The New Nation - Internet Edition

Yousuf appointed coach of Bangladesh National Football team

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has appointed Md Abu Yousuf coach of Bangladesh National Football team. This is for the first time Yousuf has been appointed fullfledged coach of Bangladesh National Football team.

Earlier, Yousuf was appointed the coach of Bangladesh team temporary basis and the team made a 1-1 draw with Qatar Under 23 team and settled for a goalless draw with Qatar National team in the year of 1998.

Besides, coach Abu Yousuf trained Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club, Dhaka Abahani Limited, Chittagong Abahani Limited, Victoria Sporting Club, BRTC Football team, Sheikh Russel KC and Muktijoddha Sangsad KC.

The former star footballer played for Mohammedan Sporting Club, Abahani Limited, Rahmatganj MFS and Victoria Sporting Club, Fire Service team. He gave service for a long time for Bangladesh National Football team.

Abu Yousuf played for Bangladesh National team from 1975 to 1986. He secured B Licence in football coaching.

To mark the appointment of Bangladesh National Football team, a press conference was held at the conference room of BFF House on Wednesday. President of Bangladesh Football Federation SA Sultan, Acting General Secretary of BFF Manjoor Hossain Malu and coach Abu Yousuf were present at the conference in front of a good number of sports journalists.

Abu Yousuf will be the coach of Bangladesh National team upto June 2008. If Yousuf bring a satisfactory result then, his tenure will be increased.

Bangladesh will take part in the AFC Challenge Cup in May and then, Bangladesh will participate in SAFF Championship scheduled to be held on June 3 to June 14 in Maldives and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh, Afghanistan and hosts Sri Lanka have been placed in Group B.

The semifinals will be held on June 11 while the final will be taken place on June 14.

Abu Yousuf will get Tk 55 thousand per month.

Yousuf said "I am hopeful that Bangladesh will bring a good result from the ensuring football meets. Yousuf assured that he would try to present a new national football team.

SA Sultan said the national team would be formed under the supervision of new coach.

Sultan added that the national team would take part in the practice session in Cox's Bazar to enhance the stamina of the players.

After the press conference an agreement was signed between Abu Yousuf and BFF yesterday.

MSC top league table beating Partex SC by 6 wickets

UNB, Dhaka

Unbeaten half centuries by Imrul Kayes and Faisal Hossain enabled Mohammedan SC to win second successive matches in the Premier Division Cricket League beating Partex SC by six wickets at the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium in Fatullah on Wednesday.

With the day's win, Dhaka Mohammedan SC top the league table securing full four points from straight two matches after beating BKSP by 53 runs in their first match.

Sent in to bat first in the day's match, Partex SC scored 168 for 7 in curtailed 33 overs with Pakistani Rashid Hanif top scoring 68 runs that featured seven boundaries.

The match was reduced to 33 over-a-side due to wet outfield following overnight rain.

Middle order batsman Tariq Ahmed (30) and lower order Ariful Haque (29) were the two other notable batsmen for Partex SC who reached double figures, while another 14 runs came from extras.

National pacer Tapash Baishya and Manjurul Islam grabbed two wickets each for 30 and 27 runs respectively.

In reply, Mohammedan SC, riding on two half centuries by Imrul Kayes and Faisal Hossain, reached the target scoring 170 for the loss of four wickets in 30 overs, with three overs to spare.

Opener Imrul Kayes hammered unconquered 66 runs off 81 balls with six fours to be adjudged man of the match, while number six national colour batsman Faisal Hossain scored 51-ball 52 runs with four fours and two sixes.

Besides, Rabiul Hassan (16), Nadimuddin (10), Ajit Chandela (9) and Rashedul Haque (1) were the other contributors for Dhaka Mohammedan.

Tariqul Islam and Dipozzal Dey took one wicket each giving away 24 and 32 runs respectively.

Meanwhile, holders Abahani Limited were forced to share points with newcomers BKSP as the match could not be held for the second successive day, on Wednesday due to unplayable condition of ground at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium.

Ayami of Japan clinches women's singles title

UNB, Dhaka

Ayami of Japan clinched the women's singles' title of the Jabbar Memorial Tennis Tournament beating Ishrat Sultana of National Tennis Complex (NTC) 6-4, 6-1 in the final on Wednesday.

