The New Nation - Internet Edition

National squad for Ireland series

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Saturday announced a 14-member national squad for the three-match ODI Series against Ireland.

Rasel and Rubel ill performed in the just concluded series with South Africa have been dropped from the new squad.

Mohammad Ashraful will continue to lead the squad despite he is considered by many 'out-of-form' as manifested in his dismal performance with South Africa.

Pace spearhead Mashrafe Bin Mortaza will act as his deputy.

Aftab Ahmed, inured in the 2nd test against South Africa, returned to the side in place of left-arm medium pacer Syed Rasel.

Right-arm off spinner cum middle order batsman Mahmudullah Riyad has been recalled in the squad to replace left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain Rubel.

After announcing the squad, chief of 3-member selection team Rafiqul Alam said, "We made 2 or 3 changes in the squad. It's a part of the long term plan to build up a team for the 2011 World Cup to be held jointly in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh."

About the exclusion of Syed Rasel, Rafiqul said, "Bad luck for him. Our game plan for the series is spin oriented on slow wicket and we choose Aftab as a slow medium pacer and also a dependable batsman in the middle order."

Explaining the reason of exclusion of Rubel, he said, "Rubel didn't impress us at all although he was impressive with the A team and in domestic cricket before the home series against South Africa."

Replying to a question, Rafiqul said this team is composed of some experienced and young players.

"(Mohammad) Ashraful, (Abdur) Razzak, Shakib (Al Hasan) and Mashrafe (Bin Mortaza) are experienced enough not in terms of age but in terms of matches."

Asked about the dismal performance with the Proteas he said, "Our batsmen totally failed. Besides, South Africa have a very good bowling attack, one of the world's best at the moment. We also couldn't got out South Africa's inform opener cum skipper Smith all the time, Ashraful also couldn't play up to his merit."

He ruled out the possibility of a weak bowling attack. "We have four pacers and medium pacers in the squad -- Mashrafe, Razib, Farhad, Aftab and also three quality spinners Shakib, Riyad and Razzak. I think we've ample bowling options."

"I'm very confident we will win the series against Ireland," said Rafiqul.

The three-match ODI series between Bangladesh and non-playing test nation Ireland begins on March 18 at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS). The rest of the two matches are slotted for March 20 and 22 in the same ground.

Squad: Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (Vice captain), Tamim Iqbal, Zunaed Siddiqui, Aftab Ahmed, Nazimuddin, Shahriar Nafees, Shakib Al Hasan, Dhiman Ghosh, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain Razib, Mahmudullah Riyad, Farhad Reza and Rokibul Hasan.

Lalmatia Club beat Mariner Youngs by 19 runs

UNB, Dhaka

Kamaluddin made a five-wicket haul as Lalmatia Club earned an exciting 19-run victory over Mariner Youngs Club in a match of the Metropolis First Division Cricket League at the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium (NOS) Saturday.

Sent into bat first, Lalmatia Club managed a moderate 220 for 9 in the stipulated 50 overs with Alam Mithun contributing 53 and SM Adnan 45.

Jalaluddin claimed three wickets for 38 runs while Fazle Rabbi took two wickets for 34.

In response, Kamaluddin scalped five wickets for 40 as Mariners Youngs Club were all out for 201 in 49.1 overs with Humayun Kabir top scoring 69 and Jalaluddin Babu contributing 46.

Apart from Kamaluddin, Abu Bakkar and Masud Hossain took two wickets each.

In the day's other three matches, Khelaghar SKC (155/4) outplayed Bangladesh Boys (154/10) by six wickets at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium (DCS), Young Pegasus B (204/9) beat Wanderers Club (172/10) by 31 runs at the Dhaka University Ground (DUG) and Agrani Bank CC (209/7) defeated Azad SC (203/10) by 6 runs at the BKSP Ground.

Cricket fans do not want anymore humiliation

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh cricket is deteriorating in its both versions and the national team needs to improve fast or those who are opposed to its test status will be out there again to get Bangladesh out of the elite class, according to many cricket fans.

