The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Monday announced a 15-member national cricket team for the first two ODI matches in the upcoming tour of New Zealand.

The BCB has appointed Mohammad Ashraful as captain and Mashrafee Bin Mortaza as vice captain of the national team till December 2008.

Promising left-handed opening batsman Junaed Siddiqui Imroze is the only new face in the ODI squad after his successful Twenty20 World Cup campaign while pacer Nazmul Hossain came back in the squad again after a long gap.

Former national vice-captain Shahriar Nafees and veteran spinner Mohammad Rafique have been left out of the squad.

The BCB also named nine standby players in the squad for possible replacement in the third ODI or in the test series.

Bangladesh team, comprising 15 cricketers and 10 officials, is expected to leave here for New Zealand on December 12.

BCB's chief selector Rafiq-ul-Alam announced the Bangladesh squad at a press conference on Monday evening after getting the approval from BCB.

National selector Naimur Rahman Durjoy and BCB member Ishtiaque Ahmed were also present.

The chief selector told the newsmen that they selected the team not based on seniority or juniority, but picked up the team with skillful players suitable for the New Zealand condition.

Replying to a question about the exclusion of Shahriar Nafees, Mohammad Rafique and Khaled Mashud Pilot, he said Shahriar Nafees and Mohammad Rafique are no doubt good players with good records. But after the India tour to Bangladesh, they are not in good form although they have a fair chance to come back.

About Pilot, Rafiq-ul-Alam said, Pilot might come back in the 3rd ODI or in the test series.

He said they named the team with three opening batsmen, five middle order batsmen, four pacers, one specialized spinner and one wicket keeper. "We have included only one specialized spinner as all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will also act as spinner."

Bangladesh Squad: Mohammad Ashraful (Captain), Mashrafee Bin Mortaza (Vice Captain), Javed Omer Belim, Tushar Imran, Khan Abdur Razzak, Shakib Al Hasan, Syed Rasel, Aftab Ahmed Chowdhury, Mushfiqur Rahim, Kazi Shahadat Hossain Rajib,

Junaed Siddiqui, Farhad Reza, Mehrab Hossain Jr, Tamim Iqbal Khan and Nazmul Hossain.

Standby: Rajin Salah Alam, Shahriar Nafees Ahmed, Kazi Habibul Bashar, Khaled Mashud Pilot, Mohammed Rafique, Mahmudullah Riad, Dollar Mahmud, Sajedul Islam and Enamul Haque Jr.

Ahmed Sajjadul Alam Bobby and Jamie Siddons will accompany the team as manager and coach.

Fixture:

1st ODI - Dec 26 - Eden Park, Auckland

2nd ODI - Dec 28 - McLean Park, Napier

3rd ODI - Dec 31 - Queenstown Events Centre

1st Test - Jan 4-8 - University Oval, Dunedin

2nd Test - Jan 12-16 - Basin Reserve, Wellington

UNB, Dhaka

Team North earned a four-wicket victory against Team East in the final round of the four-day Challengers Cup Cricket at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Chasing a huge target of 356 runs in the second innings, Team North resumed the innings on the last day today with overnight 233 for 3 in 63.4 overs and easily reached the match-winning 356 runs for the loss of six wickets in 101.3 overs.

Opening batsman Robin, who resumed batting on 110, scored a polished 129 runs off 245 balls with 15 fours. He was later adjudged man of the match.

Number six batsman Iftekher Nayeem also played a vital role in the team's victory scoring an useful 66 not out facing 94 balls that featured five fours and a six.

Rezaul Islam Rajon claimed three wickets and Raihanuddin took two wickets.

Earlier, Team East declared the first innings at 309 and were bundled out in the second innings for 154 runs.

Brief score:

Team East- 309/9 (Dec) & 154/10 in 57,3 overs; Nazim 35, Rezaul 29, Prosenjit 21; Monjurul 19, Sakil 10, extras 14, Younus 6/34, Mamun 2/42, Fariduddin 1/27, Gazi Alamgir 1/32

Team North - 108/9 (dec) & 356/6 in 101.3 overs; Robin 129, Amit 76, Arman 23, Fariduddin 17, Maruf 22, Iftekhar not out 66, extras 13; Rezaul 3/98, Raihan 2/106.

In the day's other match at the BKSP in Savar, Team South notched a huge 262-run win over Team West on the last and final day today.

Earlier, Team South took a commanding 271-run overall lead scoring 355 runs in the first innings and 122 runs in second innings on the third day (Sunday) of the four-day affair.

Replying to the huge target, Team West (148 in 1st innings) resumed their second innings today with overnight 58 for 5 and were again dismissed cheaply for just 67 runs

Team South - 355 & 122/10 in 43 overs; Sumon 43*, Moniruzzaman 24; Muktar 5/32

Team West - 148 & 67/10 in 25.3 overs; Zubaer 19, Emon 13, Sanjoy 11, extras 9, Humayun 5/2, Giasuddin 3/21, Hasan 1/19.

AP, New Delhi

Sachin Tendulkar completed a robust half-century as India coasted to a six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the opening cricket test Monday.

Needing just 32 runs on the final morning, India lost overnight batsman Sourav Ganguly before Tendulkar (56 not out) reached his 46th half-century to drive India home.

Chasing a modest target of 203, India was on the verge of victory at 171 for three when play ended Sunday.

