In Brief

Medium pacer Ajit Agarkar (7135), leg spinner Anil Kumble (6729) and Venkatesh Prasad (6617) are in the fifth, sixth and seventh places in the bowling ratings which is topped by Sri Lankan leg-spinner Upul Chandana (9467).

De Silva increased his tally at the top of the table with his brilliant batting performance in the tri-nation Independence Cup in Sri Lanka involving India, and New Zealand.

Davis squads

HAMBURG: Germany and Sweden today named their squads for their Davis Cup quarter-final tie-up in Hamburg on July 17.

Defending titleholders Sweden’s squad, captained by Carl-Axel Hageskog, includes world number 8 Jonas Bjorkman, Thomas Enqvist (18th), Magnus Larsson (31st) and Nicklas Kulti(401st).

German captain Carl-Uwe Steeb nominated team chief Boris Becker, Thomas Haas, Nicolas Kiefer and David Prinosil. Marc Kevin Goellner was being kept on call as a possible substitute.

Ginola for cause

LONDON: French soccer heart-throb David Ginola is to join the Red Cross’s global campaign against landmines, helping to fill a gaping hole left by Princess Diana’s death.

Ginola, almost as famous for his long, flowing hair as for his football skills, is due to announce his plans, the British Red Cross said yesterday.

Princess Diana gave a huge boost to the global anti-landmine campaign with her high-profile visits to Angola and Bosnia for the Red Cross.

Tyson ready

LAS VEGAS: Mike Tyson is ready to put the year of the ear behind him, if he can.

Tomorrow, Tyson can apply to the Nevada State Athletic Commission to have his boxing license reinstated, one year after he was banished from the sport for biting both of Evander Holyfield’s ears in a heavyweight world titlefight.

Since then, Tyson has tried to polish his image, splitting with promoter Don King and co-managers Rory Holloway and John Horne.

Donald model

LONDON: South African paceman Allan Donald has been pinpointed by England coach David Lloyd as the man who can inspire the nation’s next generation of fast bowlers.

Lloyd was relieved to see England defy the odds and draw the third Test against the tourists and 24 hours later he spoke of “a huge challenge now to the young fast bowlers we have got in this country coming through”.

And he stressed: “What an inspiration it must be to watch this man Donald coming in to bowl for South Africa.”

Waugh opts out

SYDNEY: Australian limited overs cricket captain Steve Waugh has stepped down from playing in an eight-a-side tournament in Kuala Lumpur because of charity commitments.

Waugh is the patron of Udayan, a home for children with leprosy in India, and will miss the July 17-19 tournament to honour a commitment at the home.

AdamGilchrist, yet to play a test, was named to replace Waugh as captain of the Super 8s team.