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From Steve Waugh, with commitment...

Australia went down to New Zealand, in the final of the Super 8s the other evening.

Would the presence of skipper Steve Waugh have made a difference?

The question is moot -- the senior Waugh, for his part, is busy making a difference, with his presence, to the fortunes of Calcutta-based charity Udayan.

A few weeks after former world number one Mats Wilander landed in Calcutta to help raise funds for charity, it is the turn of Aussie one-day skipper Steve Waugh, to honour a commitment to Udayan.

Waugh was introduced to the charity when the Australian national side was touring India. At that time, the Aussie star took time off to visit the charity, where he was as impressed by the work done for children of leprosy-stricken parents, as he was depressed by the financial constraints under which the charity operated.

That was when he made the commitment, that he is now in the city to honour.

It is a visit with a difference -- arc lights, cameras, the works. Television footage, recorded during his three-day stay in Calcutta, will be telecast in Australia as part of an appeal for funds. A charity dinner late Tuesday evening, with tickets going at Rs 1,000 per plate, is already a sell out. More money will be raised through the auction of one of his favourite bats, also this evening. And, says Waugh, this is merely the beginning -- as patron of the charity, he hopes to devote a lot of spare time, and energy, to continuing the good work.

This time round, Waugh's visit is intended to raise funds needed by Udayan to set up a home for girl-children of leprous parents, planned at a site in the village of Sewli. The foundation stone of the home was laid by Waugh this morning.

On his arrival, he further announced that he would sponsor all expenses of two inmates of the putative home. And already, his high profile presence is having an impact, with corporate houses based in Calcutta stepping forward to show interest in helping the cause.