The New Nation - Internet Edition

MSC register 6th consecutive victory

UNB, Dhaka

Dhaka Mohammedan SC registered the sixth consecutive victory in the Metropolis Premier Division Cricket League beating Surjotarun Club by 35 runs at BKSP ground 2 in Savar on Saturday.

With the day's feat, the traditional Mohammedan SC took a solo lead in the league table with all-win record securing 12 points from straight six matches while Surjotarun Club remained at four points from six league engagements.

Batting first after winning the toss, Mohammedan SC scored 228 runs for 9 in allocated 50 overs.

After the dismissal of four top batsmen-Imtiaz Hossain (16), Imrul Kayes (46), Rashedul Haque (0) and Nadimuddin (22) -- for 91 runs in 27.1 overs, number five batsman Aqeel Arshad pairing national coloured Faisal Hossain scored 134 runs in the 5th wicket stand featuring two 50's.

Faisal contributed 57 runs off 66 deliveries hitting one boundary and four over boundaries while Aqeel made 52 in 61 balls including four fours.

Nizamuddin Ripon bagged three wickets for 24 runs in 10 overs.

In reply, Surjotarun Club dismissed for 193 runs in 46.1 overs despite a polished 75 runs by former national skipper Habibul Basher. Nayeem Islam made half century with 51 runs.

Captain of the national youth team Suhrawardy Shuvo, grabbed five Surjotarun wickets for 39 runs in 9.1 overs and was adjudged man of the match.

The day's another match between Bangladesh Biman and City Club ended in tie at the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium in Fatullah.

Sent into bat first, national flag carrier Biman scored 250 for 7 in quota 50 overs featuring 143 runs in the second wicket stand.

One down Mosharraf Hossain hammering 97-ball 90 runs with help of seven fours and a six while national coloured opener Nafees Iqbal contributed 72 runs off 116 balls with four hits to the fence. Later, Mosharraf Hossain named as man of the match.

Arafat Salahuddin claimed three wickets for 49 runs in 10 overs.

Chasing a moderate target, City Club also made 250 runs losing same number of wickets (seven wickets) in 50 overs to share one point each.

Skipper cum opener Imran Ahmed scored 85 runs with help of nine boundaries and one over boundary while two down Rabiul Karim hit a half century with 51 runs featuring three fours.

Mahbubul Alam picked three wickets for 40 runs.

In the day's other match, BKSP beat all-losers Sonargaon Cricketers by 45 runs at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium.

Put into bat first, BSKP made 225 runs for all in 49.5 overs with national coloured wicket keeper Mushfiqur Rahim (59) and opener Mohamamd Mithun (51) are the notable batsman.

In reply, Sonargaon Cricketers were all out for 180 in 48.5 overs against devastating bowling by Raihan Anas. Raihan took five wickets for 24 runs and was adjudged man of the match.

West Bengal team emerges champion in Women Kabaddi Tournament

UNB, Dhaka

West Bengal team emerged champion in the four nation International Women Kabaddi Tournament beating Japan by 31-20 points (1st half 18-13) with two creditable "lona" at the Munshiganj Stadium on Saturday.

Monir Ahmed deputy commissioner of Munshiganj distributed prizes among the winners.

Earlier, in the morning, West Bengal team eliminated Nepal 25-6 in the 1st semifinal while Japan outclassed hosts Munshiganj 33-23 in the 2nd semis.

Bangladesh Army drubs Mirpur Academy by goals

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Army drubbed Mirpur Academy by 5-0 goals in a match of the Dhaka Bank Independence Day Hockey Tournament at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium here Saturday.

The winners led the first half 3-0.

In the day's another match, Old Dhaka played to a 2-2-goal draw with Sipahi Para SC at the same venue.

Bangladesh faces Hong Kong in 1st one-day today

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh women's cricket team faces Hong Kong today (Sunday) in the 1st one-day match of the four-match EBL Women's Cricket Series at the Bir Shreshtha Ruhul Amin Stadium (BSRAS) in Chittagong.

The hosts will play the 2nd one-day match on March 25, the 3rd on March 27 and 4th and last one-dayer on March 29, all at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS). All the matches will be 50-over a side affair.

Bangladesh squad: Salma Khatun (Captain), Shathira Zakir Jessy, Shukhtara, Ayesha Akhter, Salma Khatun, Irin Sultana, Chamily Khatun, Rumana Akhter, Panna Ghosh, Shamima Akhter Pinky, Jahanara Alam, Lily Rani, Tithi Rani, Papiya Haque Babu and Mina Khatun.

