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Tendulkar will play despite stiff back

Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar declared today that he is ready to lead India in the three-nation Singapore Challenge, beginning tomorrow.

Tendulkar, whose was troubled by a recurring back problem during the Aiwa Cup in Sri Lanka last week, said he was certain to play in the Singapore International Challenge against the West Indies and Zimbabwe despite not being fully fit.

''The back is still a bit stiff, but I am not here to watch from the sidelines. I am here to play cricket,'' Tendulkar said.

The West Indies and Zimbabwe meet in the opening match of the tournament tomorrow, while India enters the fray only on Saturday, when it plays Zimbabwe.

The West Indies, who like Zimbabwe will be playing their first international tournament since the World Cup ended in June, are hoping that two of their emerging talents will blossom during the tournament.

Wavell Hinds, a left-handed, middle order batsman and part-time medium pacer, and fellow Jamaican Ricardo Powell, a right-hand batsman, off-spinner and fine fieldsman, have been identified by captain Brian Lara as ''exciting young prospects who have yet to make a mark at the international level''.

Zimbabwe enjoyed their best ever World Cup in England this year, reaching the second stage of the tournament. Their captain Alistair Campbell said: ''Some of the boys stayed back in England to play club cricket, but otherwise it is very much the season-opener for us. We are raring to go and get off to a winning start.''

The Kallang ground, which is hosting international cricket for the first time, has a pitch that is expected to be full of runs and has impressed West Indies manager Clive Lloyd.

''Cricket has now become a truly global game and it is heartening to see grounds with top class facilities, outside the nine Test-playing countries,'' he said.

After the matches on Thursday and Saturday, India play the West Indies in the last league game on Sunday. The top two teams in the standings go into the final next Tuesday.

The winner will collect $30,000, the runner-up $20,000 and the third-placed team $10,000.

UNI