known that some of the cricketers and officials who have been questioned by the premier investigating agency so far have also pointed fingers at him.

Ajay Sharma is in London.

The sources confirmed that investigations had revealed that a former Delhi Captain was involved in match-fixing. They, however, did not state who the player was.

A videotape produced by Tehelka.com with help from Manoj Prabhakar, the man responsible for bringing match-fixing scandal in India to the fore, yesterday had shown former wicketkeeper Kiran More, cricketer-turned-commentator Ravi Shastri’s wife Ritu and a Lucknow-based chit-fund operator taking Ajay Sharma’s name as a key figure in the match-fixing scandal.

The bureau also plans to question a host of players and administrators, past and present, whose names have figured in connection with betting, match-fixing or any other malpractice, engulfing the game in the country.

It is certain that Indian coach Kapil Dev, former skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, former manager Ajit Wadekar, cricketers Navjot Singh Sidhu, Prashant Vaidya, Nayan Mongia, cricketer-turned commentator Ravi Shastri and Test cricket’s highest century-maker Sunil Gavaskar will be examined by the investigating team, which is being headed by Joint Director R.N. Sawani.

Also likely to be examined are ICC President Jagmohan Dalmiya, BCCI President A.C. Muthiah, Board Secretary J.Y.Lele, former team physio Ali Irani, Mumbai Commissioner of Police (Railways) Rakesh Maria, Additional Income Tax Commissioner Vishwa Bandhu Gupta, Sports Authority of India Secretary Amrit Mathur, former cricketers Bishen Singh Bedi, Kiran More, Sandeep Patil, Mohinder Amarnath and Sanjay Manjrekar and certain politicians, film stars and journalists.

The bureau has already questioned Navjot Sidhu in Delhi and Ajit Wadekar in Mumbai during the past few days. But the need for their re-examination may arise after the recent developments.

Apart from them, Prabhakar and former BCCI President I.S.Bindra had suo-motu appeared before the premier investigating agency and got their statements recorded.

Prabhakar has caused ripples during the past one week by first claiming that it was Kapil Dev who had offered him Rs 25 lakh to underperform in a Singer Cup match against Pakistan in 1994 and then following it up with a videotape which brought cricket’s icons to admit that match-fixing took place and some of the most-performing players were involved in it.

Sources said Kapil and Azharuddin are likely to be examined after their return from Dhaka where they have gone as part of the team participating in the four-nation Asia Cup. The tournament involving India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh starts today and concludes on June 8.

The CBI is investigating charges of match-fixing, betting and other malpractices against Indian cricketers, coaches and administrators. The probe was handed over to the agency by the government in April end and the preliminary inquiry (PE) was recorded on May 2.

So far the agency has been examining the players only on the basis of the PE. The possibility of filing a regular case with the material available with the CBI at present appears to be dim. The agency has not been provided with any concrete evidence to enable it file the regular case.

Videotapes’ release “ill-timed”

MUMBAI, May 28 (PTI) — Former Test captain Gulabrai Ramchand today described latest allegations by Manoj Prabhakar through screening of videotapes of conversations with cricketers and officials as “ill-timed” and said this development into the match-fixing scandal was “a sad day for Indian cricket”.

“I personally feel the press conference called by Manoj Prabhakar (in Delhi yesterday where he played some surreptitiously made videotapes in support of his allegations of match-fixing) was ill-timed,” Ramchand told PTI here.

“I feel it was done to embarrass the Indian team on the eve of its departure for the Asia Cup in Dhaka. If at all he needed to hold a press conference on the issue he should have waited till the completion of this important event,” the former India all-rounder said.

“This development is bound to affect the team members. It is a sad day for Indian cricket. Now the cricketers would not talk to anyone, including their friends. It is not a good thing,” Ramchand said.

Ramchand also felt that the cricket board (BCCI) should consult legal experts and see what should be done to save the name of the game in India.

“Otherwise this will keep going on,” he added.

