The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bangladesh starts AFC Challenge Cup campaign against Afghanistan today

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh begins the AFC Challenge Cup campaign taking on South Asian rivals Afghanistan today (Monday) in a Group C opener at the 19,000-capacity Spartak Stadium in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

The match kicks-off at 5:30 pm Bangladesh time.

Bangladesh, which hosted the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2006, will play hosts Kyrgyzstan in the remaining group match on May 9 (Friday).

Laos, the other team of the four-nation fray, pulled-out of the meet at the last moment on Friday, reducing the competition to a three-horse race.

In the last meetings, Bangladesh drew 2-2 with Afghanistan in the first match and beat them 4-1 in the 2nd match in the continental qualifier in Dhaka in 1979, but lost to Kyrgyzstan 0-3 in the Nehru Cup Football in India last year.

On the eve of departure on Friday, Bangladesh coach Abu Yusuf was found very optimistic about the tournament.

"Our aim is to prepare ourselves through the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers for the SAFF Championship, but we'll desperately want to qualify for the finals," he said.

The former national defender said: "I've chosen those players who are capable of playing throughout the 90 minutes in line with my strategy. That is to go for attack and come down to defend all together."

In the inaugural meet in Dhaka, hosts Bangladesh quit from the race in the quarterfinal stage losing to Tajikistan by 1-6 goals. In the group matches, Bangladesh beat Cambodia 2-1, Guam 3-0 and drew 1-1 with Palestine.

In the first edition, Afghanistan finished bottom of their group with two draws.

Only the group champion team of the ensuing three-nation meet will qualify for the final round to be held in the Indian city of Hyderabad July 30-August 10 this year.

Sri Lanka became the first team to qualify for the final round as Group A champion last month.

DPR Korea, Turkmenistan, hosts India and Myanmar have direct entry to the final round of the tournament.

Bangladesh meet hosts Sri Lanka today

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh face hosts Sri Lanka in their 3rd match of the first Women Asia Cup at the Dambulla Stadium today (Monday).

Earlier, both teams registered one win each out of their two encounters.

Bangladesh conceded a humiliating 182-run defeat in their first match against India on Friday, but beat Pakistan by four wickets in the next match on Saturday to register their first win against any ODI side.

On the other hand, the hosts made a good start to the tournament beating Pakistan by 96 runs in their first match on Friday, but suffered a 29-run defeat to all-winners India on Saturday.

Bangladesh eves will play the return match against India on Tuesday, and the remaining two matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka on May 8 and 9, all at the Dambulla Stadium.

Meanwhile, in the another Asia Cup match on Monday, highflying India meets all-losers Pakistan in Kurunegala.

Div II Kabaddi League begins on May 10

Sports Reporter

The Second Division Kabaddi League begins on May 10 at the Kabaddi Stadium. Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation will arrange the kabaddi meet.

A total of 12 teams will take part in the kabaddi competition. They are: Muradnagar Eleven, Muktijoddha Punorbason Society, Bangladesh Boys Club, Sharnali Sangsad, Institute of Kabaddi, Dholpur Sporting Club, Arbachin KC, Bangladesh District team, Satrouja Nabin Sangha, Shishu Kishore Sangha, Kaptan Bazar KC and Star Sports.

Rimon hits hat-trick: Sonali Bank outplay Sadharan Bima

Sports Reporter

Sonali Bank SRC outplayed Sadharan Bima KS by 6-2 goals in the day's lone match of the Green Delta Insurance Premier Division Hockey League at the Moulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium on Sunday.

The bankers had a formidable 5-0 goals lead in the first session.

Rimon of Sonali Bank hit hat-trick and his teammates Krishna scored two goals, Iqbal netted one.

On the other hand, Avijit of Sadharan Bima struck two times on the board.

Today Usha KC will take on Azad SC at 4.00 PM at the same venue.

Uttara FC beats Dilkusha SC by 57 runs

UNB, Dhaka

Uttara Friends Club beat Dilkusha SC by 57 runs in a match of the 3rd Division Relegation Cricket League at the Gulshan Youth Club ground on Sunday.

Batting first after winning the toss, Uttara Friends Club scored 187 for 8 in 30 overs with Arafat contributing 49 runs.

Jumman grabbed four wickets for 33 runs.

In reply, Dilkusha SC were dismissed for 130 in 27.3 overs with Rakib making 31.

Sami and Lablu bagged two wickets each for 18 and 27 runs respectively.

In the day's other match, Mirpur Boys Cricket Club (140/10) defeated Sheikh Russell KC (90/10) by 50 runs at the Uttara Friends Club ground.

Prantic KC outplay Kakrail Boys

UNB, Dhaka

Prantic KC secured a comfortable six-wicket win over Kakrail Boys Club in the Metropolis Second Division Cricket League at the City Club Ground (CCG) here on Sunday.

