The New Nation - Internet Edition

Australia to decide on Pakistan tour by end of week

Reuters, Sydney

Cricket Australia (CA) should make a decision by the end of the week whether they will proceed with their tour of Pakistan, a spokesman for the governing body in Australia said today.

CA chairman Creagh O'Connor and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf are expected to discuss the tour over the telephone later in the week.

Australia's cricketers have expressed concerns about the security situation in Pakistan after a series of suicide bombings following the general election, which had been postponed by the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto late last year.

"The next step will be the phone conversation-we are waiting for that to take place," CA spokesman Peter Young told Australian Associated Press on Monday.

"Clearly the clock is ticking and there is a sense of expectation where we will reach a point certainly no later than this week on working out exactly what is happening."

CA met with Australian government officials last week to gather information on the situation in Pakistan.

The Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) cancelled their planned inspection of the country last week after they deemed it to dangerous to travel there.

The PCB have already reduced the tour, which is scheduled to begin on March 29, to a month and promised unprecedented security for the Australian team.

The possibility of a neutral venue had also been mooted, though Pakistan officials have said they are not keen on moving the tour.

Abahani outplay City Club by 166 runs

UNB, Dhaka

Holders Abahani Limited registered their 2nd victory in the Metropolis Premier Division Cricket League, outplaying City Club by 166 runs in a 3rd round match at the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium (NOS) on Monday.

Sent into bat first, the popular Dhanmondi-based sky-blue outfit posted a challenging 254 for 8 in the stipulated 50 overs with middle order Anwar Hafiz tops coring 56 runs off 92 balls that featured two fours. Hafiz was later adjudged man of the match.

Hard-hitting batsman Nadif Chowdhury remained till the end contributing 45 runs off 40 balls with four fours and a six.

Earlier, openers Jahurul Islam and Mahbubul Karim gave a decent start to the winners putting up 60 runs in the first wicket stand before Jahurul returned to the pavilion scoring 26 runs.

Mahbubul was the 2nd man to go making 38 while skipper Tushar Imran also added a handy 39.

Shafaq Al Jabir grabbed two wickets for 62 runs in 10 overs, while Sirajullah Khadem, Rashedul Islam, Arafat Salahuddin and Pakistani recruit Zahoor Elahi took one wicket apiece.

In reply, the City Club batters collapsed totally in the face of some disciplined bowling by the opponents, as only three of them were able to reach the double figures.

Rashedul was the highest team scorer with unbeaten 17 runs while Zahoor Elahi made 16 and skipper Imran Ahmed 11.

Pacers Talha Jubair and Ziaur Rahman captured three wickets each for 16 and 43 runs respectively.

In another match at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium (DCS), all-round performance by Nasir Hossain guided BKSP to their first win as they beat Partex SC by four wickets in a curtailed 49-over a side.

Put into bat first, Partex SC were bundled out for 137 runs in 46.5 overs with middle order Rashed Hanif scoring innings highest 27 off 55 balls that included one four and a six.

Opener Shahin Hossain 23, Ariful Huq 21, Mushfiqur Rahman 14 and Rezaul Huq 12 were the other players who reached double figure.

Latiful Azam and Nasir Hossain caused the major damage picking up three wickets each for 15 and 21 runs respectively.

In reply, Nasir played an unbeaten knock of 64 off 96 balls with 10 fours and a six as BKSP reached their winning target of 138 in 40.4 overs for the loss of six wickets.

Captain Mushfiqur Rahman contributed 2nd highest 34 while Latiful made 11.

Rashed Hanif bowled economically to claim three wickets for 16 runs in 10 overs while Dipozzal Dey took two wickets for 10 runs.

In the day's other match at the BKSP Ground-2, Surjotarun Club posted their 2nd win beating Kalabagan KC by four wickets.

Coin-favoured Kalabagn KC batted first to be dismissed for 162 in 47.2 overs with number three Hannan Sarker scoring team highest 32 runs off 37 balls that included three fours.

Jamaluddin Babu 28, Pakistani recruit Shahbaz Butt 19, skipper Nahidul Haque 17, Arif Reza Razesh 16 and opener Nazmus Sadat 15 were the other notable scorers for Kalabagan.