Former India stumper Naren Tamhane said the team, which he felt was already weak in medium-pace bowling, would be under tremendous pressure now in Dhaka.

Another ex-captain, Polly Umrigar, declined to comment on the issue. “I have nothing to say,” he said when contacted.

Mumbai Cricket Association’s joint secretary Ratnakar Shetty described the latest development as “a black day in Indian cricket”.

It is a great tragedy for Indian cricket. Whether Manoj Prabhakar was right or wrong in using these methods (of videotaping conversations with hidden camera) is secondary. But the (recorded) statements of various cricketers and administrators really exposes the Indian cricket scenario,” he said.

Shetty also felt that the damage done to the game in the public’s eyes has been enormous.

“After reading all these (in newspapers) and seeing on TV, it is difficult for people in India and abroad to believe Indian cricketers and administrators. It is, indeed, a black day for Indian cricket,” he said.

TV rights: CBI case likely

NEW DELHI, May 28 (PTI) — The CBI is contemplating filing another case in the match-fixing scandal to probe alleged bunglings in the allotment of television rights to telecast cricket matches, agency sources said here.

The sources said some documents were being examined by the anti-corruption unit of the agency and very soon a preliminary enquiry (PE) would be registered to probe the allegations.

The agency would go into the details of allotment of television rights and find whether any bunglings had been committed or a particular firm had been favoured, they said.

The move follows former president of the Indian cricket board I.S. Bindra submitting a personal report on May 15 to the CBI about the allotment of TV rights of cricket matches.

Mr Bindra’s report generally deals with three issues — allotment of television rights from 1996 onwards, money made by middlemen, event managers and other officials from these rights and playing of cricket in off-shore countries.

Mr Bindra has alleged that several officials indulged in earning an 80 per cent profit from these rights whereas the normal trend was 15 to 20 per cent.

The report, which was examined by the legal cell of the agency, also said that middlemen benefited from the telecast of these matches.

Referring to the deposition of former all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar before the agency, the sources said the agency was probing all aspects. A statement without proof hardly mattered before the investigating agency.

The agency is also probing whether the statement of Prabhakar was an act of revenge for his exit from the Indian cricket team.

The sources denied that they would be calling cricket icon Kapil Dev and said “if he wants to come and give us any information... we would be glad to have it.”

Among the witnesses cited by Prabhakar, the CBI has already questioned Ajit Wadekar and Navjot Singh Sidhu and will be shortly examining others, including former skippers Mohammed Azharuddin, Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri, the sources said.

However, speculation was rife in the CBI headquarters that the PE registered into the match-fixing scandal might be closed in the absence of any evidence, the sources said.

In another development, a website ‘tehelka.com’ has said that it would be handing over 40 hours of tape which contains interviews of Prabhakar, Sports Minister S.S. Dhindsa, former Indian skippers Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri and several board officials.

The CBI had registered a PE on May 2 after the Sports Ministry asked them to probe the matter.

Kapil battles betting odds
From Raman Mohan

HISAR, May 28 — In an unexpected development, the focus of betting in cricket has shifted from the game to the match-fixing controversy itself though on a smaller scale. Both cricket buffs and habitual betters are now placing bets on questions raised by the recent revelations about match fixing rather than the Asia Cup tournament which got underway in Dhaka today. Interestingly, this is the first major cricket tournament involving India after the Hansie Cronje episode. The India-Bangladesh match slated for May 30 has evoked little interest among betters.

But the match-fixing charges and related questions are hot favourites in betting circles. Will Kapil be proved guilty? This million-dollar question is on the top of the list of similar questions which are attracting bets. Sadly for Kapil, betting trends indicate that he has lost many a supporter in recent days.

Other issues on which betting is taking place are: Is Azhar involved? Will Dalmia go? Will Bindra be back as BCCI chief? Is Prabhakar guilty too? The current trend in the betting market will not exactly gladden the hearts of Azhar fans. There are few cricketing buffs ready to bet their money on his innocence.

