The New Nation - Internet Edition

Rangpur emerge zonal champions beating Rajshahi by 122 runs

UNB, Dhaka

Rangpur DSA emerged zonal champions to book the last seat for the final round of the 28th National Cricket Championship beating hosts Rajshahi by 122 runs in a rain-affected zonal final at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium on Tuesday.

The final round of the prestigious national cricket meet with eight zonal champions -- hosts Sylhet, Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal, Narayanganj, Comilla, Nilphamari and Rangpur DSAs -- will begin on May 17 at the Sylhet Stadium.

Dhaka DSA will play Comilla in the final round opener on May 17, while Barisal DSA face hosts Sylhet DSA on May 18, Narayanganj meet Nilphamari on May 19 and Khulna play Rangpur May 20.

The two semi-final matches will be held on May 21 and 22, while the final match will be held on May 24, all at the Sylhet Stadium.

In the day's zonal final, Rangpur DSA batted first after winning the toss to post 281 for 8 in allocated 50 overs.

Alauddin Babu scored a polished 76 runs off 55 balls and was adjudged man of the match. Ferdous scored another useful 70 while Salahuddin added 41 runs

Raju grabbed three wickets for 52 runs while Jonny picked up two for 39 runs.

In reply, hosts Rajshahi scored 140 for 8 in 42 overs before the match was stopped due to rain, conceding the huge defeat under parabola norm method.

Romeo scored 34 runs and Asif made 28.

Rahman and Monir took two wickets each for 17 and 23 runs.

Dhaka Mariner beat Bangladesh SC

UNB, Dhaka

Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club notched 2nd consecutive victory in the Metropolis Premier Division Hockey League beating Bangladesh SC by 4-2 goals in a match at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium here on Tuesday.

Dhaka Mariner led the first half 2-0.

Ranchan Banik Rangan struck twice while Mahbub Alam and Prashanto Kumar Sarker scored one goal each for the winners. Jamal Hasan and Zahid Biswas netted one goal apiece for the losers.

Rangan put Dhaka Mariner ahead in the 22nd minute with a field goal (1-0) while Prashanto doubled the margin in the 30th minute, also from a field goal (2-0).

After the breather, Zahid pulled one back for Bangladesh SC with a field goal in the 39th minute (2-1). Rangan scored his second goal, third for Dhaka Mariner, in the 52nd minute (3-1).

Hasan scored a field goal in the 64th minute to reduce the margin for Bangladesh SC (3-2), but Mahbub of Dhaka Mariner scored with just three minutes left before the final whistle, sealing the fate of the match (4-2).

Meanwhile, in the day's other match, Azad SC also notched their 2nd consecutive win beating all-losers Wari Club by 3-0 goals after leading the first half 2-0.

Mohammad Jamil Bin Talib, Mohammad Hasan Jubaer and Ajit Kumar Ghosh netted one goal each, all from field attempts.

Zonal phase of National TT Championship begin June 2

UNB, Dhaka

The zonal phase of the 29th National Table Tennis Championship, organized by Bangladesh Table Tennis Federation and sponsored by AB Bank Limited, will begin across the country from June 2.

After the zonal phase to be held in different DSA's from June 2-12, the final phase of the Championship will take place from June 24-28 at the Mirpur Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium.

The zonal phase will be held in men's team event, women's team event and boys' team event, from where three top teams from each event will qualify for the final phase.

The final phase includes men's, women's and boys' (Under-18) team events, men's singles, women's singles, boys' singles, men's doubles, women's doubles, boys' doubles and mixed doubles.

Ahead of the Championship, the TT Federation has extended the last date for submitting entries by May 15, which was earlier fixed as May 10.

The budget of the entire tournament has been estimated at Tk 709,300, which will be borne by sponsors AB Bank Limited.

Matuail CA register 8-wicket victory over GMCC

UNB, Dhaka

Matuail Cricket Academy registered a facile eight-wicket victory over GMCC in the super league of the Metropolis 3rd Division Cricket League at the Jagannath Hall Ground (JHG) here on Tuesday.

Opting to bat first, GMCC were all out for 156 in 46.4 overs. Opener Ashraful Islam scored 51 runs off 111 balls with seven boundaries, while middle order Riadul Hasan made 29.

Rubaiyat Nazmus and Ariful Islam grabbed two wickets each for 15 and 27 runs respectively.

In reply, Matuail Cricket Academy romped home scoring the required 157 runs in 26.2 overs for the loss of two wickets. Izharul Islam contributed not out 91 off 75 balls with 13 fours and two sixes to guide his team to an emphatic victory.

Shakil Hossain and Mamunul Haque took one wicket apiece.

In the day's other matches, Talent Hunt Cricket Academy (211/5) outplayed Kamrangirchar SC (209/6) by five wickets at the Dhaka University Ground (DUG), Tongi CA (161/10) beat Orient CA (101/10) by 60 runs at the City Club Ground (CCG) and Young Pegasus A (208/8) defeated Gulshan Youth Club (205/10) by two wickets at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium (DCS).

Prime Bank assures media to extend help for football

UNB, Dhaka

Prime Bank chairman Azam J Chowdhury on Tuesday said they are ready to extend helping hand for the development of the country's football.