Mohammad Yunus of Surjotarun Club claimed four wickets for 25 runs in 10 overs to be named man of the match. Another Pakistani recruit Saad Nasim and Delwar Hossain took two wickets each.

In response, Surjotarun Club earned an easy victory scoring 167 for 6 in 45.2 overs riding on a nice fifty from former national captain Habibul Bashar.

Bashar played a patient knock of 66 runs off 113 balls with seven fours while middle order Nayeem Islam made 45 off 67 balls with five fours and two sixes.

Skipper Khaled Mashud Pilot and Nazmul Hossain did the rest for the winners with their unbeaten 16 and 6 respectively.

Aslam Khan and Murad Khan took two wickets each.

South Africa play friendly match with orphans

UNB, Dhaka

Visiting South African cricket team Monday played a friendly match with the orphan children of Sir Salimullah Orphanage, who were part of Warid Telecom team, at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

As a goodwill gesture, the South African team agreed to play the 10-over match against the combined team comprising the youngsters from Sir Salimullah Orphanage and staff of Warid Telecom.

Winning the toss, Warid team, led by Rezaul Hossain, DGM (Indirect Sales) of Warid Telecom, scored 94 for 5 with Razib Siddiqui top scoring 51 runs. In reply, Graeme Smith-led South Africa team reached 99 for the loss of eight wickets.

According to the rules agreed before the match, the South Africans were to score double the runs (189 runs) of their amateur opponents to earn a victory. As the visitors failed to reach the target, Warid team was later declared the winner.

Pacer Albie Morkel of South Africa and actor Monir Khan Shimul conducted the match.

After the match, Graeme Smith said this must remain as a sweet memory for the orphan children. "We are happy to be associated with the match."

Chief Executive Officer of Warid Telecom Muneer Farooqui handed over token souvenirs to both the captains. General Manager (HR & Admin) Mumtaz Ahmad Khan and Senior Manager (Marketing) Zeeshan Kingshuk Huq were present.

Warid Telecom organised the match on the sidelines of `Warid Cricket Series' to inspire the underprivileged kids to the game of cricket and give them some happy moments mingling with the South African cricket stars.

Meanwhile, both the Bangladesh and South African team returned to the capital from Chittagong on Monday morning after playing the 2nd test and the first ODI of the series in the port city.

National Men's Handball reaches semi-final stage

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Rifles, Police, Ansar and Rajshahi DSA emerged group champions to reach the semi-finals of the Exim Bank 18th National Men's Handball Championship winning their respective matches at the Outer Stadium handball ground on Monday.

In the semis on Wednesday, Bangladesh Police will play Bangladesh Ansar at 3pm, while Bangladesh Rifles meet Rajshahi DSA at 4:10pm at the same venue.

Private satellite channel ATN Bangla will telecast live both the semi-final matches and also the final match on Thursday.

In the Monday's last group matches, Bangladesh Rifles crushed Faridpur DSA by 31-4 goals, Rajshahi DSA beat Dhaka DSA 27-20, Bangladesh Ansar defeated Chapainawabganj 34-18 and Bangladesh Police beat Chittagong 30-16 in the morning session.

In the afternoon session, Bangladesh Rifles outplayed Natore DSA 38-11, Bangladesh Ansar defeated Chittagong Metropolitan team 30-14, while Bangladesh Police beat Jessore DSA 37-11.

Purbachal Parishad beat Dipali JS 2-0

UNB, Dhaka

Purbachal Parishad earned a 2-0 goals victory over bottom-placed Dipali Jubo Sangha in a relegation league match of Metropolis Senior Division Football League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) here on Monday.

Saifuzzman put Purbachal Parishad ahead in the 20th minute while Abdullah Al Mamun doubled the margin in the 89th minute.

With the day's win, Purbachal Parishad improved their position in the relegation league securing 14 points from 13 matches, while Dipali Jubo Sangha remained at bottom with five points, also playing 13 matches.

Youngmen's Club play Badda Jagarani Sangsad in a super six match at 4pm at the BNS, while Agrani Bank meet Mohakhali Eleven in a relegation league match, also at 4pm, at the Kamlapur Stadium today (Tuesday).