Omar Faruk Sunny of BKSP emerged boys' singles (16-year age group) champion beating Mofazzal Hossain of NTC 6-3, 6-4 in the event's final.

Another BKSP boy, Sheikh Hasibul Haque won the boys' singles (14-year age group) title defeating Jamil Bhuiyan of NTC 6-2, 6-1 in the final on Wednesday.

In men's singles, top seed Amol Roy of Engineers Club and second seed Ranjan Ram of NTC reached the final winning their semis on Wednesday.

In the semi-finals, Amol Roy outplayed Alamgir Hossain of Nordic Club 6-2, 6-0, while Ranjan Ram beat Dipu Lal of Nordic Club 7-6, 6-2.

In the men's doubles, Amol-Ranjan pair moved into the final beating Alamgir-Mazharul pair 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, while Dipu-Niranjan partner reached the final outplaying Anwar-Delwar pair 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Men's and women's doubles finals will be held today (Thursday) morning, while the men's singles final will be held in the afternoon.

4th KFC-Pizza Hut Mini Handball Tournament begins today

UNB, Dhaka

The 4th KFC-Pizza Hut Mini Handball Tournament (girls under-11), organised by Bangladesh Handball Federation, begins today (Thursday) at the Dhanmondi Women's Sports Complex.

Bangladesh Olympic Association deputy secretary general and former national footballer Ashrafuddin Ahmed Chunnu will formally inaugurate the meet as chief guest through a match between Sunnydale and Siddiqui's International School at 11:00 am.

Twelve teams, split into four groups, are taking part in the three-day meet, sponsored by Transcom Foods Limited.

Transcom Foods will provide Tk 100,000 of the total budget of Tk 143,000 to run the tournament.

Handball Federation general secretary Asaduzzaman Kohinoor disclosed the details at a press conference at the Federation office on Wednesday afternoon.

Saiqa Sultana Rahim, manager of Transcom Foods, tournament committee chairman BM Shaheed and secretary Salahuddin Ahmed were present.

India, Britain secure third successive hockey wins

Reuters, New Delhi

Former Olympic champions India and Britain both claimed their third consecutive wins to stay on course to meet in the final of the men's qualifying tournament for the Beijing Games.

Eight-time champions India thumped Mexico 18-1 and Britain defeated hosts Chile 4- 1 after being held goalless until halftime in their third round league matches in Santiago on Tuesday.

Austria had a 5-4 victory over Russia, who lost their third match in a row after being drafted-in as a late replacement for Bangladesh in the second of three qualifying tournaments.

India and Britain, who face each other on Thursday, are expected to top the standings and meet in the final. The winners qualify for the 12-team competition in Beijing.

India have played in every Olympic hockey competition since 1928.

New Zealand beat Argentina in the final of the first qualifying tournament last month. The third is in Japan in April.

China, Netherlands, South Korea, Canada, South Africa, Spain, Belarus, Pakistan and Australia have also qualified.

4-member BFF delegation leaves for Malaysia today

UNB, Dhaka

A four-member BFF delegation leaves here for Kuala Lumpur at 1:20 am Thursday to attend a meeting Friday at the AFC headquarters in Malaysia to resolve the crisis about formation of District Football Associations ahead of BFF election.

BFF President SA Sultan will lead the BFF delegation, which also includes BOA director and CEO Col. (retd) Wali Ullah, Badminton Federation general secretary Kazi Mohiuddin Bulbul and former national footballer Badal Roy.

The delegation is expected to return home on Saturday.

23-member Archery team leaves for India

UNB, Dhaka

A 23-member Archery team left here on Wednesday for India by road to take part in the 2nd South Asian Archery Championship to be held on Match 7-10 in Jamshedpur.

The team comprises Noore Alam, Sajjad Hossain, Emdadul Haq Milon, Rina Chakma, Omi Chakma, Lotika Chakma, Ziaul Haq Zia, Suad Rifat, Biplob Roy, Rumana Ahter, Beauty Roy, Lovely Akter, Babul Roy Jaffar Ahmed, Sohel Rana, Sahab Uddin (team leader), SM Alam (manager, Bamboo Boo), Nishit Das (coach, Recaurb Boo), Saiduzzaman Tuhin (coach, Bamboo Boo) Sheikh Sad Ahmed (coach, Compound Boo), Faruk Dhali (Judge) and Kazi Rajibuddin Ahmed Chapal (Jury of appeal).

