The New Nation - Internet Edition

Abahani take lead beating Partex SC

UNB, Dhaka

A brilliant century by Jahurul Islam guided holders Abahani Limited to take a solo lead in the Metropolis Premier Division Cricket League beating all-losers Partex SC by a huge margin of 105 runs at BKSP Ground in Savar on Thursday.

With the day's feat, popular Dhanmondi outfit Abahani topped the league table securing seven points from four matches while Partex SC yet to open the account playing equal number of matches.

Opening batsman Jahurul Islam hammered a 127-ball 107 runs with four fours and five sixes enabling the winners reaching a comfortable score 286 for 9 in stipulated 50 overs . He was adjudged man of the match.

One down Anwar Hafees contributed a polished 48 runs off 56 deliveries with nine fours while new ball bowler cum lower order batsman Ziaur Rahman quickfired 43 runs off just 20 balls, hitting one four and five sixes.

Omar Faruk of Partex picked up three Abahani wickets for 42 runs while Raisul Islam and Rezaul Haque took two wickets each conceding 46 and 53 runs respectively.

In reply, Partex were dismissed for 181 runs in 44 overs with Pakistani batsman Rashed Hanif making team's highest 78 runs off 97 balls, including eight boundaries.

Pacer Talha Jubaer grabbed three wickets for 20 runs in five overs while Arafat Sunny, Mohammad Rafique and Nazmul Hossain claimed two wickets each conceding 11, 28 and 32 runs respectively.

In the day's another match, National Sports Training Institute team BKSP earned the second victory in their 4th league match beating Young Pegasus Club by four wickets at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium.

Young Pegasus, riding on 72 runs by Sabbir Rahman, raised the tally to 203 runs for 8. Number seven batsman Sabbir hammered a 61-ball 72 runs hitting five fours and five sixes.

In reply, BKSP reached their target scoring 205 runs for 6 in 47.5 overs with opener Latiful Azam making 48 runs including five boundaries.

Mahmudul Hasan, who picked up one wicket for 7 runs and scored an unbeaten 42 runs off 59 balls with two fours, was adjudged man of the match.

In the day's other match, City Club registered the second victory in their 4th league engagements beating Kalabagah KC by seven wickets at the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium.

Sent into bat first, Kalabagan KC were bundled out cheaply for 101 runs in 35.4 overs with Shahbaz Butt and skipper Nahidul Haque reaching the double digit scoring 23 and 13 runs.

Pacer Shafaq Al Jaber bowled superbly to capture three wickets for 23 runs in 10 overs with two maidens to be adjudged man of the match. Arafat Salahuddin also bowled economically to take two for 23 run featuring five maidens.

In reply, City Club easily knocked their target scoring 103 runs for the loss of three wickets in just 20 overs with Pakistani Zahoor Elahi contributing unbeaten 31 runs with five bounadries.

Mahmuduzzaman bagged two wickets for 28 runs.

Ambrose eager to finish on a high

BBC Online

Warwickshire wicket-keeper Tim Ambrose became "a bit too excited" in trying for a maiden Test century after leading an England fightback in New Zealand.

England had slumped to 136-5 in the second Test before Ambrose (97 not out) and Paul Collingwood (48no) guided them to 291-5 at the close of day one.

"I thought I might get one ball in the last over that was short and wide and I could get my hands on it," he said.

"I got one but I'm afraid I tried to hit the ball a little bit too hard."

He added: "I wanted to get the hundred, not just for myself but for the crowd, who had been brilliant for the whole of the last session - I really wanted to finish the day off on a high."

England coach Peter Moores believes his team are in the driving seat against the Kiwis, thanks to Collingwood and Ambrose's unbeaten 155-run stand in Wellington.

"Partnerships, as always, have been the key to games of cricket because they take the momentum away from the opposition," he said.

"They've done that in that last session and put us in a very strong position."

England had slumped from 79 without loss to 136-5 and when Kevin Pietersen (31) was fifth out it looked grim for the tourists, who are 1-0 down in the series, before Ambrose lifted their mood.

Moores was full of praise for the Warwickshire player's innings.

"He played really nice, really nice. He has always been a strong cutter," said Moores who once coached Ambrose at Sussex.

"What was nice today was that he worked very hard at getting into the ball.