The trends give an interesting insight into the minds of the cricket lovers. These indicate that the stock of I.S. Bindra, which had plummeted after he first named Kapil, has suddenly gone up. Likewise, there are not many who believe that Dalmia will stay at the helm of cricket both at the national and the international levels.

However, this betting is not generating the amount of business as betting on game did in the past. Professional bookies are steering clear of these bets, while small time bookies and youths free from examinations have taken to it in a big way.

Professional bookies say lack of interest in the game is something they had expected. “Didn’t you notice how cricketers have vanished from the small screen adverts? If they can’t sell products they endorse, how in the world do we expect people to bet their money on their antics in the middle? No, betting in cricket will resume only once their credibility is restored,” explained a leading bookie.

But cricket buffs have other explanations too. “Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties as they say. But the glorious uncertainties that prompted me to bet on the game ended when Cronje confessed.

What interest is left in the game now? I may not know the outcome, but, what I know for sure is there is a fixer behind every performer and non-performer. So why not bet on whether it will rain tomorrow? It has more of that element of glorious uncertainty attached to it”, said an obviously hurt fan.

However, betting addicts have a different view of the situation. They say a gambler looks for excitement which cricket matches now lack. “The subject of the bet must raise my adrenaline if I have to put my money on it. Cricket no longer does that. Hence, no betting on cricket just yet. For now the match-fixing charges are more interesting”.

IT Dept, ED ‘should probe’ match-fixing

NEW DELHI, May 28 (UNI) — Additional Commissioner of Income Tax Vishwa Bandhu Gupta today said the match-fixing scandal be probed by the Income Tax Department and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as the CBI alone was not in a position to bring out the truth.

Speaking on a programme telecast by the Jain TV, Mr Gupta said more than Rs 30,000 crore of black money was involved in match-fixing and betting and expressed surprise that during the past 20 years not even a single raid had been carried out by the Income Tax Department on any of the cricketers.

He suggested that the Income Tax Department carry out largescale raids at the premises of the cricketers.

The IT official said the department has a long list of players who had allegedly amassed assets, both movable and immovable, disproportionate to their known source of income but no action had been taken.

Akram sends Windies reeling

ST JOHN'S, Antigua, May 28 (AP) — Veteran left-arm fast bowler Wasim Akram took six wickets for four runs in the space of 28 balls to bring Pakistan back into the crucial third and final cricket Test against the West Indies on day three of the five-day match at the Recreation Ground here.

The home team, strongly placed at 214 for three overnight, were undone by Akram’s pace and swing and bowled out just after lunch for 273 yesterday, a lead of just four runs.

Pakistan went to the close on 157 for five in their second innings, a lead of 153 with two days remaining. The first two Tests of the three-match series were drawn.

Inzamam-ul-Haq top scored with 68 while first innings century-maker Yousuf Youhana hit five fours in his unbeaten 41 off 150 balls. Reon King took two wickets for 35 runs from 15 overs.

Earlier, Akram, who like Inzamam has been implicated in Justice Malik Mohammad Qayuum’s match-fixing report, cut through the West Indies middle and lower order.

Akram, who turns 34 on June 3, took six for 61 off 26.2 overs, his 23rd Test haul of five or more wickets. He bowled unchanged from the Viv Richards Pavilion end throughout the morning session. The former captain from Lahore stretched his Test tally to 393 wickets in 95 Tests by wrapping up the innings two balls after lunch.

It was his longtime new ball partner Waqar Younis who made the initial breakthrough, removing West Indies captain Jimmy Adams without adding to his overnight 60.

Adams and Chanderpaul had built a solid platform for West Indian ascendancy on day two. Their fourth wicket stand was worth 134 when Adams was leg before to an inswinger from Younis.

Adams faced 180 deliveries and hit four fours in his 240 minutes at the crease.

Akram then took over, swinging the ball each way with the second new ball.

Teenager Ramnaresh Sarwan compiled 10 off 37 balls with one four before he fell in similar fashion to his skipper, caught in front playing back to an inswinger.