"If the 2nd B. League and National Football Championship become success, we will extend our helping hand in future, he told a introductory meeting with the press at the Gulshan Prime Bank office this afternoon.

Under a deal with BFF, Prime Bank will provide Tk 1.25 crore to the B. League and National Football Championship.

Praising the media's role Azam said coverage of football by the media is praiseworthy.

BFF president Kazi Salahuddin, Sr. vice-president Abdus Salam Morshedi and vice-president Manjoor Hossain Malu were also present on the occasion.

Marlon Samuels banned for two years

AP, Dubai

West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels was banned from cricket for two years on Tuesday for breaking rules intended to prevent players from betting on matches.

The International Cricket Council confirmed the automatic ban after receiving the judgment by the West Indies Cricket Board's disciplinary committee.

Inter-club players transfer for 2nd B. League begin tomorrow

UNB, Dhaka

The inter-club players' transfer for the 2nd B. League begin tomorrow (Thursday )at the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Bhaban.

A total of 11 clubs will take part in the players' transfer, which will continue till June 20.

Participating clubs: Abahani Limited, Mohammedan SC, Muktijoddha Sangsad KC, Brothers Union Club, Sheikh Russell KC, Rahamatganj MFS, Farashganj SC, Arambagh KS, Chittagong Abahani, Chittagonmg Mohammedan and Khulna Abahani.

Indian cricket board's inquiry commissioner submits report in Harbhajan slapping row

AP, New Delhi

India's cricket board received a report from its inquiry commissioner Tuesday investigating the slapping incident featuring Harbhajan Singh and fellow test player Shantakumaran Sreesanth during a domestic twenty20 match last month.

Sudhir Nanavati, who is investigating the row, handed over his 14-page report to the Board of Control for Cricket in India's chief administrator Ratnakar Shetty in Mumbai.

Shetty will forward the report to BCCI president Sharad Pawar, who heads the three-member disciplinary panel that will meet soon to proceed further on the matter.

Singh has already been banned from a lucrative domestic Twenty20 tournament over the incident and fined his entire fee for that match, but also faces suspensions from international cricket.

"It's for the cricket board to take appropriate action on the report," Nanavati was quoted as saying by Press Trust of India.

Singh's Twenty20 tournament ban has seen him lose a substantial portion of potential income from a contract worth US$850,000 (euro545,000) for the season.

Earlier this year, Singh was at the center of controversy during India's test tour of Australia when he was banned for three tests for allegedly making racist remarks against Australia allrounder Andrew Symonds. His appeal of the ban was upheld and his punishment subsequently reduced to a fine.

Three Bangladeshi grandmasters share top slot in Mayor Cup

UNB, Dhaka

Three Bangladeshi Grand Masters - Ziaur Rahman, Abdullah Al Rakib and Reefat Bin Sattar - shared the top slot with 11 other players in the Mayor Cup First International Open Chess tournament securing four points after the 4th round matches in the Indian city of Mumbai Tuesday.

In the day's 4th round matches, GM Ziaur Rahman beat Shashikant Kutwal, GM Rakib defeated IM Sudhakar Babu while GM Reefat beat IM DP Singh, all from India.

The 2nd and 3rd round matches were held on Monday at the same venue.

In the 2nd round, Zia beat CN Vaida, Rakib defeated Raghavendra V while Reefat beat Beno Glad.

In the 3rd round matches, Zia beat Pankaj Joshi, Rakib defeated Soumyaranjan Mishra while Reefat beat IM Anup Deshmukh.

A total of 288 players, including 14 grandmasters and 24 International masters, are taking part in the meet.

In the fifth round matches today (Wednesday), Zia will meet Thejkumar, Rakib face Adibhan while Reefat play BT Murali Krishnan.

Jessore area team clinches Army Football Competition title

UNB, Dhaka

Jessore area team clinched the title of the Army Football Competition beating Comilla Area team by a lone goal at the Ghatail Cantonment on Tuesday.

Mejor general Md Ismail Faruque Chowdhury, engineer in chief of army was the chief guest and distributed the prizes among the winners.

Lance corporal Asish Banoary of Jessore area team was adjudged man of the match.

FF Rehabilitation Society crush Muradnagar 53-12

UNB, Dhaka

Freedom Fighters Rehabilitation Society crushed Muradnagar by 53-12 points with four creditable `lonas' in a match of the Metropolis 2nd Division Kabaddi League at the Outer Stadium kabaddi court on Tuesday.

In the day's other match, Institute of Kabaddi defeated Dholpur SC by 82-46 at the same venue.

Mansoor SC blank East End Junior 4-0

UNB, Dhaka

Mansoor Sporting Club made a good start in the Dhaka City Corporation Pioneer Football (Under-16) League outplaying East End Junior by 4-0 goals in a group B match of East Zone at the Jagannath University ground on Tuesday.

Bangladesh Sporting Club defeated Commissioner Shafiuddin Smriti Sangsad by 2-0 goals in the day's other match at the same venue.

Today's match: Jatrabari Jhatika Sangsad vs Mir Hazaribagh KC at the same venue.