The New Nation - Internet Edition

Women's Asia Cup Cricket: Bangladesh lose to India

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh National Women Cricket team made a disastrous start in the Women's Asia Cup when they lost to India National Women Cricket team by 182 runs in their opening match of Women's Asia Cup at the Welagedara Stadium in Kurungala of Sri Lanka on Friday.

Electing to bat first, India piled up 250 for the loss of three wickets in the stipulated 50 overs and then they skittled out Bangladesh for just 68 off 30.2 overs.

M Raj of India remained undefeated with 109. She hit 15 fours and a six in her 92-ball innings.

Opener J Sharma was the other notable run getter for India who knocked a fine 72 off 118 balls including eight strokes through the fence.

Besides, P Rau hit an unbeaten 27 off 35 balls.

Chamely Khatun, Tithy Sarkar and Shamima Akhter of Bangladesh took one wicket each conceding 23, 36 and 63 runs respectively.

Later, Irin Sultan (19) and opener Shathira Jakir (12) were the two scorers for Bangladesh who reached the double digit figures.

P Seema of India bowled a superb spell and finished as 8.2-3-17-5.

J Goswami also bolwed a devastating spell and completed as 8-3-18-4.

Besides, N David took one wicket giving away seven runs.

Today Bangladesh will play against Pakistan at the Welagedara Stadium.

National booters leave for Kyrgyzstan

UNB, Dhaka

An 18-member Bangladesh national football team, led by Hasan Al Mamun, left here on Friday to play in the group C AFC Challenge Cup to be held May 5-10 in Kyrgyzstan.

During the tour, Bangladesh will now have to play two matches instead of the earlier three as Laos withdrew their entry from the tournament at the last moment.

As per the revised schedule, touring Bangladesh will play the opening match against Afghanistan on May 5, and the second and last match against host Kyrgyzstan on May 9, both at the Bishkek Central Stadium.

Bangladesh squad: Aminul Haque, Biplob Bhatacharya, Rajani Kanta Barman, Wali Faisal, Hasan Al Mamun, Ariful Islam, Kazi Mozammel Hossain Saikat, Atiqur Rahman Mishu, Aroop Kumar Baidya, Arman Aziz, Enamul Haq Sharif, Mamunul Islam Mamun, Maruf Ahmed, Zahid Pervez, Zahid Hasan Emily, Mehdi Hasan Ujjal and Mohammad Robin.

Mirpur Cricket Club outplays Young Cricketers by 59 runs

UNB, Dhaka

Riding on two half centuries from Mazharul and Saiful, Mirpur Cricket Club earned a 59-run victory over Young Cricketers in the Metropolis 2nd Division Cricket League at the Jagannath University Ground here Friday.

Coin-favoured Mirpur Cricket Club batted first to score 202 for 8 in the allocated 50 overs with Mazharul top scoring 56 runs while Saiful made 2nd highest 55.

Kader and Helal claimed three wickets each for 43 and 45 runs respectively.

In reply, Young Cricketers were bundled out for 143 in 48.1 overs with Sajid making 34.

Manik grabbed four wickets for 28 runs while Taizul took two for 13.

In the day's other two matches, Nabin Sangha (213/9) beat Dhanmondi Cricket Academy (212/10) by one wicket at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium and Al Rashid Club (121/9) defeated Kalabagan Cricket Academy (119/10), also by one wicket, at the Dhaka University Ground.

Dhaka DSA emerge champions in U-16 Elite competition

UNB, Rajbari

Dhaka DSA emerged champions in the Dhaka Divisional South Under-16 Young Tigers Elite competition beating Faridpur DSA by 33 runs in the final at the local stadium on Friday.

Deputy Commissioner Mahfuzur Rahman was the chief guest in the final and later distributed the prizes.

Batting first after winning the toss, Dhaka DSA scored 241 for 7 in stipulated 50 overs with Imran contributing 60 runs.

In reply, Faridpur DSA were all out for 208 in 50 overs.

Imran of Dhaka DSA was adjudged man of the match.

CWAB to hold roundtable on country's cricket on May 7

UNB, Dhaka

Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) will hold a roundtable on the current situation of Bangladesh cricket on May 7 at the VIP Lounge of National Press Club.

The title of the roundtable is 'Cricket of Bangladesh, the reality and what's to be done in future'.

Selected current and former BCB officials, former captains and national cricketers, coaches, sports journalists and other distinguished cricket personalities are expected to join the roundtable.

Abahani crush Bangladesh SC

UNB, Dhaka

Abahani Limited crushed Bangladesh SC by 7-0 goals in a match of the Green Delta Insurance Metropolis Premier Division Hockey League at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium on Friday.

In the day's match, Russell Hasan Ronny scored three goals while Mamunur Rahman Chayan and Musa Mia struck twice each for the winners after leading the first half 2-0.

Ronny scored all his three field goals in the 64th, 66th and 68th minutes while Chayan netted both his goals converting penalty corners in the 26th and 45th minutes.

