The New Nation - Internet Edition

Surjotarun Club earns 3-wkts victory over City Club

UNB, Dhaka

An unbeaten 65-run by Habibul Bashar guided Surjotarun Club to taste the first victory in their 2nd match of the Premier Division Cricket League beating City Club by three wickets at Narayanganj Osmani Stadium on Tuesday.

Winning the toss City Club batted first and scored 149 for 8 in a reduced 39 over a side match.

Sumon Barua contributed unbeaten 29 runs with two boundaries, Pakistani batsman Zahoor Elahi scored 46-ball 28 runs with two fours and one six, Golam Mabud made 23 with two fours while Arafat Salauddin hit 24-ball 20 with three fours.

Nazmul Hossain, Mohammad Sharif, Delwar Hossain and Saad Nasim took two City Club wickets each conceding 25, 30, 34 and 34 runs respectively.

In reply, Surjotarun Club, which conceded six-wicket defeat against holders Abahani Limited in the opening match, today reached their target making match-winner 150 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 38 overs.

Former national skipper Habibul Bashar contributed an unbeaten 65 runs off 89 balls with six boundaries was adjudged man of the match while another former national captain Khaled Mashud added useful 40 runs in 74 balls with four fours.

Shafaq Al Jabir and Arafat Salauddin grabbed three wickets each conceding 22 equal runs.

The day's other two matches between holders Abahani Limited and newcomer BKSP, and Dhaka Mohammedan SC and Partex SC, did not held due to unplayable condition of the ground following overnight rain.

Both the matches will be held today (Wednesday).

India beat Australia to win tri-series

Reuters, Sydney

India ended their tour of Australia on a high note when they beat the hosts by nine runs on Tuesday to win their best- of-three finals series 2-0.

Sachin Tendulkar scored a superb 91 and paceman Praveen Kumar went on to capture four wickets as the tourists followed up Sunday's six-wicket win in Sydney with a thrilling victory at the Gabba in Brisbane.

The Australians, who also lost last year's tri-series finals at home to England, recovered from a terrible start to give themselves a glimmer of hope when James Hopes (63) and Matthew Hayden (55) made half-centuries, only to come up short.

Tendulkar just missed out on back-to-back centuries after helping India post 258 for nine after they won the toss and batted first.

The master batsman followed up his unbeaten hundred in Sydney with a patient display to set India on the road to victory.

The tourists were heading for a much bigger total when Tendulkar and Robin Uthappa (30) piled on 94 for the first wicket before Australia's bowlers struck back.

Part-time spinner Michael Clarke (3-52) captured three wickets, including the prize scalp of Tendulkar, while paceman Nathan Bracken (3-31) also picked up three wickets in the frantic final few overs.

Tendulkar was untroubled as he cruised to his half-century off 70 balls but missed out on his hundred when he misjudged a delivery from Clarke and spooned a catch to a diving Ricky Ponting at mid-on.

LOW-ORDER COLLAPSE

Yuvraj Singh made a run-a-ball 38 in a 54-run stand with Tendulkar but their dismissals triggered a lower-order batting collapse.

The Indians lost six wickets for 50 runs in the last 11 overs after looking as though they would get closer to 300.

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni kept the tail wagging with 36 from 37 deliveries but received little support from his team mates as the Australian bowlers stemmed the run flow.

The Australians made a terrible start to their run-chase when they lost three wickets in the first nine overs.

Adam Gilchrist, in his final appearance before retiring from international cricket, was caught behind for two off the third ball of the innings then Ponting (one) and Clarke (17) quickly followed.

Murray magic does for Federer

AFP, Dubai

Roger Federer lost in the first round of a tournament for the first time in three-and-a-half years when he was beaten by Andy Murray, the 20-year old Briton who was a revelation with his cool attitude and his counter-attack.

The unseeded player's 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 6-5 win means that the world number one has not yet won a tournament this year, having lost in the semi-finals of the Australian Open to Novak Djokovic of Serbia.

He lost the last time he played Murray too, 19 months ago in Cincinnati, when he could claim he was tired from his previous week's efforts.

This time there was no such explanation, though Federer is short of match play, and when the match got tight was not able to unleash his customary ability to produce overwhelming tennis.

"It was nothing to do with his game," insisted Federer.

"It was a tricky game for both of us. One of the big guys had to go out.