"Can you imagine the team that scored 400 runs in the test debut still regularly gets all out below 200. Bangladesh will have to improve or those who are opposed to its test status will be out there to get Bangladesh out of the elite class," says Ahsanul Kabir.

"Enough is enough. Those people were right when they said Bangladesh should not be given test status. We're simply making a mockery of international cricket," says Saidur Rahman, a 43-year-old man from Malibagh.

Swapan, 34, another ardent cricket fan, says, "We don't expect our young team to win every match against teams like Australia and South Africa. What we want is a decent fight. I think the players are not bothered about the feeling of the country's people."

Ariful, a banker, says, "Bangladesh must start winning matches, as they are in the international arena for quite some time. The performance of many teams, including some our neighbours, were much better after the equal number of matches played by Bangladesh."

"Don't humiliate us anymore before the world. Either get on with it or get out of it," a frustrated Ariful urges Bangladesh cricketers.

Having whitewashed has become a regular feature for the Bangladeshi team.

With the seven-wicket thumping in the hands of South Africa on Friday in the third and final ODI, Bangladesh, otherwise called Tigers (!), suffered yet another humiliating whitewash.

Apart from under-strength Zimbabwe, Bangladesh gets easily whitewashed against all other test-playing nations. It really does not matter at all whether the Tigers (!) play home or abroad. The outcome is the same. A clean sweep for the opponents.

In the recently concluded test and ODI series, apart from an accidental 20-run lead in the first innings of the first test, Bangladesh were simply outclassed in all the matches - both in longer and shorter versions of the game.

Swapan says gradual improvement is considered normal for every team apart. But Bangladesh's performance is apparently deteriorating day by day at least in terms of batting. In the first ODI, the Tigers scored 178 runs followed by 173 in the second while they posted mere 143 in the third and concluding match.

He says South Africa is undoubtedly one of the best teams in the world. "It's very difficult indeed to beat a team like them. Playing on home ground, Bangladesh at least could put up a fight against them. But, they seemed to have surrendered before fighting a good fight."

According to another fan, Bangladeshi bowlers seem to be less responsible than the bowlers. "If batsmen can't get a good decent score on the board what the bowlers can do. Bangladeshi batting has been a real joke. They simply didn't learn how do adjust with the type of game."

Since the 2007 World Cup win over the Proteas, Bangladesh could bat whole 50 overs only twice in 14 matches. And, after these exceptional two matches against India, the Tigers could cross 200 mark only once in 9 matches.

Bangladesh cannot be called newcomers anymore in the international cricket. They are there for quite sometime now. In last 22 long years, Bangladesh have played 168 ODIs and lost 130 of them. There are 36 wins most of which are against teams like Zimbabwe, Kenya, Bermuda and Canada. The number of wins against test-playing countries is negligible.

In tests, the rate of success is even worse. In last eight years of test crickets, Bangladesh have played 53 tests and won only one test at home against under-strength Zimbabwe and lost 47 of them most which are innings defeat. They earned five draws by the virtue of inclement weather. Most of the lost tests have finished in about three days.

Ispahani becomes title sponsor of Ireland-Bangladesh ODI Series

UNB, Dhaka

Ispahani Limited has become the title sponsor of the three-match Ispahani Tea ODI Series between Bangladesh and Ireland beginning on March 18 at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS).

Two other matches of the series will be played in the same ground on March 20 and 22.

For the title sponsorship rights under package 1, Ispahani Limited provided Tk 18 lakh. Co-sponsor Axiom Technologies provided Tk 16 lakh under package 2 and 3 for in stadia rights, which will cover the branding of billboards, ropes, floodlight tower.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) member Shafiqur Rahman Munna disclosed the details at a press conference at a Gulshan Hotel in the afternoon.

Ispahani Group chairman Mirza Ali Behrouze Ispahani, senior manager (marketing) SM Shawkat Hussain and Board member Ishtiak Ahmed were present on the occasion.

Ireland cricket team arrives in city

Sports Reporter

Ireland cricket team arrived in the city yesterday to play three One Day International (ODI) matches against Bangladesh Cricket team.

