The New Nation - Internet Edition

BOA election today

UNB, Dhaka

After long seven years, the much-awaited election of Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) will be held today (Thursday) from 10 am to 3 pm at the National Sports Council (NSC) conference room.

The election will be held only for the posts of secretary general and three executive committee members with 74 voters expected to cast their ballots.

Acting BOA secretary general Kutbuddin Ahmed, and Bangladesh Volleyball Federation president and former BOA secretary general Golam Quddus Chowdhury will vie for the hot seat of secretary general.

Four candidates -- Asaduzzaman Khasru (Barisal), Begum Lily Aziz (Chittagong), Qutubuddin Aksir (Dhaka) and Mahmud Jamal (Rajshahi) -- will compete for the posts of three executive members from the divisional quotas.

Out of the 78 councilors, four will not cast votes. The councilorship of late BOA secretary general Zafar Imam is still vacant, while at present there is no IOC representative in BOA. Another councilor in Olympian quota Abdus Sattar Nini will not cast his vote as his councilorship has been cancelled by the BOA election commission.

Another councilor and former BOA vice-president Anjan Chowdhury Pintu will not be able to cast vote as he is now abroad.

The candidates in 32 posts out of the 37 at stake have already been elected unopposed. These include president, five vice-presidents, three deputy secretaries general, one treasurer and 19 executive committee members. International Olympic Committee (IOC) will nominate the other member.

Ahead of the Thursday's election, both the secretary general candidates expressed their optimism to take the country's sports ahead if they were elected.

Talking to the reporters, Kutubuddin Ahmed said: "If I'm elected, my aim will be to take BOA ahead. I want BOA to be the players' organization where sports will be in the field all through the year."

He also said that during his tenure, he tried his utmost to assist the comparatively weak federations and cited the example of the Rowing Federation who had been given the Baridhara Lake for their sporting activities.

Golam Quddus Chowdhury said he would always work for the development of sports, "no matter who is going to win the election."

He added: "Any one, who is elected, will create a new chapter in the country's sports. If I'm elected, my main focus will be on the ensuing SAFF Games to be held in December (in Bangladesh)."

GM Ziaur Rahman finish 5th in Kolkata Open GM Chess

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladeshi Grand Master Ziaur Rahman finished 5th in the 3rd Kolkata Open Grandmaster Chess Tournament that concluded on Wednesday at the Gorky Sadan in Kolkata, India.

Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh Biman earned seven points after making a draw with Indian GM Koneru Humpy in the last round match of the 10-round meet, organised by Alekhine Chess Club

Another Bangladeshi GM Abdullah Al Rakib, also from Bangladesh Biman, became 19th with 6.5 points after beating Aditya Udeshi of India in the last round match.

IM Enamul Hossain Razib of Bangladesh was placed 31st having 6 points, Bangladesh's first GM Niaz Murshed became 36th with 5.5 points. Of the other Bangladeshi competitors, Sk. Nasir Ahmed was placed 57th with 5 points, FM Taibur Rahman 64th with 5 points, FM Minhazuddin Ahmed Sagar 76th with 4.5 points, FM Mehdi Hasan Parag 78th with 4.5 points, Mohammad Javed 88th with 4 points and Mohammad Ali 104th with 3 points.

In the day's last round matches, Razib drew with IM Konguvel of India, Niaz drew with IM Solomon of South Africa, Taibur drew with IM Satyapragyan of India and Javed drew with Swayams of India. Nasir lost to IM Rathnakaran of India, Sagar lost to IM Farhat Ali of Egypt and Parag lost to Nimmy of India and Ali lost to Karma of India.

GM Viktor Laznicka of Czech Republic emerged champion with 8.5 points while GM Krishnan Sasikiran of India became runner-up with same points. GM Safin Shukhrat became 3rd with 7.5 points.

A total of 114 players from 15 countries, including 18 grandmasters and 30 International Masters, took part in the meet.

GM Zia received 50,000 Indian Rupees while GM Rakib got 8,000 Indian Rupees as prize money.

Marketing Dept clinches DU North Zone cricket title

UNB, Dhaka

Marketing Department clinched the North zone title of Dhaka University Inter-Department Cricket competition beating Public Administration by six wickets in the final at the Jagannath Hall ground on Wednesday.

DU Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr AFM Yousuf Haider was the chief guest in the day's final and later distributed the prizes.

Batting first, Public Administration scored 126 runs for seven wickets in stipulated 20 overs with Golam Hossain making 48.

In reply, Marketing Department scored the match-winning 127 runs in 19.3 overs for the loss of four wickets. Tajul Islam contributed match highest 54 runs to be adjudged man of the match.

Bangladesh U-15 face CAB

U-15 in 3rd one-dayer today

UNB, Dhaka

Visiting Bangladesh Under-15 team face Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) Under-15 team in the 3rd and last one-day match today (Thursday) at Burdwan in West Bengal.

Earlier, Bangladesh U-15 team registered beat CAB U-15 team by 65 runs in the first one-day match at Balurghat and by 55 runs in the 2nd one-day match at Malda. Before that they also outclassed the hosts by five wickets in the first two-day match in Coochbehar.

