Anil Kumble likely to return

8220;I8217;m looking forward to it with a few apprehensions but it will be a nice challenge,8221; Nash said. 8220;I realise I8217;m only taking over Flem8217;s ship which is on track at the moment and my job is to keep the reins straight.8221; India is likely to be boosted by the return of legspinner Anil Kumble, who was a late defection because of a neck injury in Taupo and replaced by Kanitkar.

Kanitkar took his opportunity with some handy runs at the tail and may keep his place with either medium pacer Venkatesh Prasad or Nikhil Chopra dropping out. A decision on whether Kumble plays will be madetomorrow.The pitch is in keeping with McLean Park8217;s tradition of producing a hard and true batting surface. With a promising forecast match officials are predicting a crowd of between 10,000 to 12,000.

Teams

New Zealand from: Dion Nash captain, Matthew Horne, Bryan Young, Craig McMillan, Roger Twose, Chris Cairns, Adam Parore, Chris Harris, Daniel Vettori, Gavin Larsen, Geoff Allott, Simon Doull. India from: Mohammad Azharuddin captain, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Ajay Jadeja, Robin Singh Sr, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Anil Kumble, Nayan Mongia, Nikhil Chopra, Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, Sunil Joshi. Umpires: Steve Dunne, Chris King. Third Umpire: Evan Watkin.

Logo issue snowballs

WELLINGTON: New Zealand politicians were today fuming about a health official8217;s hardline stand over tobacco sponsorship amid claims the visiting Indian cricket team may be breaching anti-smoking laws. Associated health minister Tuariki Delamere was taking political correctness tononsensical extremes and making his country an international laughing stock, they charged.

An investigation launched by the health ministry to determine whether the visitors are in breach of the law by wearing the wills company logo, a subsidary of a tobacco company, on their bats and uniforms has sparked fiery debate. The Centre-Right Act party has joined the Centrist United party in criticising Delamere for complaining about tobacco sponsorship.

Delamere, an anti-smoking campaigner, said today if the team was breaching the law he expected them to cover up the logos or remove them. But United Party leader peter dunne criticised the law an said the government should review legislation banning tobacco sponsorship of sports teams.

Meanwhile, New Zealand Cricket said India8217;s cricket team will be allowed to continue playing the logo. NZC said it has accepted the Indian cricket board8217;s explanation that the logo is not that of the Wills Tobacco Company.8220;It8217;s a different logo from that carried by the WillsTobacco Company. The logo is from Wills Sport of India, which supplies bats, gear and sports equipment,8221; NZ cricket spokeswoman Michelle Lewis said today.

8220;We have told that to the Ministry of health and also noted that other countries with similar anti-tobacco legislation have accepted the Indian cricket board8217;s position on the Wills logo. We expect they will play with the logo on their sleeves tomorrow.8221;