It was no surprise that Zaidi has been given another match, despite criticism from all and sundry, including the tournament director himself, who publicly admitted that the Pakistani was the ``weakest of the umpires and could not handle the pressure''.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has never been known to let down even the worst of its umpires, come what may. But, in the normal course, ``action'' is taken on the erring umpire by not giving him key matches, and on completion of the tournament, he is then banished from future international tournaments. In the present instance, the talk is that the FIH was ``pressurised'' into giving Zaidi another game, especially since the 1998 Champions Trophy is to be held in Pakistan, and it is more than likely that Zaidi will be included in theumpires panel.

AN EXPENSIVE `HELLO': Quite the most expensive activity for an itinerant journalist covering the World Cup hockey tournament here is transmitting dispatches to one's publication, be it by the hi-tech modem or the ``old fashioned'' fax.A simple greeting, ``hello'', on the international line from the Media Centre here costs Rs 10 and even the quickest transmission of a report on modem works out to about Rs 120, assuming the lines are clear.

For those using the fax machines, it is even more expensive. The other night, a senior journalist had to pay up about Rs 1,200 for transmitting an one-page report. ``This is criminal,'' he lamented referring to the prohibitive costs. ``I have been covering hockey since the1950s, all over the world, and never have I come across a Media Centre as expensive as the one here in Utrecht.''

However, solace is just one floor below, at the Heiniken press bar where one could count the coins left over a pint of chilled beer.

THINNING CROWDS: Withthe long weekend, inclusive of two national holidays over, the crowds have noticeably dwindled for all matches, barring those in which the Netherlands figure. But the organisers claim that the tickets for the semi-finals and finals are sold out.

The crowd behaviour at the pretty Galgenwaard Stadium is more `footballish' with singing of songs to the accompaniment of drums and symbols, indulging in the `Mexican Wave', and the usual loud whistling at a wrong umpiring decision as a way of indicating one's displeasure.

The German team is the most hated team and each time they step on to the field, they are greeted with boos and jeers. But coach Paul Lissek was least perturbed, as he simply shrugged his shoulders when queried about the attitude of the crowd.