The junior tigers will end their tour with the 2nd and last 2-day match against the same side on Apr 5-6.

India must wait on Kumble fitness

BBC Online

India skipper Anil Kumble and fast bowler Ishant Sharma face fitness checks ahead of the second Test against South Africa in Ahmedabad today (Thursday).

Kumble suffered a groin strain during the first Test, while Sharma is still recovering from injuries picked up on the recent tour to Australia.

"We will wait until Thursday morning to take a final call on who all are fit for the Test match," said Kumble.

India will definitely be without Sachin Tendulkar because of injury.

And even though Tendulkar was dismissed for a duck during an otherwise high-scoring opening match in Chennai (Madras), which ended in a draw, the tourists believe his absence creates an opportunity for them.

Tendulkar only needs another 172 runs to become the highest scorer in Test history and South Africa coach Mickey Arthur said: "You lose a guy like that, it takes a huge chunk out of the team.

"It will be interesting to see what India will come up with; whether they stick to the plan of playing six batsmen or whether they decide to play five batsmen, [wicket-keeper] Mahendra Dhoni at six and five bowlers."

BKSP emerge champions in National School Cricket

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan (BKSP) emerged champions in the Standard Chartered Young Tigers National School Cricket Tournament beating Faridpur Zila School by better run rate in the rain-marred final at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

The match was called off in the afternoon due to heavy rain when BKSP were 116 for 6 in 31 overs replying to 178 runs scored by Faridpur Zila School, who batted first after winning the toss.

Later, BKSP were declared the winners on better run rate as the match could not resume due to unplayable ground.

Humaira Azam, Director and Head of Financial Institutions of the Standard Chartered Bank, was the chief guest in the final and later distributed the prizes. Chairman of the BCB Game Development Committee Lt. Col. (retd) M Abdul Latif Khan was present as special guest.

Shovon Mahmud of losing Faridpur Zila School, who grabbed four wickets for 30 runs, was adjudged man of the match.

Brief Score:

Faridpur Zila School - 178 all out in 48.3 overs (Shahidul Islam 40, Sumit Chowdhury 3/30, Asif Ahmed 3/35).

BKSP: 116/6 in 31 overs (Ashiqul Alam 42, Enamul 31, Shovon Mahmud 4/30).

Zakaria Masud of champions BKSP, who scored 196 runs and took 22 wickets, was adjudged player of the tournament for his all round performance.

Last matches of 1st phase of Premier Cricket to be held today

Sports Reporter

The last matches of the first phase of the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League will be held today at the different venues.

Earlier, Mohammedan Sporting Club, Abahani Limited, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, BKSP and Surjotorun confirmed their 'Super Six' berth.

City Club, Victoria SC and DOHS SC will fight today to take place in the 'Super Six'. Of them, one team will get the ticket of the 'Super Six'.

City Club collected nine points from 10 matches while Victoria SC and DOHS SC earned eight points each from their respective 10 matches.

City Club will take on Victoria SC today at the BKSP Ground.

If City Club win the match then, City Club willi reach in the 'Super Six'.

On the other hand, if Victoria SC win the match then they have to wait for the result of the match between DOHS SC and Partex SC. If Victoria SC win the match and DOHS SC win the match then, the two teams will get 10 points each. Then, the fate of the 'Super Six' of the two teams will be decided by virtue of better run rate.

Shoaib set to fight ban in court

BBC Online

Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar will go to court if necessary to challenge a ban ruling him out of international and domestic cricket for five years.

The fast bowler, 32, was banned at a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday for publicly criticising the Pakistan Cricket Board.

"If the board rejects my appeal I will go to the High Court and Supreme Court to get justice," said the bowler.

"I haven't murdered anyone, so why such a harsh penalty?"

Shoaib claimed he had been made the scapegoat after Pakistan's Test and one-day series defeats by rivals India at the end of last year.

And he hit out at the PCB when he was not given one of the 15 central contracts in January, refusing to sign a special retainer contract on offer instead.

Shoaib, who was mobbed by fans during Wednesday news conference, added: "I will definitely be filing the appeal in the next two days and will follow the PCB procedure.

"I feel I have been personally victimised by the board. If I have committed any violation of discipline I should be told about it."

Pakistan's 1992 World Cup winning captain, Imran Khan, supports the view that Shoaib was harshly treated by the board.

"It is totally unacceptable. This ban, it literally ends his [international] career," Imran said during a TV interview.

"The board must keep in mind that we also need to win matches and keep our pride in international cricket."

Another former Pakistan captain, Zaheer Abbas, said the absence of Shoaib would only weaken the national team.

"He had some two years of cricket left in him and we should have taken advantage of him, while maintaining discipline," he said.

"I don't know what these people are trying to do. The cricketers are not schoolboys to be treated like this."

Former Pakistan batsman Rameez Raja, however, insisted the ban was justified.

"No one is bigger than the game and he had it coming because of his attitude problems," Rameez commented.