"After halfway through the afternoon session, when we were under pressure and they bowled well, to come out with that - still five down on a wicket that has done a bit all day - is a pretty good position."

Aussies set to play in Indian league

AFP, Melbourne

Australia's Test players are set to be allowed to play in the lucrative Indian Premier League before preparing at home for the May tour to the West Indies, the players' union said today.

The Australian Cricketers Association said Cricket Australia has indicated there will be no objection to Test stars Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee, Andrew Symonds, Matthew Hayden and Michael Hussey playing in the first 14-16 days of the six-week IPL tournament, which starts on April 18.

They will then be required back home for a team camp before the touring party sets off for the West Indies in the second week of May.

"I don't think there will be a problem," said ACA chief executive Paul Marsh.

"Certainly based on our discussions with Cricket Australia to date I don't see any reason why they wouldn't be able to play in the IPL, assuming that there are no other commitments to Cricket Australia," he said.

CA spokesman Peter Young said the governing body was in the process of going through details and options, which include the possibility of practice matches before the West Indies tour.

"Our first priority is to ensure the team has appropriate preparation for the tour of the West Indies," he said.

Australia's opening tour match in the West Indies is scheduled to start on May 16 ahead of the opening Test in Kingston, Jamaica, on May 22.

This week's cancellation of the tour to Pakistan over security concerns opens a window in a crowded international schedule, allowing some Australian players to fulfil around one-third of their IPL contracts and collect pro rata payments.

Symonds is the highest paid Australian player, with a contract of 1.35 million US dollars for a full season. Lee is on 900,000 US dollars, Ponting 400,000 US dollars, Hayden 375,000 US dollars and Hussey 350,000 US dollars.

Viqarunnisa Noon, Children Academy emerge girls and boys' champions

UNB, Dhaka

Viqarunnisa Noon School and Children Academy emerged girls and boys' group champions in the South Breeze School Volleyball Tournament, beating their rivals in the finals at Dhaka Volleyball Stadium on Thursday.

Viqarunnisa Noon School clinched the girls' title for the fifth time defeating newcomers SOS Shisu Palli by straight 2-0 sets while Children Academy emerged new champions in the boys' group beating BIT by 2-0 straight sets in their respective finals in the afternoon.

Renowned freedom fighter and sports organiser Major General (retd) Amin Ahmed Chowdhury witnessed the day's final as chief guest and distributed the prizes.

Volleyball Federation President Golam Quddus Chowdhury Babu, Principal of South Breeze School, the tournament sponsor, Zinat Chowdhury and IFAD Group chairman Iftekhar Ahmed Tipu were also present on the occasion.

Satellite TV channel i telecast the final matches live from the stadium.

Emarat Hossain High School finished third in the boys' group beating South Breeze School by 2-0 sets while Green Herald finished third in the girls' group beating Scholastica by 2-1 sets in a third place deciding matches yesterday at the same venue.

Overdue BOA election on April 3

UNB, Dhaka

The overdue election to a 37-member executive committee of the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) will be held on April 3.

BOA Chief Election Commissioner and BKSP DG Brigadier General Shawkat Hossain on Wednesday announced the election schedule.

The BOA councilors will elect one president, five vice-presidents, one secretary general, three deputy secretaries general, one treasurer and 26 executive members.

The voting will be held at the National Sports Council conference room from 10:00 am to 3:00pm on April 3 (Thursday) without any break.

As per the election schedule, the draft councilors (voter) list will be published on Mar 17, objections/complaints to be received on March 19 and the final councilors list will be published on Mar 20.

Nomination papers, each costing Tk 500, will be available on Mar 23 from 10:00 am to 4:00pm at the Assistant Returning Officer's office at the NSC building.

The date for submission of nomination paper has been fixed on Mar 25 (from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm), scrutiny of nomination paper on Mar 26 (10:00 am), withdrawal of nomination papers on Mar 27 (from 10:00 am to 5:00pm) and publication of the final candidates' list with ballot numbers on Mar 31.

Narayanganj beats BKSP

UNB, Dhaka

Narayanganj DSA made a good start in the final round of the JFA Cup Under-15 Football Championship beating BKSP by 2-0 goals at Rajshahi Stadium on Thursday.

Sohel and Parvez scored for the winners, one in each half.

