The New Nation - Internet Edition

Pakistan Academy clinches triangular one-day cup

UNB, Dhaka

Pakistan Academy team clinched the triangular Grameenphone Academy Cup beating hosts GP-BCB Academy team by 39 runs in the final at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) on Wednesday.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Pakistan scored 276 runs for 6 wickets in allocated 50 overs.

Opener Khurram Manzoor contributed 107 runs off 141 balls with seven fours and two sixes, while Khalid Latif hammered 81 runs off 79 balls with two fours and five sixes.

After the departure of two top order batsmen -- Raheel Majeed 43 and one down Ahmed Shezad 31 - leaving team total at 108, Khurram and Khalid added 157 runs in the 3rd wicket stand to give their side a fighting total. Khalid was later named man of the match.

Skipper Mehrab Hossain Jr. claimed three wickets for 59 runs in his 10 overs, while Suhrawardi Shuvo, Dollar Mahmud and Mahbubul Alam Robin took one wicket each.

In reply, GP-BCB Academy team were all out for 237 in 46.3 overs although there was some resistance from Mushfiqur Rahim and Nasir Hossain.

Wicket keeper Mushfiqur Rahim scored team highest 56 runs off 55 balls with three fours while Nasir made 52 off 67 balls with two fours and a six.

Besides, opener Shamsur Rahman Shuvo 37, Farhad Hossain 26 and Mehrab 22 also came up with some mediocre scores, but not enough to see their side home.

Ahmed Shezad captured three wickets for 35 runs, while Yasir Shah and Anwar Ali took two wickets apiece.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Academy side will play two four-day matches against their Bangladesh counterparts - the first on Apr 26-29 and the 2nd on May 2-5, both at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium (SCS) in Bogra.

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 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.

Brief Score: PAK ACADEMY - 276/6 in 50 overs, Khurram 107, Khalid 81, Mehrab 3/59.

GP BCB Academy - 237/10 in 46.3 overs, Mushfiqur Rahim 56, Nasir 52, Shamsur Rahman 37, Shezad 3/35.

NSC chief General Moeen U Ahmed hopes National Cricket Academy to produce world class cricketers

UNB, Dhaka

National Sports Council (NSC) chairman and Army Chief Gen Moeen U Ahmed Wednesday expressed the hope that the BCB National Cricket Academy would produce lot of world class cricketers to enrich country's cricket in future.

He said: "Nowadays, cricket has become a very popular game in the country. We like to see our team winning both at home and abroad… I think, the National Cricket Academy will assist to produce world class cricketers in future to develop the country's cricket."

General Moeen, also the president of Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA), made the remarks while laying the foundation stone of the building of GP-BCB National Cricket Academy, close to the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) in the afternoon.

BCB president Maj Gen Sina Ibn Jamali, BCB Cricket Operations Committee chairman Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, Grounds and Facilities Committee chairman Shafiqur Rahman Munna, vice-chairman of Media and Communications Committee Ishtiaque Ahmed, BCB's Women Wing Committee chairman Monwara Anis Khan Minu, CEO of GrameenPhone Andres Jensen and senior officials of BCB and Grameenphone were present.

Earlier, in 2006, the National Sports Council (NSC) leased the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for a period of 15 years.

As the chairman of NSC, General Moeen assured to hand over the space outside the SBNS to the BCB and said the shops close to the stadium would be removed gradually to give the stadium a decent look.

He thanked the BCB and GrameenPhone officials for coming forward to develop the country's cricket with this Cricket Academy.

It is expected that the construction of the Academy building would be completed by April 2009. The three-storied building with six-storey foundation will cost Tk. 6 crore.

Grameenphone will provide US$ 750,000 to the BCB for establishing and operating the Cricket Academy programmes for five years.

GrameenPhone CEO Andres Jensen said: "We hope, this Academy will help future cricketers of the country to achieve international standard and ensure a stream of talented players for the national team."

Nabin Sangha beat Kalabagan CA by 5 wickets

UNB, Dhaka

Nabin Sangha beat Kalabagan Cricket Academy by five wickets in the Metropolis 2nd Division Cricket League at the City Club Ground (CCG) on Wednesday.

Batting first, Kalabagan CA were all out for 149 in 40.1 overs with Mazid scoring 41 runs, while Iqbal made 15.

In reply, Nabin Sangha easily their target scoring 151 runs in 33.3 overs for the loss of five wickets with Rubel contributing 47 runs and Asadul not out 27.

In the day's other matches, Young Cricketers (172/7) beat Al Rashid Club (171/10) by three wickets at the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium and Mirpur Cricket Club (240/8) defeated Dhanmondi Cricket Academy (239/10) by two wickets at the Dhaka University Ground.

Premier Volleyball: BDR, Police record wins

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) outplayed Wari Club by 3-0 sets in the day's first match of the Dhaka Metropolis Premier Division Volleyball League at the Dhaka Volleyball Stadium on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Police AC defeated Titas Club by 3-0 sets at the same venue on the same day.

Today Fire Service and Civil Defence will face East End Boys Club at 4.00 PM at the same venue.

Bangladesh concedes 2-wicket defeat against Pakistan

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Under-15 team conceded a two-wicket defeat against Pakistan to quit from the semi-final stage of the knock-out basis CLICO International U/15 Challenge Cricket Championship played at Nevis in West Indies on Tuesday.