The New Nation - Internet Edition

GP-BCB Academy face Pakistan Academy in final today

UNB, Dhaka

GP-BCB Academy team face visiting Pakistan Academy team in the final of the triangular Grameenphone Academy Cup at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) today (Wednesday).

On way to the final, the Pakistan Academy side won three of their four matches. On the other hand, GP-BCB Academy team won two matches while South Africa Academy team just registered one victory.

Earlier, GP-BCB Academy team beat South Africa Academy team by 75 runs in the opening match of the tournament, but the hosts conceded a 9-wicket defeat to Pakistan Academy team in the 2nd match, both at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium (BSSRAS) in Chittagong.

Then Pakistan Academy team ensured the final berth with an 85-wicket victory over South Africa Academy team in the 3rd match, also at the BSSRAS.

Again in the return league, the GP-BCB Academy team thrashed South Africa Academy team by 119 runs to move into the final.

Then South Africa Academy team, which already made their exit from the meet, notched their first win in the tour beating Pakistan Academy team by 6 runs in the 5th encounter.

In the 6th match on Monday, a dress rehearsal for the final, the hosts suffered a huge eight-wicket defeat against Pakistan Academy side. All the matches were held at the BSSRAS.

After the one-day tournament, the Pakistan side will play two four-day matches against their Bangladesh counterparts - the first on Apr 26-29 at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium (SCS) in Bogra and the 2nd on May 2-5, also at the same venue.

National eves team beat Private Cricket Academies

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Women's Cricket team earned a 13-run victory over U-16 Private Cricket Academies Mixed XI in a preparatory match at the Dhanmondi Women's Sports Complex Tuesday ahead of the ensuing Women's Asia Cup.

Opting to bat first, the national eves team scored a moderate 165 runs for 6 wickets in the allocated 50 overs with two slick innings from Panna Ghosh and Rumana Ahmed.

Panna contributed a patient 46 runs off 110 balls with six fours while Rumana also made 46 playing 71 balls that featured four fours and two sixes.

Opener Sathira Jakir 19 and Chameli Khatun not out 9 were the other notable scorers for the winners.

Masud Rana grabbed two wickets for 14 runs, while Nobel, Eshaque, Masud, Raihan and Shaheen took one wicket apiece.

In reply, U-16 Private Cricket Academies dismissed for 152 in 47.3 overs in the face of some disciplined bowling by the women's team.

Tail-ender Shaheen remained unbeaten on 36 off 70 balls that included four fours, while Raihan 31 and Arif 29 were the other notable scorers for the losers.

Skipper Salma Khatun, Sukhtara, Rumana Ahmed and Tithi Rani Sarker took two wickets each.

Meanwhile, the women's cricket team will leave here for Sri Lanka on April 26 to participate in their first-ever Women's Asia Cup beginning in the first week of May.

Candidature of Salahuddin, Chunnu and Helal face challenge

UNB, Dhaka

Candidatures of Kazi Mohammad Salahuddin, Ashrafuddin Ahmed Chunnu and Golam Rabbani Helal in the BFF election face challenge from the opposing panel, alleging that all three were in jail following trouble in a football match.

Celebrated footballer cum former BFF Vice-President Kazi Mohammad Salahuddin is contesting the hot seat of President in the BFF election slated for April 28.

Former star footballer Ashrafuddin Ahmed Chunnu filed nomination papers against two posts -- vice-president and executive member, while another national booter Golam Rabbani Helal is a candidate for executive committee member.

The three former players landed in jail way back in 1982 following a violence-marred soccer match between Abahani KC and Mohammedan SC at the erstwhile Dhaka Stadium.

Alhaj Shamsul Haque Chowdhury, a councilor from Chittgaong DFA, contesting for a member post, in a written complaint to the BFF election commission on Monday night, challenged the candidature of Salahuddin, Chunnu and Helal bringing the charge of criminal offence.

Premier Volleyball: BPWD defeat Fire Service

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPWD) defeated Fire Service and Civil Defence by 3-0 sets in the Dhaka Metropolis Premier Division Volleyball League at the Dhaka Volleyball Stadium on Tuesday.

