LONDON: Ferrari have declined comment on a British newspaper report saying the Formula One team was considering a five-million-pound (US$8 million) pay cut for star driver Michael Schumacher.

The Sun tabloid quoted Schumacher’s manager as saying Ferrari had already made an offer to reduce the German driver’s reported annual salary of about 25 million pounds (US $40 million). His contract expires at the end of the season. “There has been an offer made and Michael has said he will let me know when he is ready to talk about it,” the paper quoted the manager, Willi Weber, as saying. Schumacher is in Malaysia preparing for tomorrow’s second Grand Prix of the season. “We don’t have anything to say on this matter,” said a Ferrari spokeswoman, who asked not to be identified, from the team’s headquarters in Maranello, Italy. “It’s a personal issue and you’ll have to ask Michael. I can’t say if it’s a lie or anything else. He is paid by us, but it’s a personal issue.”

Ferrari may be seeking to reduce Schumacher’s salary due to his age — 34 — and a general desire by Formula One teams to cut overall costs. Ferrari is controlled by the struggling Italian automaker Fiat. The Sun reported that Ferrari’s two chief rivals, the McLaren and Williams teams, could be interested in signing the five-time champion if he chooses not to renew with Ferrari. “If every team was asked what driver they most wanted they would say Michael Schumacher,” Patrick Head, Williams’ technical director, was quoted as saying.

HAMPTON Games chairman Rawle Raphael is expected to meet with Junior Finance Minister Conrad Enill for further discussion on their request for a $10 million government grant or soft loan.

Raphael is seeking assistance which he said is necessary if his Hampton International Games are to gain Grand Prix status from the International Association of Athletic Federation. He is asking government for the money over a five-year period 2003-2007, and propose to  repay the loan in two years after gaining Grand Prix status. Raphael said he met with Head of the Public Service D Rajnath on Tuesday and after a one-hour discussion was told the Prime Minister’s Fund was exhausted. He said he was told to apply through the Sports Fund and handed an application form to do so. Raphael said he was later referred to the Ministry of Finance to seek a Letter of Comfort. He said a meeting has been scheduled with Minister Enill at 3 pm on April 4. Hampton Games is scheduled for May 3 and 4 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

Manager of Tile It Central Sports Vonnie Roberts is calling on the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control (TTCBC) to increase the number of foreign players allowed to play in the domestic Carib cricket competition.

At present only one foreign player is allowed to take part in the Trinidad Cricket Board of Control (TTCBC) competition and this according to Roberts is not good enough for the standard of local cricket. “I think we need two foreign-based players. First it can only enhance the team because here it is you can have players who would have played First Class cricket, playing with these guys. Their cricket will only improve and by extension the standard of the league will raise.” “Remember the guys who are sought after really are former West Indies cricketers who have all that experience that can really help our youths.

By being in the team they can mould the team into a better unit. For example the presence of Keith Arthurton at Preysal has made them into such a wonderful team. I think without Arthurton you may not have a Preysal.,” Roberts said. “He plays for the senior team, he manages the Under-21 team, he is there morning, noon and night, the players respect him. If you look at his fielding, batting and bowling, it is tops. He leads by example and as a result the players play with him and the standard of the club raise. This would enhance Trinidad and Tobago’s cricket and by extension West Indies cricket,” the Tile It official said. Roberts also drew another example using Manchester United. “If you look at Manchester United the team is not only based on players from Manchester but all over England and other countries. Yet they are a major part of the England football set-up and serve the national team very well,” he said.

Another Central Sports official Chris Ramdat believes that the Trinidad Cricket Board should increase the amount of prize money in order to increase the appetite for the game. “It costs you over $100,000 to run the club for the season and when you play for a top prize of just $35,000, it is disappointing. I am not saying that the Board have the funds and are not using it, what I am saying is that they need to find ways to increase the prize money. I understand that the Board is strapped for cash with all the magnificent work they are doing at Couva but at the same time they need to do something about increasing the winnings,” he said.

DURBAN: Captain Saurav Ganguly struck his third hundred of the World Cup yesterday to spur India to a 91-run semi-final win over Kenya. Chasing India’s imposing 270 for four, Kenya never looked likely to threaten an upset and eventually succumbed for 179 in a desperately one-sided match.

The 1983 champions now play defending champions and favourites Australia. Twice in the same over Ganguly slog swept leg-spinner Collins Obuya for towering sixes over midwicket and he continued to improvise throughout his innings, several times charging down the wicket to the Kenyan medium pacers as the overs ran out. Kenya’s highest successful run chase in a one-day international is the 214 they chased to beat Bangladesh by eight wickets in Dhaka in 1998, so the odds were always heavily stacked against the east Africans. A good start was always going to be essential for Kenya to mount a genuine challenge, but India’s much improved pace attack ensured not even the faintest sniff of an upset.

