41.   All were banned from Cuban baseball last year because Cuban officials suspected they were planning to defect.

42.   All five were banned from Cuban baseball in July because authorities suspected they were planning to defect.

43.   All five were banned from Cuban baseball in the last year because authorities suspected they were planning to defect.

44.   All had been banned from Cuban baseball because, officials argued, they planned to leave Cuba or help others do so.

45.   Another on Cuban baseball.

46.   Because it is only an exhibition game, Cuban baseball officials are downplaying its importance.

47.   Cuban baseball officials met last month to debate ways of solving the problem, which has led to large swaths of empty seats at baseball stadiums here.

48.   Cuban baseball player Jorge Luis Toca, detained with other defectors in the Bahamas, accepted an offer of asylum from Japan, immigration officials said.

49.   Cuban baseball player Jorge Luis Toca, detained with other defectors in the Bahamas, has accepted an offer of asylum from Japan, immigration officials said.

50.   Cuban baseball players have been granted asylum in number of Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.