Coin-favoured, Kakrail Boys Club batted first to be all out for 108 in 19.5 overs with Badal contributing 30. Didar and Salahuddin each bagged two wickets for 14 and 17 runs respectively.

In reply, Prantic KC sailed to victory scoring 110 for 4 in 18.4 overs with Rakib making 39. Aminul took two wickets for 7.

In two other matches, Kalindi KC (180/7) beat Rayer Bazar AC (178/8) by three wickets at the Dhaka University Ground (DUG) while Green Leaf SC (167/9) defeated Farashganj SC (139/10) by 28 runs at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium (DCS).

Rajshahi DSA emerge Ka zone champion beating Joypurhat

UNB, Dhaka

Rajshahi DSA emerged champion in the Ka zone of the EXIM Bank 19th National Women Handball Championship beating Joypurhat DSA by 13-6 goals (1st half 6-1) in the super three matches at the Rajshahi Divisional Women Sports Complex on Sunday.

Divisional Commissioner Mohammad Hifizur Rahman Bhuiyan was the chief guest on the occasion and later distributed the prizes.

Earlier, Rajshahi DSA defeated Tangail DSA 8-3 (1st half 6-1) in the first match, while Joypurhat DSA outplayed Tangail DSA 13-6 (1st half 9-6) in the second match.

Host Bogra reaches zonal semi-final outplaying Panchagarh by 199 runs

UNB, Dhaka

Hosts Bogra DSA reached the zonal semi-final of the 28th National Cricket Championship eliminating Panchagarh by a huge 199 runs at the Bogra Stadium on Sunday.

Besides, three more teams--Magura, Rajbari and Gazipur DSAs--also moved into the zonal semis eliminating their rivals at different venues across the country today.

At the Bogra Stadium, the host team opened the innings after winning the toss and piled up a huge 308 runs for all in 48.4 overs with Mehdi making 57 and Setu 50 runs.

Lipon grabbed four wickets for 44 runs while Dipu took two for 31 runs.

In reply, Panchagarh were dismissed for 109 runs in 36.3 overs with Rakib scoring 34 runs.

Afzal made the major damage to Panchagarh claiming five wickets for 11 runs in 5.3 overs.

In the day's other matches, Magura (223/10 in 47.2 overs) beat Kushtia (206/10 in 45.3) by 17 runs at the Jessore Stadium, Rajbari (124/9 in 20) defeated Manikganj (122/10 in 20) by one-wicket at the Faridpur Stadium while Gazipur (187/9 in 45.3) beat Jamalpur (186/10 in 47.1) also by the same margin at the Tangail Stadium.

In another match, Luxmipur (178/10 in 42.3) beat Khagrachari (139/10 in 36) by 39 runs to reach the zonal quarterfinals

Pakistan Academy need 93 runs with 9 wickets in hand against BCB Academy

UNB, Dhaka

Hosts GP-BCB Academy team is on the verge of conceding another defeat as visiting Pakistan Academy team need another 93 runs on the 4th day with nine wickets in hand in the 2nd four-day match of the Grameenphone Academy Cup at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium (RDVS).

Chasing a target of 149 set by the hosts, the tourists in their 2nd innings on Sunday scored 56 for 1 in 21 overs when the bails were drawn for the 3rd day.

After losing opener Khurram Manzoor for 0, another opener Ahmad Shezad along with skipper Khalid Latif spent out the day without allowing further harm to fall on Pakistan. Shezad was batting with 27 runs off 63 balls with five fours while Latif was the other not out batsman with 23. Pacer Sajidul Islam took the lone wicket for eight runs.

Akhtar's five-year ban temporarily lifted

AP, Islamabad

Shoaib Akhtar's five-year ban was lifted for one month on Sunday, allowing the Pakistan paceman to play in the lucrative Indian Premier League.

Akhtar's lawyers asked a Pakistan Cricket Board tribunal to temporarily lift the ban, because the IPL was refusing to allow him to take part in its competition while the ban stood, even though it did not apply to non-international cricket outside Pakistan.

The paceman had been signed to a $450,000 (euro291,111) contract by the Calcutta franchise in the IPL. The Twenty20 domestic competition will finish its inaugural season on June 1.

"We have suspended the ban for one month," said Farrukh Aftab, chief of the PCB's tribunal said.

"Had we not suspended the ban, he could not have played the in IPL which we thought was injustice to Akhtar.

"From June 4 the five-year ban will be effective again." Lalit Modi, vice president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and chief organizer of the IPL, said he welcomed Akhtar's availability.

"Akhtar's contract still stands, I'm going to call him and tell him to take the first flight to India," Modi said.

On June 4, the PCB tribunal is expected to make a final decision on the fast bowler's appeal. Akhtar was banned for five years by the PCB for a series of disciplinary breaches.