Zaheer Khan, Javagal Srinath and Ashish Nehra picked up a wicket each as Kenya slumped to 30 for three and rapidly out of contention. Ravindu Shah (one) was plumb in front to Zaheer, Peter Ongondo (duck) looked totally out of his depth at number three before offering a catch to mid on off Nehra and Srinath continued his good tournament with a fine delivery Kennedy Otieno (15) could only edge to wicketkeeper Rahul Dravid. Nehra grabbed his second shortly afterwards when Virender Sehwag did well to hold on to a steepling catch at fine leg to dismiss Thomas Odoyo for seven. Ganguly looked to profit from the good start and brought on his slow bowlers early in a bid to reach the 25 overs needed for a result in case of rain as quickly as possible. In the process he captured the wicket of Maurice Odumbe (19), caught in the deep off Yuvraj Singh. With a result assured, Zaheer returned to remove Hitesh Modi (nine) leaving only Tikolo (56 from 83 balls) to battle for some personal pride against the part-time spin of Sachin Tendulkar and Sehwag as the crowd thinned dramatically and Kenya slipped meekly from the World Cup.

GEORGETOWN: The doctor who has examined West Indies middle order batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan is suggesting that he may be able to begin practising at the end of a two-week period.

Dr Terrence Joseph’s examination revealed some deformity, with tenderness and swelling of the joint, with the player’s inability to actively extend the finger. The doctor has applied a splint, which will be maintained for two weeks, after which the condition of the finger will be further evaluated. He has suggested that Sarwan might consider batting practice at the end of the two-week period, provided he has the joint in a protective splint. The talented Sarwan sustained an injury to the left middle finger during a warm-up session with the national team last week at the Rose Hall Community Centre ground in Canje.

ST AUGUSTINE are the new inter-Campus cricket kings. The Trinidad campus whipped Cave Hill by eight wickets with a full nine overs and five balls to spare in the final of this year’s University of the West Indies inter-campus games at Sir Frank Worrell ground, St. Augustine, yesterday.

A shower which forced 20-minute delay, saw the game reduced to 35 overs per team. When the shower fell, Cave Hill were on 121/4 off 31.2 overs. But on the resumption, off-spinner Sanjeev Maharaj claimed four wickets for 18 runs as the Cave Hill team lost five wickets for 23 runs to finish on 144 for nine wickets. Dion Lovell topscored for the Barbados campus with 49 off 74 balls in 126 minutes, which included five fours. Responding, St Augustine raced to 145 for two wickets off 25.1 overs with Kishore Sobie, promoted to open the batting hitting an unbeaten 52 which included one five and six fours.

Sobie who struck the winning runs to beat then defending champs Mona, featured in a 46-run opening stand with Jitin Maraj (17), but after losing another quick wicket, it was cruise control for the Trinidad campus. Sobie was joined by Darry Balgobin who scored 38 not out including five fours, in an unfinished 93-run  fourth-wicket partnership to take their team to victory. And to celebrate their first-ever cricket victory, the St Augustine team did a lap of honour, watched by ex-West Indies cricketers Charlie Davis (Trinidad and Tobago), Keith Arthurton (Nevis), Jeffrey Dujon (Jamaica), and retired UWI vice-principal Baldwin Mootoo and UWI Director of Sports and Physical Education Dr. Iva Gloudon. Cave Hill captured the netball title beating St. Augustine 38-35 in a thrilling finale on Wednesday. And yesterday, the Bajan campus made it a double by taking the basketball crown, beating Mona 81-60 in the final. The Cave Hill footballers have a chance to make it three titles when they face St Augustine in the final from 3 pm today.

DURBAN: England’s decision to boycott its February 13 World Cup cricket match against Zimbabwe in Harare could cost it millions of dollars in lost revenue.

England, already facing the prospect of losing their share of the profits of the World Cup until it agrees to pay compensation for failing to play its group match in Harare, also faces the prospect of Zimbabwe refusing to travel to England for a two-Test tour in May. England and Wales Cricket Board chairman David Morgan told reporters during yesterday’s World Cup semifinal between India and Kenya that he would travel to Harare next week in an effort to save Zimbabwe’s proposed tour of England. New Zealand also forfeited a match against Kenya at Nairobi and it, too, faces the prospect of having a share of its World Cup profits withheld. An official review of those matters will be presented to the International Cricket Council (ICC) board in Johannesburg tomorrow  before a full decision is made about the level of compensation.

The ICC is expected to announce a World Cup profit of US$188 million, of which US$8 million will cover costs, and US$80 million is given to hosts South Africa. The remaining US$100 million is divided between the test-playing nations and the associate members of the ICC. But part of England’s share or the full amount could be withheld until the Zimbabwe issue is resolved. England has said it is unwilling to pay any compensation, maintaining that its security fears surrounding the Zimbabwe match were well founded and vowing to fight any demands for compensation. Morgan will speak at a board meeting of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union tomorrow to try and persuade the Zimbabweans not to boycott their England tour.