5th death anniversary of Rumi today

UNB, Dhaka

The 5th death anniversary of renowned sports journalist and freedom fighter Masud Ahmed Rumi will be observed here today (Tuesday).

On the occasion, Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association (BSJA) has arranged Qurankhani and Milad Mahfil at the association office at 2:30 pm, seeking diving blessings for the salvation of the departed soul of Rumi, a former President of BSJA.

Masud Ahmed Rumi passed away on March 11, 2003.

The BSJA, in a press release, requested all its members and the well-wishers of Rumi to attend the Milad Mahfil.

Gebrselassie opts out of marathon

BBC Online

Haile Gebrselassie says he will not run in the marathon at the 2008 Beijing Olympics because of the city's air pollution levels.

The marathon world record holder suffers from asthma and missed the 2007 London Marathon because of the problem. The 34-year-old will now try to qualify for Ethopia in the 10,000m at Beijing. "The pollution in China is a threat to my health and it would be difficult for me to run 42km in my current condition," Gebrselassie told Reuters.

"But I am not pulling out of the Olympic event in Beijing all together. I plan to participate in the 10,000 m event."

The International Olympic Committee has voiced concerns over the issue of air pollution in Beijing.

If contingency measures do not have the desired affect then endurance events could be delayed for a few hours or rescheduled for another day.

Last year Britain's Paula Radcliffe called in pollution experts to help her plans to run in the Games marathon.

At the time her husband and manager Gary Lough told BBC Sport that Radcliffe, who suffers from exercise-induced asthma, may have to change her medication in China.

"She may have to adapt her doses or medication but as long as we've done enough research and thought about it, it hopefully won't be an issue," he said.

"There's no point in us being especially concerned, because pollution's not really something you can control."

Final round of 4th JFA Cup Football begins today

UNB, Rajshahi

The final round of the 4th JFA Cup Under-15 Football Championship begins today (Tuesday) at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium with two matches billed for the opening day.

Divisional Commissioner of Rajshahi Shafiul Alam will inaugurate the two-week final round in the afternoon.

On the opening day, BKSP play Khulna DSA at 2:30 pm while Cox's Bazar DSA face Moulvibazar DSA at 4:15 pm.

Ten teams, split into two groups, will take part in the final round.

Later, two top teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals to be held on March 22, while the final match will be held on March 24.

Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Ibrahim Khalil disclosed the details at a press conference here on Monday.

Tournament's organizing secretary Imtiaz Ahmed Kisloo and tournament committee secretary Nuruzzaman were present.

Participating teams:

Group A - BKSP, Cox's Bazar, Narayanganj, Moulvibazar and Khulna DSAs;

Group B - Dhaka, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Kushtia and Bhola DSAs.

Fixture:

Mar 12 - Dhaka vs Bhola 2:30 pm

Rajshahi vs Kushtia 4:15 pm

Mar 13 - Narayanganj vs BKSP 2:30 pm

Moulvibazar vs Khulna 4:15 pm

Mar 14 - Dinajpur vs Dhaka 2:30 pm

Kushtia vs Bhola 4:15 pm

Mar 15 - Cox's Bazar vs Narayanganj 2:30 pm

BKSP vs Moulvibazar 4:15 pm

Mar 16 - Rajshahi vs Dinajpur 2:30 pm

Dhaka vs Kushtia 4:15 pm

Mar 17 - Cox's Bazar vs Khulna 2:30 pm

Narayanganj vs Moulvibazar 4:14 pm

Mar 18 - Rajshahi vs Bhola 2:30 pm

Dinajpur vs Kushtia 4:15 pm

Mar 19 - BKSP vs Cox'Bazar 2:30 pm

Narayanganj vs Khulna 4:15 pm

Mar 20 - Dhaka vs vs Rajshahi 2:30 pm

Dianjpur vs Bhola 4:15 pm

Semi-final

Mar 22 - Group A champions vs Group B runners up (2:30 pm)

Group B champions vs Group A Runners up (4:15 pm)

Mar 24 - Final (4:00 pm)