Tendulkar, resuming at 32, cover drove legspinner Danish Kaneria to complete his half-century and then square-cut paceman Shoaib Akhtar for the winning boundary. His 109-ball knock contained nine fours.

V.V.S. Laxman remained unbeaten on five.

Ganguly failed to add to his overnight score of 48, miscuing a pull against Akhtar to Sohail Tanvir at deep fine-leg.

Bowling a fiery spell, Akhtar (4-58) was the lone Pakistan bowler to impress in India's second innings.

Ganguly and Tendulkar added 88 runs for the fourth wicket that ensured India's smooth sailing at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium, where it now has three wins from five tests against Pakistan.

The two other India-Pakistan matches at this venue ended in draws.

This was the ground where Pakistan made its test cricket debut, but a test win here continues to elude it.

Leading India to victory on his captaincy debut, the game was a personal triumph for skipper Anil Kumble who emerged as the man of the match by claiming seven wickets. Kumble produced vital breakthroughs whenever Pakistan's batsmen sought to stage a fightback.

"This ground has been very special for me," said Kumble, who dismissed all 10 Pakistan batsmen in an innings when India last played a test match against Pakistan at this venue in 1999.

Kumble's feat made him only the second bowler after England's Jim Laker to claim all 10 wickets in a test innings.

"Getting Pakistan out under 250 in both innings was a credible performance for our attack," said Kumble. "The boys responded very well, each one of them made a significant contribution."

He said the partnership between Laxman and Mahendra Dhoni in the first innings was crucial as it helped India recover from a top-order slump.

"It was important to me to get into the groove straightaway, three months away from cricket is a long break," said Kumble. Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik was confident his team will recover from this loss to contest the three-test series.

"Pakistan's a good side, I'm confident we'll bounce back." Said Malik.

He said the Pakistan batsmen fell 100 runs short on the slow-turning track.

"If we had set India a 300-run target in the second innings, the result could have been in our favor," Malik said. "If you have to win a test match, the batsmen have to score 400. We failed to get anywhere near that."

The second test match starts Friday in Calcutta.

AFP, Sydney

Asia's football chief Mohamed bin Hammam has urged just one Asian bid to maximise the confederation's chances of hosting the 2018 World Cup.

Australia has indicated its interest in hosting the tournament after South Africa (2010) and Brazil (2014), while there have also been reports of China considering a bid.

But bin Hammam cautioned against conflicting Asian bids in the face of opposition from England, a joint bid by Belgium and the Netherlands, Mexico, Russia, Uruguay and Argentina. The winner will be announced in 2011.

"We will be fighting as a confederation to host the 2018 World Cup," bin Hammam, president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), told reporters in Australia today.

"Ideally, it would be good to have just the one bid," he said.

Reuters, Sydney

There is increasing concern among Australia's cricketers about their planned tour of Pakistan next year.

The Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) said they were worried about security arrangements in Pakistan because of the political upheaval since the introduction of emergency rule.

ACA president Darren Lehmann told reporters on Monday the tour should be cancelled, or moved to a neutral venue, if there was any risk to player safety.

"If there's any risk at all then I'm presuming the tour might not go ahead," Lehmann said.

"But if security say it's fine then we'll be going."

Australia are due to tour Pakistan next March but Lehmann said the ACA and Cricket Australia were planning to visit the country in January to determine whether it was safe enough.

Lehmann said they would present their findings to the players who would make the final decision.

"We put everything on the table for them and then it's a group decision from there," Lehmann said.

"Pretty much they're happy to go with the ACA and Cricket Australia what we recommend and that'll be a joint discussion along the way so if we say 'Look we think it's safe to go', they'll go."

UNB, Dhaka

The four-day inter-club players transfer for the Metropolis Senior Division Football League begins today (Tuesday) at the league office at Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS).

The transfer formalities will begin at 5:30 pm and continue till 8:30 pm.

Thirteen metropolis teams will take part in the league that will begin on December 28 at the BNS.

The teams are Arambagh KS, Badda Jagarani, Victoria Sporting Club, Dhaka Wanderers Club, Youngmen's Club Fakirerpool, Dipali Jubo Sangha, Mohakhali Ekadash, Wari Club, Agrani Bank SC, Purbachal Parishad, City Club, Jatrabari KC and Sunrise SC.

UNB, Dhaka

The Victory Day Kabaddi Competition, organised by Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation, will begin on December 15 at the Kabaddi Stadium in the city.

Teams interested to take part in the competition are advised to enroll their names at the Federation with an entry fee of Tk 200 by December 8, said a press release.

Bangladesh U-19 suffer 144-run defeat to Pakistan U-19 in 1st one-dayer

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh U-19 team suffered a massive 144-run defeat against Pakistan U-19 team in the first one-day match at the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday.

Batting first, Pakistan U-19 team scored 257 runs for five wickets in stipulated 50 overs.

Rony claimed three wickets for 34 runs while Mahmudul Nasir took two wickets for 53 runs.

In reply, Bangladesh U-19 team were dismissed cheaply for 113 runs in 29.5 overs. Nasir scored 21 runs, Marshall made 18, Rony 17 and Tamim 13.

The 2nd one-day match between the two youth teams will be also held at the same venue on Wednesday (Nov 28).

The two teams will travel to Karachi to play the 3rd one-day match on Dec 2 at the DHA Ground. The 4th one-day match will be held at the Quaid-e-Azam Park (Steel Mills Karachi) on Dec 5 and the 5th and last one-day match on Dec 7 at the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) ground.