EDUCATION MINISTER Hazel Manning praised the efforts of Guardian General Limited, a subsidiary of NEMWIL, for their sponsorship of the two-day 2003 National Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships, which ended yesterday  at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mcurapo.

“You have demonstrated your commitment to our young people through sport, by joining with us, the Ministry of Education, to provide incentives for the schools as well as more comfortable and professional conditions in which the athletes can compete.” Minister Manning was speaking at the opening ceremony of the event on Wednesday morning. She urged athletes to foster relationships with one another on and off the track as well as portraying a high sense of sportsmanship and professionalism during competitions. “With the talent, discipline and self-esteem that you will gain through your involvement in sport, you can realise your full potential and achieve major success.”

She said, “the buildup from school sports to zonal games to national secondary school relays and culminating in this event provides opportunities for a wide cross-section of out talented students to be involved in meaningful and rewarding activity. “We are also quite aware that this event provides much needed competition for those athletes who are vying for selection to the Carifta Games, which will be hosted in Trinidad and Tobago later this year.” Also receiving kudos from the Minister were the Physical Education Unit and the National Secondary Schools Track and Field Committee for their input into the two-day event.

FORTUNATE FLAG has begun to blossom and is a name to keep in mind when racing resumes at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, next Saturday.

The American import, with whom great care is being taken, is expected to make his debut next raceday among the Starter Allowance group, and has done everything asked of him in his work leading up to it. The Kenneth De Silva jr inmate won more friends when sent for schooling from the boxes with Finest Gem, an unraced creole attached to the Harold Chadee Stable. Fortunate Flag jumped like a seasoned campaigner and held an early half length advantage over his rival. The well-built individual waited for his exercise partner to get into gear before racing as a team to the 600 metres marker in 36.84 seconds. Gaza Strip who has shown good early speed in his races, went for a refresher course fron the gates with stablemate Maracas Bay.

The Strip showed his customary early speed to register 25.06 seconds between the 1200 and the 800 metre markers, beating off his companion by a full two seconds. Tactical Bid looked in peak condition, and worked as she looked. The Russell Ramsammy-owned filly, not the best performer when the sand is loose, was never asked a question by regular rider Ryan Thomas, on ground she detests but was still able to post 36.39 seconds for the spin. Punto A Punto looked to have come on for his last run, and sent the signal that he is coming back to his best in a handy spin with younger stablemate Super Grey. The pair stuck together from the 800 metre point to the finish line in 54.86 seconds. Queen’s Band, Phantom Menace and Infallibility were others to have worked with some degree of authority.

Following are yesterday’s recorded gallops:
400 METRES: Gaza Strip – 25.06, handily – (boxes); Maracas Bay 27.86, handily – (boxes); Gold Conveyor – 29.95, pacing; The Chairman and Panama Canal – 26.18, handily; Isle Be There – 29.98, pacing; Affirmed Dancer – 29.99, pacing; First Time – 27.21, pacing; Indian Decision – 29.99, pacing; Touch Wood – 29.65, pacing; El Guerrouj – 28.58, pacing; Hyarima – 28.98, pacing; Free Zone – 25.73, handily – (boxes); Redoubled – 24.92, handily – (boxes); Ex-Perhaps Love – 26.60, handily – (Boxes).

600 METRES: Tactical Bid – 36.39, good; Fortunate Flag and Finest Gem – 36.84, good (boxes); Phantom Bidder – 44.31, pacing; Soca Tempo – 44.58, pacing; Invincibility – 39.96, handily; Kalyan – 44.98, pacing; Under Influence – 42.83, pacing; Morgan Heritage – 44.32, pacing; Classy Kim – 44.99, pacing; Tribal Place – 43.50, pacing; Saratone – 39.43, handily.

800 METRES: Golden Honour – 55.39, handily; Guatama and Pile Of Cash – 59.99, pacing;  Maximus – 59.98, pacing; My Son John – 59.93, pacing; Once In A Lifetime – 58.96, pacing; Naturelly Classy – 55.86, pacing; Trini Gold – 53.63, handily.

1000 METRES: Phantom Manace and Infallibility – 1:04.57, handily; Gold Master – 1:14.41, pacing; Sonic Wind – 1:14.91, pacing; Queen’s Band – 1:06.01, handily; Entertainer – 1:13.27, pacing; Hundred Percent – 1:13.39, pacing; Reign of Fire – 1:14.96, pacing;  Boundtodotcom and Freshly Minted – 1:12.96 , pacing;  Fresh Mandate – 1:14.07, pacing; Outswinger – 1:13.67, pacing.