The New Nation - Internet Edition

BCB appoints Champa Ka Ramanayeke and Ruan Kalpege bowling coach

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has appointed Champa Ka Ramanayeke and Ruan Kalpege of Sri Lanka bowling coach of Bangladesh National Cricket team and Game Development of Age Level of BCB respectively for two years.

The two Sri Lankan coaches will arrive in the city in the last week of February. The two Sri Lankan coaches would work for Bangladesh National Cricket team, Bangladesh A team, Bangladesh Under-19 Cricket team and Bangladesh Academy team if necessary, said a BCB official on Wednesday.

Champa Ka Ramanayeke and Ruan Kalpege worked with Tom Moody and John Dyson in Sri Lanka. The two coaches also trained Sri Lanka National Cricket team, Sri Lanka A team, Sri Lanka Under-19 team for a long time. Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Farvez Mahroof were trained by Champa Ka Ramanayeke and Ruan Kalpege.

It may be mentioned that Champa Ka Ramanayeke and Ruan Kalpege played in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League.

Zonal matches of Group A of National Handball (Men) begins Feb 8

Sports Reporter

The zonal matches of the Group A of the Exim Bank 18th National Handball Competition (Men) begins in Jamalpur from February 8.

Bangladesh Handball Federation will arrange the handball meet under auspics of the Exim Bank Limited.

The participating teams are: Rajshahi District team, Rangpur District team, Chapainabaganj District team, Natore District team, Panchghar District team, Joypurhat District team, Gaibandha District team and hosts Jamalpur District team.

The particiating teams have been requested to report at the Jamalpur District Sports Association on February 7 at 7:00 PM.

Field rehearsal of opening ceremony of 2nd Indo-Bangla Games held

UNB, Dhaka

The field rehearsal of the opening ceremony of the 2nd Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games-2008 was held Wednesday at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) with the participation of the members of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR).

The opening ceremony of the Games will be held at the BNS on February 22.

BDR director general Maj. Gen. Shakil Ahmed, who is also chairman of the Games ceremonies committee, inspected the field rehearsal of the opening ceremony.

Apart from members of the ceremonies committee, chairmen and member secretaries of different Games committees were also present.

After the rehearsal, a meeting of the ceremonies committee was held at the BNS with its chairman Maj. Gen. Shakil Ahmed in the chair.

The meeting discussed various aspects of the opening ceremony as well as procurement of medals, dresses and gears for different disciplines.

The 2nd Indo-Bangla Games will feature nine disciplines -- athletics, swimming, shooting, basketball, volleyball, kabaddi, kho kho, football and cricket. Of these, there will be men's and women's events in four disciplines -- football, shooting, athletics and swimming. Besides, cricket has been included in the meet for the first time this year.

Events and venues: Shooting - BKSP, athletics - Banani Army Stadium, swimming - Mirpur National Swimming Pool, basketball - Mirpur Shahid Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium, kho kho - Outer Stadium, kabaddi - Kabbadi Stadium, 20/20 cricket - Bogra and Rajshahi, and volleyball - Dhaka and Gazipur.

Kabbadi Refreshers Course to begin on Feb 10

UNB, Dhaka

The three-day Kabbadi Refreshers Course, organised by Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation, will begin on February 10 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS).

Bangladesh Kabaddi Referees Committee will conduct the course open to all kabaddi referees.

The course has been organised for the referees so that they conduct the kabaddi matches in the ensuing 2nd Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games in a successful manner.

Yousuf fires Pakistan to victory

Sports Desk

Mohammad Yousuf hit an unbeaten 108 to steer Pakistan to a seven-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the fourth one-day international in Faisalabad.

Chasing Zimbabwe's total of 244, Pakistan were on 66-2 before Yousuf and Shoaib Malik (88) combined for the match-winning 141-run stand.

Earlier, Malik took three wickets to dismiss Zimbabwe, who had Tatenda Taibu (51) as their top scorer.

Pakistan's victory puts them 4-0 ahead in the five-match series.

The final match takes place in Sheikhupura on Saturday.

"We are disappointed because I think 244 was not a bad total, but we have to improve our bowling," said Zimbabwe skipper Hamilton Masakadza.

Masakadza decided to bat first after winning the toss but that decision backfired as his side slumped to 12-2.

Taibu and Sean Williams (48) repaired the damage before they were both caught and bowled by Malik.

Zimbabwe's total was boosted after Keith Dabengwa smashed 45 runs off 33 balls at the end of the innings, including 19 off the last over.

Pakistan lost openers Nasir Jamshed and Khalid Latif by the 15th over with 66 runs on the board before Yousuf and Malik took control.

Yousuf knelt down and kissed the turf after completing his century, the 14th one-day ton of his career, with a cover-driven boundary off Gary Brent.

Malik was run out with Pakistan needing 38 runs to win in the last 10 overs.

Bangladesh U-19 play West Indies U-19 in 1st one-day match today

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Under-19 team meet West Indies Under-19 team in the first of the four-match one-day series at the BKSP in Savar today (Thursday).

Earlier, on Tuesday evening, the West Indies Under-19 team arrived here to play against Bangladesh Under-19 team as part of their preparations for the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup to be held in Malaysia in February.

The 18-member squad comprises 15 players and three officials. Smith is leading the side, accompanied by Larry Gomes, the 54-year old former West Indies international, as coach.

The 2nd match of the Series will be held at the BKSP in Savar on February 2.

The 3rd and 4th match will be held at the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium (NOS) on February 4 and 6.

Ahead of the Thursday's match, both the sides made practices at the Nabin Sangha Ground in city's Mohammadpur.

The young Bangladesh team, led by skipper Suhrawardy Shuvo, practiced in the morning while the West Indies side in the afternoon.

Annual Sports Competition of Bangladesh Navy College concludes

Sports Reporter

Annual Sports Competition of the Bangladesh Navy College, Daka concluded at Navy Colony Field premises, Dhaka Cantonment on Wednesday.

Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam was present as chief guest and Begum Muneera Nizam gave away prizes among the winners as special guest.

Shaheed Ruhul Amin House team emerged as champion securing 68 points and Shaheed Mohibullah House team became runners-up earning 49 points.

It is mentionable that 486 students of 4 Houses participated in 92 events in different age group.

Among others Senior BN officers of Naval Headquarters, Principal of the college, teachers, students and their guardians were present on the occasion.

Earlier, Administrative Authority Dhaka Commodore K T Zaman and Principal of BN College Dhaka Commander M A Zabber welcomed the Navy Chief of his arrival at college.

Senior Div Football: Wanderers, Jatrabari record wins

Sports Reporter

Dhaka Wanderers Club and Jatrabari KC won their respective matches of the Senior Division Football League on Wednesday.

In the day's first match, Dhaka Wanderers Club edged past Yongmens Club of Fakirapool 1-0 at the Kamalapur Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium.

After a barren first half Ashraful of Dhaka Wanderers Club scored the match - decides in the 81st minute of the play.

In the day's second match, Jatrabari KC beat Agrani Bank Limited SC by one goal to nil at the same venue.

Dalim of Jatrabari KC scored the all-important goal in the 20th minute of the first half.

Today Wari Club will take on Sunrise SC at 3.15 PM at the same venue.