Ireland will play against Bangladesh in the first ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on March 18.

Ireland will face Bangladesh in the second ODI at the same venue on March 20.

Ireland will meet Bangladesh in the third ODI at the same venue on March 22.

Earlier, Ireland defeated Bangladesh by 74 runs in the lone one-dayer of the Super Eight phase of the ICC Cricket World Cup in the West Indies in 2007.

The players are : 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, Phil Eaglestone.

The officials are : Phil Simmons (Coach), Peter Johnson (Assistant Coach), Gavin Craig (Manager), Mark McDonald (Physiotherapist).

Ireland team will depart the city on March 23.

England 277 for nine, lead New Zealand by 421

AFP, Wellington

England were 277 for nine at the close of the third day of the second cricket Test against New Zealand here today for an overall lead of 421 runs.

Alastair Cook made 60 and Paul Collingwood 59, while Jacob Oram took three for 44 for New Zealand.

Abahani faces City Club in the Premier League 20/20 final today

UNB, Dhaka

Abahani Limited faces City Club in the final of the Metropolis Premier Division Twenty20 Cricket League at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) today.

Before that the 3rd place decider between Surjotorun Club and Victoria Sporting Club will also be held in the same ground.

The 3rd place decider starts at 9:30am while the final is begins at 1:30pm. BTV will telecast live both the matches.

Sharapova reaches third round

AFP, Indian Wells

Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova routed French qualifier Stephanie Cohen-Aloro 6-1, 6-0 Friday to reach the third round of the Indian Wells WTA and ATP Masters Series tournament.

Sharapova, the women's fourth seed, needed just 58 minutes to overcome Cohen-Aloro in blustery conditions on the stadium court. The Russian world number five, who like all seeded players here had a first-round bye, next faces Eleni Daniilidou of Greece, a 1-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 winner over Czech Klara Zakopalova.

Independence and National day Women Kabaddi begins tomorrow

UNB, Dhaka

Independence and National day Women Kabaddi Championship, organised by Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation, begins tomorrow (Monday) at the outer stadium Kabaddi court with participation of six teams.

Apart from Bangladesh Ansar and Jatrabari KC, teams from Nepal, Japan, West Bengal and Tripura, India, split into two groups will take part in the three-day meet, sponsored by Meghna Group of Industries.

West Bengal team already arrived in the city on Saturday to participate in the championship while Nepal and Tripura teams will arrive today (Sunday). The team from Japan was scheduled to arrive Saturday midnight, a Kabaddi Federation official told UNB.

On the opening day, Japan will face Jatrabari KC at 3:30 pm in the 1st match while Nepal will meet Bangladesh Ansar at 4:15 pm in the 2nd match.

Private satellite channel ATN Bangla, which is the media partner of the moot, will telecast the opening day matches, two semifinals and the final.

Narayanganj DSA beat Cox's Bazar DSA 3-1

UNB, Dhaka

Narayanganj DSA registered 2nd win in a final round of the JFA Cup Under-15 Football Championship beating Cox's Bazar DSA by 3-1 goals at Rajshahi Divisional stadium on Saturday.

Sharif, Milon and Rabbi scored one goal each for the winners in the 30th, 59th and 63rd minute respectively for the winners while Mohiuddin for the losers in the 80th minute.

In the day's other match, BKSP played a goal-less draw with Moulvibazar at the same venue.

Smith tops one-day rankings

Reuters, New Delhi

South Africa captain Graeme Smith replaced India's Sachin Tendulkar as the world's top- ranked one-day batsman after his fine display in the 3-0 series sweep in Bangladesh.

The 27-year-old Smith totalled 199 runs in the series that ended on Friday and was dismissed only once in three innings.

The sweep also enabled South Africa to replace Australia as the number one one-day team.

Smith started the series third in the batting list behind Tendulkar and Australia skipper Ricky Ponting.

New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori heads the one-day rankings for bowlers while Pakistan's Shoaib Malik remains the best one- day all- rounder, said the International Cricket Council (ICC) in a news release on Saturday.