In Akram’s next over, wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs continued his lean run, leg before to a yorker for a duck.

Chanderpaul advanced his overnight 68 to 89 before, in sight of his third Test century, he too was undone by Akram’s swing. The 25-year-old stroked nine fours and a six in five-and-a-half hours before he missed an inswinging full toss to be bowled by his 218th ball.

No major resistance was offered from the rest of the West Indian batting and were all out for 273.

The West Indies pacers, led by Ambrose and Walsh, soon made inroads of their own, reducing Pakistan to 49 for three at the stroke of tea.

Walsh struck in his first over, Imran Nazir slashing a catch to gully, while Ambrose removed Younis Khan three runs later, plumb leg before as he missed an ill-advised pull.

But, Inzamam and Youhana added 80 for the fourth wicket, before Inzamam was out, followed by skipper Moin. Nightwatchman Saqlain was at the crease with Youhana at the end of day’s play.

SCOREBOARD

Pakistan (Ist innings): 269 (Yousuf Youhana 103 not out; Courtney Walsh five for 83)

West Indies (Ist innings):

Campbell c Yousuf

Youhana b Mushtaq Ahmed 31

Griffith b Mushtaq Ahmed 22

Hinds run out 26

Chanderpaul b Akram 89

Adams lbw b Waqar 60

Sarwan lbw b Akram 10

Jacobs lbw b Akram 0

Rose c Razzaq b Akram 15

Ambrose c Youhana b Akram 0

King c and b Akram 3

Walsh not out 2

Extras (byes 1, leg-byes 10, no-balls 4) 15

Total (all out, 106.2 overs) 273

Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-73, 3-84, 4-218, 5-235, 6-243, 7-254, 8-258, 9-269, 10-273.

Bowling: Wasim Akram 26.2-7-61-6, Waqar Younis 21-8-41-1, Mushtaq Ahmed 24-3-68-2, Saqlain Mushtaq 23-5-48-0 (nb3), Abdur Razzaq 12-1-44-0 (nb1).

Pakistan (IInd innings):

Mohammad Wasim b King 21

Imran c Sarwan b Walsh 0

Younis Khan lbw b Ambrose 2

Inzamam c Jacobs b Rose 68

Youhana not out 41

Moin c Hinds b King 10

Saqlain not out 2

Extras (byes 2, leg-byes 2, no-balls 9) 13

Total (for five wickets, 64 overs) 157

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-3, 3-49, 4-129, 5-150.

Bowling: Curtly Ambrose 15-5-23-1, Courtney Walsh 13-2-30-1 (nb5), Franklyn Rose 15-2-47-1 (nb4), Reon King 15-4-35-2, Jimmy Adams 6-1-18-0.

Aussies down S. Korea

AMSTELVEEN (Netherlands), May 28 (AFP) — Australia gave Argentina a hockey lesson, winning 3-0 in the women’s tournament of the Champions Trophy here yesterday.

Australia, whose male compatriots had earlier defeated South Korea 2-0 in the men’s competition, dominated the first five minutes of play, camped in Argentina’s defensive quarter, assaulting the circle and denying Argentina an outlet pass.

Despite dominating possession and field position, and two clear, unsuccessful, shots on goal from Katrina Powell and Alyson Annan, Argentina withstood the pressure until Triny Powell scored (23rd minute).

A classic display of one-touch hockey had the ball move from Jenny Morris to Angie Skirving, Rechelle Hawkes to Triny Powell, two metres out in front of goal, for deflection.

Australia stepped down a gear in the second half, keeping control of the match but with less intensity until the last quarter. Three penalty corners in two minutes had Jenny Morris driving into the goalkeeper each time.

A penalty stroke after the second corner taken by Jenny Morris (57th minute) put the game beyond Argentina at 3-0.

After the goal both teams played out the match, Argentina lacking in commitment to try to get a goal back and Australia prepared to settle for a three goal advantage.

In the men’s event Australia’s young striker Craig Victory scored both goals in their win over South Korea.

