The New Nation - Internet Edition

Mohammedan take solo lead outplaying City Club

UNB, Dhaka

Mohammedan SC took a solo lead in the Metropolis Premier Division Cricket League outplaying City Club by 8 wickets in a 7th round match at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) here Monday.

In the day's other matches, holders Abahani Limited crushed Old DOHS by nine wickets at the BKSP ground-2, Victoria SC blanked Young Pegasus by six wickets at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium (DCS), Sonargaon Cricketers beat Partex SC by 69 runs at the BKSP-1.

The day's other match between Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Kalabagan KC could not be held due to rain at Narayanganj Osmani Stadium (NOS). This match will be held Tuesday.

After the day's results, Mohammedan SC secured 14 points from seven matches followed by Abahani Limited with 13 points from the same number of matches. Bangladesh Biman remains in the 3rd slot with 11 points playing six matches.

Sent in to bat first at the SBNS, City Club were bundled out for just 91 in 36 overs in the face of some hostile bowling by the opponents.

Number four Rabiul Karim managed innings highest 19 for City Club while middle order Abul Bashar 17, Rasel Al Mamun 11 and Rashedul Islam 10 could reach the double figures.

Aqeel Arshad did the major damage claiming four wickets for 20 while Dollar Mahmud and Abdur Razzak bagged three wickets each. Dollar was later adjudged man of the match.

In reply, the popular Motijheel outfit eased to victory scoring 94 for 2 wickets in 29.3 overs with left-hand national opener Junaed Siddiqui topscoring an unbeaten 53 off 81 balls that featured seven fours.

Skipper Mohammad Ashraful, plying his first match, made 24 while Faisal Hossain Dickens was playing on 6. Rashedul Islam and Atiqur Rahman shared the wickets for City Club.

Put in to bat first at the BKSP-2, Old DOHS SC were all out for 177 in 35.4 overs with opener Sakib Razzak contributing team highest 58 off 65 balls, including six boundaries, followed by some mediocre scores from Anisur Rahman 31 and skipper Mehrab Hossain Jr. 30.

Arafat Sunny, veteran spinner Mohammad Rafique and Rezaul Karim grabbed two wickets apiece.

In response, the popular Dhanmondi outfit sailed to victory scoring 180 in 31.2 overs losing just one wicket. Opener Jahurul Islam led from the front with an unbeaten 78 off 90 balls that featured seven fours and two sixes. One down Nazimuddin was the other not out batsman with 48.

Monir Ahmed took the lone wicket for 30 runs.

At the DCS, Young Pegasus collected 139 for 8 in 30 overs in a curtailed over match with number three Sumon Saha scoring 44 playing 60 balls coloured with three fours.

Rubel Hossain and Kaiser Iqbal bagged two wickets each for 16 and 27 runs respectively.

In reply, Gazi Salahuddin made 63 off 71 balls decorated with eight fours and two sixes as Victoria SC scored 141 in 25.1 overs at the loss off four wickets. Salahuddin was later named the player of the match. Number three Farhad Hossain made a handsome 41.

At the BKSP-1, Sonargaon Cricketers batted first to score 220 for 6 in 39 overs riding on two useful fifties from opener Mostafizur Rahman and Mohammad Sharifullah. Mostafizur contributed 58 while Sharifullah made 54.

Rezaul Haque Nayeem bagged two wickets for 18 while Mahfuzur Rahman, Rashed Hanif and Omar Faruq Sohag took one wicket each.

Responding to a moderate target, Partex SC were bundled out for 151 in 34.2 overs with Hanif contributing innings highest 39.

Saif Mahmud claimed three wickets for 32 runs while Mohammad Azim and Ilias Sunny took two wickets each.

Mohammad Sharifullah of Sonargaon Cricketers was later named player of the match.

BCB takes disciplinary action against four national players

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Cricket Board has decided to deduct 25 percent from the retainer for the current month of national captain Mohammed Ashraful for his involvement in an unwanted incident with cricket fans during a practice session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium ahead of the home series against Ireland.

Ashraful reportedly slept a fan during the practice session at the stadium on March 16 as a small group of fans booed him for his team's poor show in the home series against South Africa.

Ashraful appeared in a disciplinary hearing of BCB on Sunday (March 23) in connection with the March 16 incident. The Board found Ashraful's behavior as gross violation of the BCB code of conduct and decided to deduct his 25 per cent retainers for March.

The Board also summoned opening batsman Tamim Iqbal and pacer Shahadat Hossain Razib in separate hearings on the same day (March 23) for their unwarranted behaviour.

However, the Board was convinced with Tamim and Shahadat Hossain's explanations in the hearing and advised them to be more careful about the BCB code of conduct in the future.

The BCB also decided to deduct 20 percent from the retainers for March of national vice-captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, spinner Abdur Razzak and pacer Syed Rasel for their involvement in separate incidents, which were also found contrary to the BCB code of conduct.

The three players went to Narail to play a Twenty20 match without BCB's permission.

Dhaka clinches 4th JFA Cup Football title beating BKSP 2-1

UNB, Rajshahi

Dhaka DSA clinched the 4th JFA Cup Football title beating the last time runners-up BKSP by 2-1 goals in the final at Rajshahi Stadium on Monday.

It was the third JFA Cup crown for Dhaka DSA in a row while the national sports training Institute team BKSP finished runners-up for the second successive times, losing to Dhaka DSA on both occasions.

Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil witnessed the day's final as chief guest and then distributed the prizes.

Takahiro Masuda, Deputy General Manager, International Relations Department of the tournament's sponsor Japan Football Association (JFA) was also present.