They are scheduled to return home on Match 13.

Bangladesh Rifles beat Sonali Bank

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Rifles earned an emphatic 50-17 points victory over Sonali Bank in the 11th Pran Juice Metropolis Premier Division Kabaddi League at the Outer Stadium kabaddi court on Wednesday.

The Rifles team, which earned three creditable lonas, dominated the first half 26-11.

In the day's other matches, Azad SC beat Fire Services by 27-9 points (first half 4-3) with four lonas, while Bangladesh Navy defeated Dilkusha SC by 39-19 points (first half 23-8) with three lonas at the same venue this afternoon.

Four matches will be held today (Thursday): Jurain Janata Club vs Bangladesh Police, Shaheed Mozaffar Smriti Sangsad vs Jatrabari Faruk Smriti Sangsad, Azad SC vs Dilkusha SC, and Bangladesh Rifles vs Fire Services & Civil Defense.

Battling England restrict Kiwis

BBC Online

England fought hard to restrict New Zealand to 282-6 on day one of the first Test after a typically aggressive knock from Brendon McCullum.

The Kiwis were struggling on 191-5 despite Jamie How's 92 as Alastair Cook took three sharp catches.

But McCullum blasted two sixes in his 51 off 55 balls and added 86 with Ross Taylor, who made an unbeaten 54.

Ryan Sidebottom, who was the pick of the bowlers, had McCullum caught behind to finish with figures of 2-39.

That frenetic ending to the final session was out of tune with a largely attritional day's cricket which confirmed this will be a hard-fought series between two teams looking to re-establish themselves.

It began with openers How and Matthew Bell hardly setting the pulses racing after Daniel Vettori won the toss.

Once they had seen off the new ball and early swing movement, however, they did punish just about everything that was too full, particularly from Matthew Hoggard and the innocuous Steve Harmison.

Bell hurt namesake Ian's wrist with a powerful pull shot which thudded into him at short-leg but, fortunately for the England fielder, X-rays revealed nothing more than heavy bruising and he hopes to play a part later in the game.

He then departed in tame fashion, edging a Harmison half-volley to Cook at third slip, but Stephen Fleming settled into an elegant rhythm at the start of his farewell series.

The former skipper twice clipped Harmison off his legs and drove Hoggard through the covers and mid-off for early fours as the hosts reached lunch on 87-1.

Spinner Monty Panesar tossed the ball up either side of the interval and got the ball to skid off the surface without posing a genuine threat.

Indeed, much of the action was far from compelling before Cook enlivened proceedings with a stunning dive to remove Fleming for 41 and reward the accurate Sidebottom.

When Matthew Sinclair drove a return catch straight back to Collingwood, England were in the ascendancy.

But How, who had eschewed any risk-taking until then, started to flourish in the afternoon with Taylor for company.

Harmison, bowling at around 81/82mph, was treated with particular contempt as the scoring finally moved out of the realms of pedestrian and touched three an over briefly.

But How's composure lapsed as he entered the 90s and after a couple of lbw shouts from Panesar he edged a classic slow left-armer's delivery to slip.

Collingwood, who was slightly unsighted by debutant keeper Tim Ambrose, held on expertly and Cook was again in the action shortly after, soaring to his right to pluck out another stunner after Jacob Oram (10) drove airily at Hoggard.

But McCullum continued the terrific form he showed in the limited-overs games, cutting Hoggard with real authority and coming down the wicket to clip Harmison through mid-wicket in an early signal of his intent.

When the second new ball was taken he promptly pulled Sidebottom to the ropes, while Taylor drove Hoggard exquisitely through the covers and down the ground.

The wicket-keeper/batsman swept Panesar and slashed Hoggard over third man for sixes en route to reaching his half-century, while Taylor produced a more restrained cover-drive off the seamer to reach his fifty in the same over.

The mayhem ended when another McCullum swish caught the edge to give Ambrose his first dismissal.

And despite the late swing in fortunes, a misfiring Harmison and some untidy ground fielding, England will be happy enough after the opening exchanges of the three-match series.

· England pace bowler Jimmy Anderson will play for New Zealand state side Auckland in a four-day match against Wellington, starting on Thursday, after being left out of the Test line-up.