"It's difficult but it could have been worse. It wasn't a bad match but that's the only positive I can take from tonight.

"I thought I was missing forehands by two or three metres. That's awful. You have it lined up and suddenly it's out which comes as a shock."

The first set saw both men hold solidly all through, Murray serving more aggressively but more often resorting to containment in the rallies, Federer serving more consistently well. But by the tie- breaker Murray was suddenly more assertive.

It hinged on three points. Murray had reached 5-2 with one mini-break and then had two chances - one good, one slight - to break again.

The first he netted an attacking return; the second he just got back but couldn't make pass.

Federer broke back at once, and held serve, saving a set point at six points all with a fine first serve winner.

When Federer gained his first set point, at 7-6 on Murray's serve he came up with a typical forehand attack, taken athletically from the backhand side, which surprised Murray.

Most people expected Federer to take charge from then on, but it didn't happen.

Instead Murray, still often playing patiently, also produced longer patches of aggression.

He broke Federer for 4-3 with two fine rallies, dominating the third point with forcing backhands, and converting his first break point of the match with a fierce forehand cross court pass which Federer could not reach.

In between though, Federer missed surprisingly with a forehand and it was this unusual shortcoming which gave him increasing cause for concern.

When Murray twice consolidated the break comfortably, and closed out the second set, the match had a different character.

Murray's court coverage had now changed from the good to the outstanding, and Federer became edgy.

He played an indifferent fifth game in the final set, delivering a double fault and missing with another forehand on break point, and that effectively did for him.

Murray was holding his service games solidly, with a mixture of tactics, most often being prepared to rally solidly and patiently, and sometimes launching fierce flat drives.

It worked, and he conceded only one point om his next two service games as he closed out the match, meaning that he survived three sets against Federer without dropping serve.

Murray took it all in a matter of fact way, strolling up to the net and even patting Federer on the back as though the great man needed encouragement.

"I don't know if it was my game style which won the match," he said.

"I think it was my mentality.

"I went on court thinking I could win, as I always have against him, and that was the key."

Pakistan coach expects Australian tour to be scrapped

AFP, Sydney

Pakistan's coach Geoff Lawson says he fears Australia will pull out of their scheduled tour due to start at the end of the month amid safety concerns.

Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers' Assocation will meet foreign ministry officials in Canberra on Wednesday for the latest information on the security situation in Pakistan following a spate of bombings.

CA is expected to send delegates to the nation in mid- March, but Lawson is already braced for a withdrawal.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has also warned Australia that it would take a dim view of any cancellation of the abridged tour, due to start March 29.

"The (Pakistan Cricket Board) seems to be pretty negative about (the tour), only because the correspondence they've been receiving from Cricket Australia has been negative," Lawson told The Age newspaper from Lahore.

"Pretty much everything they've heard from CA has been a hedging of bets in case they decide not to come.

"The PCB have been pretty disappointed by the comments.

"Everyone here knows there would be no problem with the tour, yet the more likely scenario seems to be that it won't happen from what we're hearing."

Australian player Andrew Symonds has repeatedly said he is unlikely to make himself available if the tour went ahead.

Lawson warned that cancelling the tour would have a disastrous effect on Pakistan cricket and create more ill feeling against the Australians.

He was particularly concerned that some Australian players were viewing a cancellation as an opportunity to grab some of the cash on offer in the Indian Premier League, which clashes with the tour.

BCB announces ODI squad against S. Africa

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh Circket Board (BCB) announced on Tuesday the 14-member Bangladesh One Day International (ODI) squad against South Africa team for the upcoming ODI matches.

Bangladesh will play against South Africa in the first ODI on March 9 at the Chittagong Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium.

Bangladesh team will face South Africa in the second ODI at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on March 12.

Bangladesh team will meet South Africa in the third and last ODI at the same venue on March 14.

The players, who have been selected, are: Mohammad Ashraful (Captain), Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (Vice-Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Zunaed Siddiqui, Nazim Uddin, Shahriar Nafees, Shakib Al Hasan, Dhiman Ghosh, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Mosharrof Hossain Rubel, Syed Rasel, Farhad Reza and Raqibul Hassan.

BCB XI for warm-up match against S Africa

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has selected 13 cricketers who will play against South Africa in the lone one day warm-up match at the Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium in Chittagong on March 7.