Suspension not the right step
By Arvind Katyal

CHANDIGARH, May 28 — The recommendations of the suspension of four senior women hockey players by the inquiry committee, which met yesterday at Delhi will further make the present imbroglio, involving four key players, more critical. Indian women’s hockey, during the past few years, has established itself as the super power in Asia and was on the threshold of making their presence felt at world level too. It was mainly due to these four key players, Pritam Thakran, Sita Gossain, Sandeep Kaur and Manjinder Kaur, as they were the most experienced at the international level.

India ended up last at the Milton Keynes tournament, which was a qualifying meet for the Olympics. It was mainly due to the absence of these star players.

They did not report for the Patiala camp in January and later also. The camp was to prepare the team for Milton Keynes. Pritam opted out due to injury, Sita Gossain had to get her mother operated, Sandeep was to get married in February and Manjinder opted out due to domestic reasons.

The chief coach G.S. Bhangu and Ms Rupa Saini permanent manager of team since 1997, were confident of qualifying for Olympics without the absence of these players. The team finished last in the 10-team meet. One of the players on condition of anonymity, said was basically the attitude and the lackadaisical approach of the IWHF that led to their players decision not to take part. The IWHF officials had tried to persuade the players a few days before the departure of team for Milton Keynes, but these players did not relent.

The reason cited in the three-member inquiry report was the indifferent attitude of Ms Amrit Bose, secretary of the Federation for not making enough efforts to persuade the players. The communication gap, which should have been bridged by the coach and the manager with the IWHF also led to the players taking this step.

After the silver medal at Bangkok Asiad, only captain Pritam Thakran was conferred with Arjuna Award while case of the rest of the players was not even argued by the IWHF. All four play for Railways and except Manjinder who is based in Punjab, other three are posted in Haryana.

Sita Gossain, who was named the captain before this impasse, was the lone Indian to be selected in the World XI team which played the match against world champions Australia in the Federation International de Hockey (FIH) 75th anniversary celebrations at Alexandria, Egypt in October last year.

The suspension recommendation has been sent to the President of the IWHF, Ms Vidya Stokes. It remains to be seen what the IWHF decides in its executive committee regarding the fate of these players, whether it acts the responsible guardian for the players, who are the real pride of the country.

Sonal, Megha start favourites
From Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI, May 28 — Despite the stifling and tormenting heatwave sweeping Delhi, there is no letup in the enthusiasm as the Delhi Tennis Association (DTA) gets ready to host the ITF Women’s Masters Tennis Tournament in the Capital from tomorrow.

Seasoned Sonal Phadke heads the seedings with 32 points from the three legs, but the cynosure of all eyes would be the latest sensation, 15-year-old Megha Vakharia from Mumbai, who clinched the title in the third leg at Pune yesterday, beating Archana Venkatraman in straight sets. The Mumbai girl, a bundle of tremendous talent, has accumulated 30 points from two legs, and is tipped to be a hot candidate for the Masters title.

With the trophies of the Mumbai and Pune legs firmly tucked away in her pocket she missed the first leg at Indore due to her 10th Class Board exams. Megha Vakharia is indeed hot property, and it would be interesting to watch how she would cope up with the heat here.

Dragila sets new pole vault record

PHOENIX (Arizona), May 28 (AFP) — Stacy Dragila improved the women’s pole vault world record by two centimetres with a leap of 4.62m here on Friday night.

She bettered the previous world record of 4.60, which she shared with Australian Emma George.

George vaulted 4.60 on February 21, 1999 in Sydney, and Dragila equalled it in Seville that August and again at a meet in Modesto, California, two weeks ago.

In Modesto, Dragila said she thought a vault of 4.88m was possible for her, but on Friday night she failed in three attempts at 4.70.

Border curbs to be back

HAMBURG, May 28 (DPA) — Holland and Belgium won the right to host the European Championships with their slogan “football without frontiers”, but the motto will only exist on paper as even the two host countries will re-introduce border controls in an effort to avoid fan violence.