Reserves: Fatematuz Zahora, Rifat Ara, Mahmuda Khan and Lata Mondal

Sylhet Gas Field emerges champions in Petrobangla sports meet

UNB, Dhaka

Sylhet Gas Field Limited emerged champions in the central sports competition of Petrobangla held on Saturday at the Armed Police Battalion ground at Uttara.

Bakhrabad Gas System Limited finished runners-up in the annual inter-company sports competition of Petrobanga.

Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor Prof M Tamim inaugurated the day long meet as chief guest. Pertrobangla chairman Jalal Ahmed and Petrobangla Director cum convenor of sports meet Maqbul E-Elahi spoke on the occasion.

Badar Ali and Khoma Rani Kar, both from Sylhet Gas Field, emerged as individual champions in men and women's group.

Masud Ahmed and Rehela Begum of Bakhrabad Gas System, emerged as the fastest man and woman of Petrobanga clinching men and women's 100- meter sprint titles.

Some 350 athletes and sportsmen from Petrobangla, its eleven subsidiary companies and seven international oil companies took part in the 17 events of the daylong annual sports meet.

Dhaka DSA, BKSP reach final of 4th JFA Cup Football

UNB, Dhaka

Dhaka DSA and BKSP reached the final of the 4th JFA Cup Football Championship eliminating their rivals in the semi-finals at the Rajshahi Stadium on Saturday.

The two teams will play final on Monday at 4: pm at the same venue.

Dhaka DSA, came from behind, eliminated Narayanganj DSA by 2-1 goals in the first semi-final.

Dulal put Narayanganj DSA ahead in the very first minute while Hanif restored the parity for Dhaka in the 42nd minute. Regan scored the match-winning goal for Dhaka in the 52nd minute.

In the day's other semi-final, national sports training institute team BKSP beat Dinajpur DSA by 3-1 goals in tie breaker as the match was locked in 1-1 goals in the stipulated period.

Liton scored for Dinajpur in the 63rd minute while Shakawat leveled the margin for BKSP in the 66th minute in the regulation period to roll the match to tie breaking session.

Schedule for Champions Trophy

AP, Islamabad

The International Cricket Council on Saturday announced the schedule for this year's Champions Trophy tournament, with host Pakistan meeting the West Indies in the

opening game on Sept. 11.

Defending champion Australia, which postponed a previous tour to Pakistan earlier this month because of security fears, will play its first Group A match against India.

"The schedule of the tournament was approved by the ICC Board in Dubai earlier this week," ICC communication officer Samiul Hasan told The Associated Press.

The top eight teams in the ICC rankings are placed in two groups with leaders in each group qualifying for the semifinals.

Australia, India, Pakistan and the West Indies are in Group A while South Africa, New Zealand and England form Group B.

A four-member ICC delegation checked the three venues at Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi, Hasan said. An independent security assessment team will visit Pakistan in early June.

As compared to the 2006 tournament in India, where 21 matches were played over 29 days, 15 matches will be played in 17 days this year.

The first semifinal will be played at the National Stadium in Karachi on Sept. 24, while Rawalpindi will host the second semifinal on Sept. 25.

Lahore will host the September 28 final.

Schedule:

- Sept. 11: Pakistan v West Indies, Lahore.

- Sept. 12 New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Karachi.

- Sept. 13: Australia v India, Lahore.

- Sept. 14: England v Sri Lanka, Karachi.

- Sept. 15: South Africa v New Zealand, Rawalpindi.

- Sept. 16: West Indies v India, Karachi.

- Sept. 17: Pakistan v Australia, Rawalpindi

- Sept. 18: South Africa v Sri Lanka, Lahore.

- Sept. 19: England v New Zealand, Rawalpindi.

- Sept. 20: Pakistan v India, Lahore.

- Sept. 21: Australia v West Indies, Karachi; England v South

Africa, Rawalpindi.

- Sept. 24: 1st semifinal, Karachi.

- Sept. 25: 2nd semifinal, Rawalpindi.

- Sept. 28: Final, Lahore.

Independence Day: Volleyball Tournament begins today

UNB, Dhaka

The KFC Pizza Hut Independence Day Volleyball Tournament, organised by Bangladesh Volleyball Federation, begins today (Sunday) at the Volleyball Stadium.

Four teams -- Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Airforce, Bangladesh Rifles and Water Development Board -- will participate in the three-day meet.

On the opening day, Bangladesh Navy will face Water Development Board at 4pm while Bangladesh Rifles meet Bangladesh Airforce at 5pm.