Reuters Sports Schedule at 1430 GMT on Tuesday, March 28

Reuters sports schedule at 1400 GMT on Tuesday: SOCCER 2018 World Cup qualifiers Asian qualifying, third round Uzbekistan v Qatar, Tashkent Saudi Arabia v Iraq Big guns move closer to Russia finals SYDNEY - Japan, South Korea, Iran and Australia all moved closer to clinching berths in Russia with wins on Tuesday, while Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan will hope to continue to surprise and Qatar are among the countries battling to keep their slim hopes alive. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP/ASIA (WRAPUP 1), expect by 1930 GMT/3:30 PM ET, by Michael Church, 500 words) International friendlies (1845 unless stated) Russia v Belgium 1600 South Africa v Angola 1600 Netherlands v Italy Portugal v Sweden Ireland v Iceland France v Spain 1900 World Cup hosts Russia welcome Belgium, France face Spain The 2018 World Cup hosts Russia entertain Roberto Martinez's star-studded Belgium side on a night of international friendlies as Netherlands, who sacked their manager on Sunday, host Italy, European champions Portugal meet Sweden and Euro 2016 runners-up France welcome Spain. (SOCCER-TEAMA-TEAMB/, expect throughout) USA visit Panama for critical qualifying clash The United States, sitting fourth in the Hexagonal after last week’s much-need win over Honduras, head into a hostile environment for a clash against third-placed Panama at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City featuring two teams in urgent need of points. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-PAN-USA/, expect by 0500 GMT/1:00 AM ET, 400 words) TENNIS ATP/WTA: Miami Open (to 2) Pliskova and Wozniacki eye passage to Miami semis Czech second seed Karolina Pliskova faces Croatia’s Mirjana Lucic-Baroni while 12th-seeded Dane Carolina Wozniacki meets unseeded Czech Lucie Safarova in quarter-final action at the Miami Open. (TENNIS-MIAMI/WOMEN (TV), expect from 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, 400 words) Federer and Nadal seek quarter-final berths In-form Swiss fourth seed Roger Federer faces Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut, fifth seed Rafa Nadal meets Frenchman Nicolas Mahut and Japanese second seed Kei Nishikori battles Argentine Federico Delbonis in last 16 action at the Miami Open. (TENNIS-MIAMI/MEN (TV), expect from 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, 400 words) Sharapova faces media ahead of return from doping ban RANCHO MIRAGE, California - Former world number one Maria Sharapova faces the media a month before her return to the WTA Tour following a doping suspension imposed last year. Sharapova is appearing at the Inspiring Women in Sports conference ahead of the ANA Inspiration golf major at Mission Hills. (TENNIS-SHARAPOVA/ (TV), expect by 0030 GMT/8:30 PM ET, by Larry Fine, 400 words) CRICKET Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI (Dambulla) Bangladesh eye series victory with a match to spare On a high after their comprehensive victory in the first match, Bangladesh will go all out for a second consecutive win to seal the three-match series against Sri Lanka. (CRICKET-SRI LANKA/, expect by 1730 GMT/1:30 PM ET, 250 words) New Zealand v South Africa, third test (to 29) South Africa look to captain to save third test WELLINGTON - South Africa captain Faf du Plessis and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock will battle to save the third test against New Zealand as they enter the final day on 80-5, still 95 runs from making the hosts bat again. (CRICKET-NEWZEALAND/, expect throughout from 0015 GMT/7:15 PM ET, 400 words) NBA Streaking Warriors visit Rockets The Golden State Warriors put the league’s longest active win streak on the line when they visit the Houston Rockets in search of an eight consecutive win, while the Milwaukee Bucks visit the Charlotte Hornets in two of the eight games on the National Basketball Association schedule. (BASKETBALL-NBA-HIGHLIGHTS/, expect by 0530 GMT/1:30 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 800 words) NHL Maple Leafs, Bruins try to bolster playoff hopes The Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins, both looking to bolster their playoff hopes, face the Florida Panthers and Nashville Predators, respectively, in two of the 11 games on the National Hockey League schedule. (ICEHOCKEY-NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/, expect by 0530 GMT/1:30 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 500 words) (Europe desk editor: Ken Ferris)