In the day's final, Rubel put Dhaka DSA ahead in the 60th minute while Masud Rana neutralised the margin for BKSP just five minutes later.

Sagar scored the match-winning goal for Dhaka in the 70th minute enabling his team to clinch third JFA cup title.

Mahmud Arshad of Rajshahi DSA was adjudged the best player of the tournament, Mohammad Sajib of Dinajpur DSA named as the highest scorer while Narayanganj DSA was adjudged the most disciplined team to receive the fair play trophy.

Earlier, Dhaka DSA reached the final eliminating formidable Narayanganj DSA by 2-1 goals while BKSP booked a seat for the final beating Dinajpur DSA by 3-1 goals in tiebreaker.

Roll of Honour

Year Champions Runners-up

2004 Narsingdi DSA Feni DSA

2005 Dhaka DSA Tangail DSA

2006-07 Dhaka DSA BKSP

2007-08 Dhaka DSA BKSP

Bangladesh faces Hong Kong in 2nd one-day today

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh women's cricket team faces Hong Kong today in the 2nd one-day match of the four-match EBL Women's Cricket Series at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

The hosts won the first match by 8 wickets in Chittagong on Sunday.

The 3rd and 4th match will be played on March 27 and March 29 at Mirpur stadium.

Bangladesh national cricket team to tour Pakistan next month

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh National Cricket team will tour Pakistan in April next to play a five-match ODI series and a Twenty20 International match against Pakistan.

Bangladesh Cricket Board on Monday announced the itinerary for the next month's Bangladesh-Pakistan cricket series.

The Bengal Tigers are expected to reach Karachi on April 6 on a two-week long tour of Pakistan.

The Bangladesh team will play the first ODI on April 8 in Lahore, the 2nd ODI on April 11 in Faisalabad, the 3rd ODI on April 13, also in Lahore, the 4th ODI on April 16 in Multan and the 5th and last ODI on April 19 in Karachi.

The Bengal Tigers will also play a Twenty20 International match against Pakistan on April 20, also in Karachi.

Independent Day Tennis Competition begins Mar 27

UNB, Dhaka

The Independent Day Tennis Competition, organised by Bangladesh Tennis Federation (BTF), will be held on March 27-30 at the Ramna National Tennis Complex.

The competition will be held in three events -- men's single, girls' singles (Under-14) and mini tennis. Any citizen of the world living in Bangladesh is eligible to participate in the competition.

An entry fee of Tk 50 for juniors and Tk 100 for men's single will have to be submitted on Wednesday by 5 pm at BTF.

Bangladesh Under-15 team leaves for West Bengal

UNB, Dhaka

A 15-member Under-15 cricket team, led by Iktedar Nazeef Ahmed, leaves here for West Bengal on Monday night to play two 2-day matches and three one-dayers against CAB Under-15 team.

The under-15 team plays their 1st 2-day match today (Tuesday).

Bangladesh U-15 team: Iktedar Nazeef Ahmed (captain), Liton Kumar Das (vice captain/wicket-keeper), Ratnak Saha, Anisur Rahman, Kamran Farhad Sunny, Ahmedul Kabir, Khwaja Khairuddin, Rakin Ahmed, Shihabuddin Ahmed, Shahariar Islam, Didar Hossain, Nasim Ahmed, Jasimuddin, Asif Hasan and Mehdi Hasan.

Standby: Anam Arafat, Nazmus Sakib, Yakub-Al-Imran, Sattaki Mohanta and Shah Al Momin Chowdhury.

Army earns 4th consecutive win beating Air Force 1-0

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Army registered their 4th consecutive victory in the Dhaka Bank Independence Day Hockey tournament beating Bangladesh Air Force by a solitary goal at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium here Monday.

Abdul Halim scored the match-winning goal for Army in the 23rd minute.

After the day's match, the Army team dominated the meet with an all-win record securing full 12 points from four outings while Old Dhaka Hockey Association followed them neck and neck collecting 10 points from four matches.

Today's matches: Old Dhaka vs Mirpur Academy (2:pm), and Bangladesh Navy vs Sepahi Para (3:30pm).

Bata School Handball Tournament begins

UNB, Dhaka

Defending champion Narinda Govt. High School thrashed Play Pen by 21-2 goals (1st half 13-1) in a boys' section match of the 17th Bata School Handball Tournament (Under-17 boys & girls) that began Monday at Dhanmondi Women Sports Complex.

JD Hearns, managing director of Bata, formally inaugurated the meet at 3pm, organised by Bangladesh Handball Federation.

In the day's other boys' section matches, Radiant International School defeated Marikuri School 3-0 (1st half 2-0), Bashantek High School outplayed SOS 12-1 (7-1), Banani Bidyaniketon outclassed The British School 12-4 (1st half 4-2), BAF Shaheen College drubbed South Point School 21-0 (1st half 11-0), Wills Little Flower beat Basha Shaheed Ansar 8-5 (1st half 2-1), BIS crushed Khilgaon Oxford Ideal School 19-1 (1st half 11-0), Saint Gregory defeated Scholastica 14-11 (1st half 7-5), SOS outplayed The British School 12-8 (1st half 7-6) Banani Bidyaniketon beat Bashantek High School 7-3 (1st half 3-2).

In the girls' section matches, Mapleleaf School defeated Radiant International School 9-1 (1st half 6-0) Moghbazar Ispahani played a goalless draw with Dhanmondi Tutorial, SOS Shishu Palli Bashantek High School 8-4 (1st half 3-3), BIS outclassed Agrani School & College 9-3 (1st half 7-3) and Banani Bidyaniketon blanked South Point 11-0 (1st half (8-0).