Musa scored both the goals converting penalty corners in the 51st and 55th minutes.

In the day's another match, Usha KC blanked Wari Club by 4-0 goals at the same venue.

Tariq Aziz, Kh Hasan Ahmed, Rahul Kanti Roy and Imran Ahmed Sohel scored one goal each for the winners who led the first half 2-0.

Aziz put Usha KC ahead in the 19th minute with a field goal while Hasan doubled the winners' margin in the 28th minute, also with a field goal.

Rahul scored the third goal for Usha KC in the 44th minute converting a penalty corner while Sohel completed the winners tally in the 66th minute with a field goal.

Grant confident his job is safe

BBC Online

Avram Grant believes Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is "happy" with the club's progress and that his position as manager is not under threat.

Grant has led Chelsea to the Champions League final for the first time, but speculation remains over his future.

The Israeli confirmed that he spoke with Abramovich after their victory over Liverpool on Wednesday.

Chelsea are level on points with Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table and face them in the Champions League final in Moscow on 21 May.

But some critics are still questioning whether Grant, who succeeded fans' favourite Jose Mourinho in September, will be in charge next season.

"The relationship [with Abramovich] is good. Everything will be ok," said Grant.

"Do I look worried? I need to do my job all the time, to look at the present and the future in this club.

"About my personal life, I don't know what I'm doing tomorrow. Professionally, I know what Chelsea need to do tomorrow, a week from now or two years from now."

Club captain John Terry launched a fierce defence of Grant following the win over Liverpool, insisting he has done enough to keep his job and voicing his disbelief that anyone should now be questioning his position as manager.

"To get to where we are and still question his role is unbelievable," said Terry.

"It's the first time we've got to the final. No manager or set of players has ever done that. Results don't lie.

"You look at the Premier League table since the manager has taken over and they have been very good.

"All we can do once we are out there and once the manager is in charge is do our best and that's what we have done to get to the Champions League final."

But Terry said Chelsea's success was not just down to the influence of Grant, but everyone who worked with him.

"It's not just the manager, it is the players, and Henk ten Cate and Steve Clarke, who have a big role to play behind the scenes.

"They keep players motivated. We have got such a big squad of players and they manage to keep those not playing motivated and that is a credit to them.

"We've shown character all year even when our bigger players have been out, the squad players have come in and done well.

"They have kept us in these competitions and in touching distance of everybody else in the league. That's a credit to the football club, that's the way we work.

"We never let anything get us down and we keep fighting right to the end and we've done that."

Bangladesh concede 6-wicket defeat to Pakistan in semifinal

UNB, Dhaka

Pakistan cruised to a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the semifinal of the CLICO International Under-15 Cricket Championship at La Sagesse Park in Grenada on Thursday.

Pakistan will face West Indies in the final on May 4 (Sunday) as the hosts made their final berth crushing Malaysia by eight wickets, also on Thursday.

Earlier, last week, West Indies and Pakistan met in the final of the knockout tournament with Pakistan winning by two runs in a close match.

In the Thursday's semis, coin-favoured Bangladesh U-15 batted first to be all out for paltry 126 in 47.5 overs with Didar Hossain top scoring 66 runs.

In reply, Pakistan Under-15 team cantered to victory scoring 131 runs in 31.4 overs for the loss of four wickets with opener Mohammad Babar contributing team highest 64.

Another Pakistani opener Mohammad Naeem added 36 runs.

Earlier, the junior tigers made the semifinal berth with a five-wicket win over Ireland.

Before that they secured an emphatic 187-run win against Kenya Under-15 team in the second round league match after losing to hosts West Indies by 37 runs in the first round match at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Police SC thump Water Development Board 3-0

UNB, Dhaka

Police SC thumped Water Development Board by straight 3-0 sets (25-20, 25-12, 25-22 points) in the Metropolis Premier Division Volleyball League at the Volleyball Stadium here on Friday.

In the Second Division League, Bangladesh Jail Directorate thrashed Jubo Sangha by 3-0 sets while Nagar Samaj Kalyan beat Nabadoy Sangha by 3-1 sets.

Jones team-mates in medal appeal

BBC Online

Marion Jones's US relay team-mates have filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport seeking to retain their 2000 Olympic medals.

Jones was stripped of her medals last year after admitting to using steroids during the Sydney Games.

Last month, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) disqualified her eight relay team-mates, while conceding none of the athletes broke any rules.

Jones is currently serving a six-month jail term for lying about steroid use.

At the Sydney Olympics, she helped the US to victory in the 4x400m and 4x100m relay finals.

She was teamed with Jearl-Miles Clark, Monique Hennagan, LaTasha Colander-Richardson and Andrea Anderson in the 4x400m squad, and with Chryste Gaines, Torri Edwards, Nanceen Perry and Passion Richardson in the 4x100m.

Perry is not part of the appeal.