The players, who have been chosen for BCB XI, are: Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Nazim Uddin (Vice-Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Zunaed Siddiqui, Raqibul Hassan, Naeem Islam, Mahmudullah Riyad, Dhiman Ghosh, Farhad Reza, Mosharrof Hossain Rubel, Syed Rasel, Sajedul Islam and Rubel Hossain.

BD Boys beat Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club by 54 runs

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Boys beat Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club by 54 runs in the Metropolis First Division Cricket League at the Dhaka University ground on Tuesday.

Batting first after winning the toss, Bangladesh Boys scored 188 for 8 in 24 overs with Al Babu hammering unbeaten 44 runs. Tushar bagged two wickets for 29 runs.

In reply, Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club were all out for 134 in 20.1 overs with Humayun Kabir scoring 26 runs. Masum captured three wickets for six runs.

Harbhajan hits out at crowd behaviour

AFP, Sydney

Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has lashed out at Australian crowds after being cleared of allegations he made monkey gestures and spat toward fans in the tri-series final win against Australia.

Harbhajan was cleared after match referee Jeff Crowe was unable to find any video evidence to confirm the claims by spectators and photographers.

The spinner was shielded from the media when India arrived in Brisbane on Monday to prepare for Tuesday's second match in the tri-series finals, but The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported Harbhajan was appalled by the abuse he got from the crowd.

"Trust me, I didn't say anything to the crowd, but the language they said to me was despicable," he told The Daily Telegraph.

"It crossed all limits of decency. I had smoke coming out of my ears."

The outspoken spinner has been public enemy No.1 with Australian fans and players since clashing with Andrew Symonds in India last year.

Bangladesh Navy beat Fire Services 55-20

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Navy outplayed Fire Services & Civil Defense by 55-20 points with four creditable "lona" in a match of the 11th Pran Juice Premier Division Kabaddi League at the Outer Stadium kabbadi court on Tuesday.

The winners led the 1st half 24-09.

In the day's two other matches at the same venue, Sonali Bank beat Dilkusha SC 23-11 with one "lona" (1st half 8-7) while Bangladesh Army outclassed Shaheed Mozaffar Smriti Sangsad 48-29 with three "lona" (1st half 28-8).

Abu Yousuf to be appointed national football team coach

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is going to appoint veteran football coach Abu Yousuf as national football team coach for two upcoming international soccer tournaments.

BFF will sign an agreement in this regard with Abu Yousuf at a function at the BFF conference room today (Wednesday), a BFF official told UNB.

The veteran coach will be in charge of the national team for the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifying Round and the SAFF Championship.

The AFC Challenge Cup qualifying round matches will be held May 5-10 in Kyrgyzstan while the SAFF Championship will be played on June 3-14 in Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Abu Yousuf, who was the coach of national women football team, also coached Muktijoddha Sangsad KC in the 1st B. League last year.

Kushtia DSA emerges champion of Ga Zone in National Handball

UNB, Dhaka

Kushtia DSA emerged champion of Ga Zone in the EXIM Bank 18th National Handball Championship (men's) beating Jesore DSA 22-14 (1st half 11-7) in a super-three matches at the Jessore Stadium on Tuesday.

In the day's other two super three matches, Kushtia DSA beat Faridpur DSA 22-14 (1st half 11-6), Jessore DSA defeated Faridpur DSA 24-18 (1st half 11-10).

Suman of Kushtia was adjudged best player of the match.

Three-member women delegation will attend IOC conference

UNB, Dhaka

A three-member delegation of Bangladesh will leave for Jordan on Thursday to attend the 4th IOC World Conference on Women and Sports beginning in Dead Sea on Friday.

The delegation comprises Rafia Akhter Doly, Ferdous Ara Khanam and Quamrunnahar Dana.

They will return home on March 12 after attending the four-day conference.

Rani Hamid retains national women chess title

UNB, Dhaka

Defending champion IWM Rani Hamid retained the title of the 29th Aromatic Gold National Women Chess Championship with 10 points at the Chess Federation hall room here on Tuesday.

With this win, Rani Hamid become winner for 17 times of the women national champion.

WFM Shamima Akhter Liza became runner-up while Nazrana Khan Eva of Manikganj finished 3rd in the championship. Liza earned 9.5 points while Eva bagged eight.