Agarkar may be included in XI

By Our Special Correspondent

COLOMBO, AUG. 1. The Indians scored a heady victory over the Lankans on Wednesday, but they will have another `knock-out' match to contend with when they take on the Kiwis at the Sinhalese Sports Club Stadium, here, on Thursday. It is also the last league match of a gruelling competition.

Both India and New Zealand have four points each from five matches, however, the Indians will have to win to progress due to the better head-to-head record of the Kiwis, who have won both their earlier matches against India.

In today's game, batting hero Yuveraj Singh (strained left- hamstring) and skipper Sourav Ganguly (cramps) had fitness problems, but they are expected to be fit in time for the key duel against the Kiwis.

The Indian think-tank is considering the option of including paceman Ajit Agarkar, who has recovered completely from a viral infection, in the eleven at the cost of a specialist batsman, since the SSC pitch has assisted seam movement.

* The teams:

India (from): Sourav Ganguly (captain), Virender Sehwag, V.V.S. Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Hemang Badani, Yuveraj Singh, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Sameer Dighe, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra, Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar, Debasis Mohanty, Rahul Sanghvi and Amay Khurasiya. Coach: John Wright.

New Zealand (from): Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Mathew Sinclair, Jacob Oram, Craig McMillan, Chris Harris, Adam Parore, Dion Nash, Daniel Vettori, Darryl Tuffey, Kyle Mills, Lou Vincent, James Franklin and Grant Bradburn. Coach: David Trist.

Umpires: Mr. Wijewardene and Mr. Jayasundara. Third umpire: Mr. Pathirana. Match Referee: Mr. Cammie Smith.

Hours of play (IST): 9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. & 1.45 p.m. till the end of play. Arjuna, Aravinda cleared

COLOMBO, AUG. 1. The Desmond Fernando report probing into the match-fixing allegations against former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga and star batsman Aravinda de Silva has cleared the two cricketers of any act of corruption.

A press release singed by Mr. Vijaya Malalasekara, chairman, interim committee, Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL), and Mr. Michael Tissera, member, interim committee, (BCCSL), said, here on Wednesday that ``the report categorically exonerates Ranatunga and De Silva of any wrong doing.''

It further adds, ``It is with great pleasure that the interim committee issues this release, in view of the tremendous contributions made by Ranatunga and De Silva to Sri Lankan cricket.''

Mahanama book release

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Roshan Mahanama, a batsman of wristy elegance and a wonderful fielder, released his autobiography, Retired Hurt,here, on Tuesday night. In the book Mahanama talks about his life as a cricketer, his moments of triumphs and despair. He also focusses on the controversial Australian tour of 1995-96, which was a turning point in Lankan cricket history.

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