ALEXANDRIA: Stephan Veen (Netherlands) and Alyson Annan (Australia) were awarded the first International Hockey Federation's Player of the Year awards.

Alyson, already widely regarded as the top female hockey player in the world, credits include four Champions Trophy gold medals, two World Cup gold medals, one Olympic gold medal and one Commonwealth Games medal.

Veen, captain of the Dutch men's national team since September 1996, has earned two Olympic gold medals, three World Cup gold medals, 10 Champions Trophy gold medals and two European Championships.

Aravinda in team for Zimbabwe

COLOMBO: Sanath Jayasuriya will lead Sri Lanka on the tour of Zimbabwe from Nov 4-Dec 20.

The squad: Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Mahela Jayawardene (vice-captain), Aravinda de Silva, Mutthiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Marwan Atapattu, Romesh Kaluvitharana, Russel Arnold, Pramodaya Wickremesinghe, Nuwan Zoyza, Chamara Silva, Indika de Seram, Ranga Herath,Prasanna Jayawardene, Suresh Perara and Indika Gallage

Pakistan crash to second defeat

PERTH: Pakistan were defeated by Western Australia by three runs despite a hard-hitting century by Mohammad Wasim (100 in 166 balls) here tonight in the World Cup finalists' first major game of their Australian tour.

Pakistan had appeared set for victory, but lost three wickets in the last over of their innings to finish with 250-9 after Western Australia had reached 253-7.

The morale-sapping loss followed the tourists' seven-wicket drubbing by an Australian Cricket Board Chairman's XI on Tuesday.