TORONTO: Pakistani cricket star Inzamam-ul Haq and a heckling fan, both arrested after a fight during a match in Toronto's Sahara Cup series, have dropped assault charges against each other.

Haq was cleared of two counts of assault and one of assault with a weapon, while fan Shiv Kumar Thind was cleared of assault with a weapon. During the Pakistan-India match on Sep 14, Haq allegedly ran into the stands and punched and kicked Thind. Witnesses said Thind, 29, was heckling Haq , calling him a potato through a megaphone.

Lauda wants `red card' in F-1 racing

SYDNEY: Former triple world champion Niki Lauda has called for an overhaul of Formula One rules so that reckless drivers can be ordered off the track during a race, an Australian newspaper reported today.

The Austrian driver, who won the drivers' championship in 1975, 1977 and 1984, said motor racing needed to introduce a `red card' system similar to that used in soccer.

Rusedki books berth for Hanover

STOCKHOLM: An aching and ill Greg Rusedski held off a stomach virus yesterday night to become the first British player ever to qualify for the ATP's season-ending championships which open in Hanover next week -- and was then sent straight to his hotel bed by the tournament doctor. The British player defeated Sweden's Nicklas Kulti 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 in the first round of the $ 825,000 Stockholm Open -- gathering enough points to ensure his place in the eight-player championships. Rusedski joined Pete Sampras, Michael Chang, Pat Rafter and Jonas Bjorkman in the event.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.