There will also be tight controls for the 31-match tournament from June 10-July 2 along Holland’s border with Germany and Belgium’s border with France, Luxembourg and Germany.

Every major football tournament in Europe over the past 12 years has been marred by violence, and the street fights around the UEFA Cup games between Galatasaray and Leeds (which left two English fans dead) and Galatasaray and Arsenal in recent weeks have created further headaches for the authorities.

Turkey and England could meet in Brussels or Amsterdam for a quarterfinal match June 24, but the biggest concern lies with an explosive England versus Germany game on June 17 in the small town of Charleroi which will see a massive police force of 2,500.

Both countries have some of the most notorious fans and some fear the worst in the narrow streets of the southern Belgian industrial city. Germans almost clubbed to death a French policeman in Lens at the 1998 World Cup, while English fans rioted in Marseille.

The police may also have to deal with a large group of potentially violent Dutch fans, especially those from the Rotterdam area. The harbour town also hosts one Germany match, one of Holland and the July 2 final.

“It is a burning problem. We have discussed no issue as much as security,” said UEFA vice-president and Euro 2000 committee head Egidius Braun.

Matters only worsened earlier this week when it was revealed that the British parliament would not pass an anti-hooligan law in time for the tournament.

Lord Steve Bassam from the Interior Ministry conceded “violence cannot be fully ruled out”, and the National Criminal Intelligence Service also saw no reason for optimism.

Germany, by contrast, has introduced a new law under which potential troublemakers can be stripped of their passports and ordered to report to the authorities frequently.

However, even such legislation, stiff penalties in the host countries and tight border controls cannot fully rule out violence.

Experts are not so much concerned about the matches themselves because violence in the stadium effectively ended in 1985 when 39 fans were killed when Liverpool fans attacked Juventus supporters before the Champions Cup final in Brussels’ Heysel arena.

The biggest fear is street fights before and after matches, where the police has a hard time to control large groups. Some fans have only violence on their mind when they come to host cities, but German officials said that fans who failed to get a ticket also created a potential danger.

“We must have some distraction ready for these disappointed fans,” said Mr Hans Florin of the German Football Federation.

However, German fan researcher Gunter Pili also warned of too much hype in the final run-up: “Any kind of hysteria is wrong, we must be on our guard, but also relaxed.”

White omitted from second Test squad

LONDON, May 28 (Reuters) — Craig White’s omission on health grounds is the only change to the England squad for the second and final Test against Zimbabwe starting at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on Thursday.

All-rounder White, who was in the party of 13 for the first Test at Lord’s but was left out on the morning of the match, has been advised by doctors to rest for seven days after collapsing in the street last week.

The 12 other players called up for the opening Test were named again by England today.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney said: “We did not consider calling up a replacement for him (White) as we feel that we have sufficient bowling options in the squad as it stands.”

“Had he been fit he would have been in the squad, so we would have gone with the same 13.”

Uncapped fast bowler Steve Harmison was the other player who did not make the final XI at Lord’s, and Graveney suggested he would miss out again, with leg-spinner Chris Schofield keeping his place.

“Five seamers seems a bit lop-sided to say the least, and you always like to have a bit of variation,” Graveney said.

England won the first Test by an innings and 209 runs with more than a day to spare.

Squad: Nasser Hussain (captain), Michael Atherton, Mark Ramprakash, Graeme Hick, Alec Stewart, Nick Knight, Andrew Flintoff, Andy Caddick, Darren Gough, Ed Giddins, Chris Schofield, Steve Harmison.

Punjab junior swimming
From Our Sports Reporter

LUDHIANA, May 28 — The 16th Punjab State Subjunior Swimming Championship for boys and girls in the age groups of 11 to 12 years (group-III) and 9 to 10 years (group-IV) will be held at the Zila Parishad swimming pool/ Ferozepore, on June 10 to 11, according to Col, Raminder Singh, president, Punjab Swimming association.