It was the first defeat for BKSP in their second match after they beat Khulna DSA by 4-2 goals in the final round opener.

In the day's other match, Khulna DSA tasted the first victory in their second match beating all-loser Moulvibazar DSA by a solitary goal at the same venue in the afternoon.

Litu scored the match-winning goal in the 52nd minute.

Today's matches: Dhaka vs Dinajpur (2:30pm), and Kushtia vs Bhola (4:pm).

Purbachal Parishad beat Wari Club

UNB, Dhaka

Purbachal Parisad registered their second consecutive victory in the relegation league of the Metropolis Senior Division Football beating Wari Club by 2-1 goals at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here on Thursday.

Tariqul put Purbachal Parishad ahead in the 15th minute while Polash doubled the winners' margin in the 65th minute. Kabir netted the lone goal for Wari in the 72nd minute.

After the day's match, Purbachal Parishad collected 17 points while Wari Club 13 points, each playing 14 matches.

Ireland cricket team arrives tomorrow

UNB, Dhaka

A 15-member Ireland cricket team arrives in Dhaka tomorrow (Mar 15) to play three-match ODI Series against Bangladesh.

During the weeklong visit Ireland will play the 1st ODI match against Bangladesh on March 18, the 2nd on March 20 and the 3rd on March 22 at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS).

It may be recalled that Ireland defeated Bangladesh by 74 runs in the lone encounter in the ICC World Cup Super-eight in West Indies last year.

Ireland Squad: Trent Johnston (captain), William Porterfield (vice captain), Kyle McCallan, Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien, Andre Botha,

Alex Cusack, Reinhardt Strydom, Thinus Fourie, Gary Kidd, Greg Thompson, Eoin Morgan, Paul Stirling, David Langford-Smith and Phil Eaglestone

Annual sports meet of Khaleda Zia Hall of RU held

BSS, Rajshahi

Annual Sports Competition-2008 and prize giving ceremony of Begum Khaleda Zia hall of Rajshahi University (RU) was held at women gymnasium of the university campus on Tuesday.

RU vice-chancellor Prof. Dr. M Altaf Hossain and Pro- VC Prof. Dr. Mamnunul Keramat attended the function as chief guest and special guest respectively.

Rokshana became champion with 15 points while Salma Azad and Rafika Azad became jointly Runners up with 13 points each. A total of 50 students participated in the competition.

Bangladesh Rifles retains Men's Handball title

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Rifles retained the title of the EXIM Bank 18th National Men's Handball Competition beating Bangladesh Police by 28-15 goals in the final at the Outer stadium on Thursday.

The winners led the first half 17-8.

With this credible win, Bangladesh Rifles became champions for 17 times out of 18.

Bangladesh Handball Federation president and Industry Secretary Dr. Mohammad Nurul Amin Prodhan distributed the prizes. EXIM Bank director and chairman (audit committee) Nurul Fazal Bulbul and ATN Bangla senior vice president Nowazesh Ali Khan were the special guests.

Kamrul Islam of Bangladesh Rifles was adjudged best player of the match.

In a place-deciding match, Bangladesh Ansar finished 3rd defeating Rajshahi DSA by 37-18 goals.

Independence Day Women Kabaddi Championship begins Mar 17

UNB, Dhaka

The Fresh Independence & National day Women Kabaddi Championship will be held March 17-20 at the outer stadium Kabaddi court with participation of six teams.

Apart from local teams Bangladesh Ansar and Jatrabari KC, Nepal, Japan, West Bengal and Tripura from India will take part in the 3-day meet. The teams will be divided into two groups.

The championship was sponsored by Meghna Group of Industries.

On the opening day, Japan will face Jatrabari KC at 3-30pm while Nepal will meet Bangladesh Ansar at 4-15pm. Media partner ATN Bangla will telecast live all the matches.

The teams from Nepal, Japan, West Bengal and Tripura are scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Saturday.

Sponsor Meghna Group of Industries will provide

Tk 6 lakh out of the total Tk 7.5 lakh budget for the championship.

Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation general secretary Nazrul Islam gave details of the championship at a press conference at the National Sports Council today.

Khandker Ataur Rahman, general manager of Meghna Group of Industries and Nawajesh Ali Khan, advisor of ATN Bangla, were present.