Today Bangladesh Rifles will take on Wari Club at 4.00 PM while Bangladesh Police AC will face Titas Club at 4.00 PM and Bangladesh Water Development Board will meet Sonali Bank SRC at 5.30 PM.

National Junior Athletics on May 7, 8

Sports Reporter

The two-day long 24th National Junior (Age Group) Athletics Competition will be held on May 7 and 8 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Bangladesh Athletic Federation will arrange the athletics meet. Under-15 and Under-17 athletics have been asked to send their entries by April 28.

Safin eases into Monte Carlo second round

AFP, Monte Carlo

Marat Safin's latest bid to reignite his colourful, rollercoaster career enjoyed a boost with a 6-3, 6-2 Monte Carlo Masters first round victory over Belgium's Xavier Malisse on Tuesday.

Safin, a former world number one and twice a Grand Slam title winner, has seen his world ranking slip to 93 in a year which had yielded just three wins on the tour before this week.

But Malisse, who played just seven events in 2007 as a wrist injury sent his ranking slumping to 251, proved the perfect opponent for the Russian in a one-sided enconter.

BTV to telecast final of Academy Cup today

UNB, Dhaka

State-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) will telecast live the final match of the Grameenphone Academy Cup between GP-BCB Academy team and Pakistan Academy team today from the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNS).

The match is scheduled to start at 9:30 am.

South Africa Academy team was the other side in the triangular tournament.

Metropolis Pioneer Football League begins Friday

UNB, Dhaka

The Dhaka City Corporation Metropolis Pioneer Football League' 2008 will begin on Friday (Apr 25) at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

President of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) SA Sultan, in his last public appearance as BFF boss, will declare the Metropolis Under-16 soccer league open at 4 pm through a colourful ceremony.

Seventy teams, split into five zones -- East, West, North, South and Central -- will initially compete on league basis matches.

Later, top 20 teams -- four each from five zones -- will earn the right to play in the super league. Finally, two teams will earn promotion in the Metropolis third division football league.

Eskaton Sabuj Sangha crush Wari Club by 8 wickets

UNB, Dhaka

Eskaton Sabuj Sangha crushed Wari Club by eight wickets in a match of the Metropolis Second Division Cricket League at the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium (NOS) on Tuesday.

Batting first after winning the toss, Wari Club were all out for 145 in 44.2 overs with Shahriar Rubel scoring 36 runs and Rajibul Hasan Rajib making 19.

Aslam Ali Shimul, Mohammad Imran, Shafiqul Islam and Samiul Islam took two wickets each.

In reply, Eskaton Sabuj Sangha sailed to victory scoring 149 runs in 28.1 overs for the loss of two wickets. Opener Aslam Ali Shimul contributed team highest 62 runs while Mohammad Raihan made 51.

Moshiur Rahman and Shahriar Rubel took one wicket apiece for Wari Club.

In the day's other matches, Prime Doleswar SC (207/7) defeated Chandpur Cricket (203/8) by three wickets at the Dhaka University Ground (DUG) and Dhanmondi Pragati Sangha (127/10) beat Udayachal (125/10) by two runs at the City Club Ground (CCG).

Zonal round of National Women Handball Championship begins Friday in Bagerhat

UNB, Dhaka

The Kha zone matches of the EXIM Bank National Women's Handball Championship, organized by Bangladesh Handball Federation, will begin on Friday in Bagerhat with the participation of 10 teams.

Media partner of the championship ATN Bangla will telecast the matches live from the match venue.

The Ga zone matches of the championship will be held in Bandarban on May 8-10.

Later, two top teams from each group will qualify for the final round that will begin on June 11 at the Mirpur Indoor Stadium in Dhaka. BJMC, Ansar & VDP and Dhaka DSA will directly compete in the final round.

Of the total budget of Tk 7.10 lakh, sponsors EXIM Bank will provide Tk 7 lakh to run the championship.

Tournament committee secretary Nurul Islam disclosed the details at a press conference at the Handball Federation office on Tuesday.

Nurul Fazal Bulbul, chairman, audit committee of EXIM Bank, ATN Bangla adviser Nawajesh Ali Khan and Handball Federation general secretary Asaduzzaman Kohinoor spoke on the occasion.