Boys and girls born in 1987 and 1988 and swimmers born in 1989 and 1990 are eligible in group III and group IV respectively.

Performance during this championship will be considered while selecting the Punjab state subjunior swimming teams (boys and girls) for the forthcoming National Subjunior Aquatic Championship scheduled to be held at Bareilly from June 18

Entries close with Mr Balraj Sharma, general secretary, Punjab Swimming Association, at Ludhiana on June 6.

Rakesh to lead
From Our Sports Reporter

LUDHIANA, May 28 — Punjab Ranji player Rakesh Saini has been named captain of the Ludhiana team for the Inter-District Summer League Cricket Tournament for the Katoch Shield. Twentytwo players, selected yesterday after the trials, have been asked to report to the captain or manager, Mr Vijay Singh, at Arya College for boys on May 29 at 4 p.m.

Ludhiana will play their first match against Amritsar on June 7 and 8 at Amritsar.

The selected players are — Rakesh Saini (captain), Bharti Vij, Bharat Bhushan, Gagandeep, Ankur Kakkar, Manav Dhuppar, Rajan Singh, Charanjit (wicket-keeper), Rajesh Kumar, Gaurav Marwaha, Tarun Kanish, Varun Gupta, Tavish Gupta, Shiva, Bharat Batra, Ashish Vinayak, Prabhjot Khatra, Aseem Jindal, Jimmy Shanker, Sandeep Dhand, Sunny Jairath and Karan Goyal.

Rahul Yadav, Jyoti win bowling meet
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, May 28 — Rahul Yadav of Gurgaon, Ramnik Singh and Rahul Tanwar of Karnal bagged the first, second and third position, respectively, in the men’s category in the third Haryana State Bowling (10 pins bowling) championship organised here today.

In the women’s category Jyoti of Rohtak, Yogita Sangwan of Bhiwani and Seema of Mahendergarh, bagged the first, second and third prizes respectively.

The tournament was organised by the Haryana Bowling Association.

REGIONAL SPORT BRIEFS

70-run win for Panchkula boys

PATIALA May 28 (FOSR) — Panchkula Coaching Centre beat MES (B) by 70 runs in a league match of the Patiala District (under-14) Pepsi Hot Weather Cricket Tournament at the MES grounds here today.

Brief scores: Panchkula Coaching Centre — 168 for 4 (Ridam Chopra 45, Sunny Sharma 52, Lekhi Dhaliwal 19, Varun 13, Shekhar 2 for 25, Ashok Pal 1 for 30). MES Coaching Centre (B) — 98 all out (Shekhar 35, Ashok Pal 10, Master Sunny 17, Pankaj 15, Ridam Chopra 2 for 29)

Patiala trials

CHANDIGARH May 28 (BOSR) — On the second day of the trials for the summer coaching camp organised by the Punjab Education Department, 1,178 students participated. The hockey, kabaddi, kho-kho and judo trials were held at the Patiala Polo Ground. In all, 166 sportspersons, including 48 in the primary section, were selected for the camp to be held at Sundernagar-Pandoh (HP) from June 2.

The senior-secondary-level boys and girls who have been selected are as follows: Hockey (18 each), kabaddi (15 each), kho-kho (16 each) and judo (10 each); primary section — kabaddi (12 each).

Bathinda win

BATHINDA, May 28 (FOSR) — Harikishan Kali of Bathinda proved to be the backbone of the team in the semifinal against Faridkot in the Punjab state inter-district (Katoch Shield) cricket tournament minor districts at Government Rajindra College here today.

Brief scores: Bathinda 404 in 87 overs (Harikishan Kali 245, Ravi Kohli 49, Neeraj 30, Ranjeet Bhola 28, Panday 5 for 90, KD 3 for 70.)

Faridkot: 107 in 33 overs (Tony Bharti 44, KD 17, Harikishan Kali 4 for 30, Ranjeet Bhola 2 for 20, Rajiv Mohanty 2 for 20, Roshan 2 for 25.