The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bhutan hold Bangladesh in SAFF opener

UNB, Dhaka

Last time runners-up Bangladesh made a frustrating start in the 3rd SAFF Championship as they were forced to a 1-1 draw by lowly Bhutan in the Group B opener at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday.

With the day's dismal performance, the semi-final berth of former SAFF champions Bangladesh has became uncertain.

Bangladesh dominated the first half by a solitary goal scored by new face Arup Kumar Baidya in the 26th minute, but they failed to maintain the lead in the second half.

Private satellite channel ATN Bangla was due to telecast the match live from Colombo but it failed to do so amid frustrations of the huge soccer crazy fans.

In the other Group B match, hosts Sri Lanka was due to play emerging force Afghanistan Wednesday night at the same venue.

In the remaining group B matches, Bangladesh will play Afghanistan on June 6 and hosts Sri Lanka on June 8, all in Colombo.

Earlier, in the opening match at Maldives capital Male on Tuesday, holders India crushed Nepal by 4-0 goals, while hosts Maldives beat Pakistan by 2-0 goals.

National team meets A Team in 2nd d/n practice match today

UNB, Dhaka

After suffering a five-wicket defeat in the first practice match on Tuesday, Bangladesh national team again meets Bangladesh A team in the 2nd day/night practice match today (Thursday) at 3 pm at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS).

For the 2nd and last practice match ahead of the Tri-Nation Series, the national side will feature Alok Kapali and Farhad Reza, while Mehrab Hossain Jr. and Dollar Mahmud, who played for the national side in the first match, will now play for the A team.

Earlier, on Tuesday, coin-favoured national team batted first to score 194 for all in 47.5 overs with Rokibul Hasan scoring 52 runs, while Mehrab Hossain Jr. made 31.

In reply, Bangladesh A cantered to victory scoring the required 195 runs in 39.1 overs for the loss of five wickets. Dhiman Ghosh top scored unbeaten 71 runs, while Nayeem Islam made not out 39.

Pacer Dollar Mahmud claimed three wickets for 30 runs while Mashrafe Bin Mortaza took two wickets for 44 runs.

Squads for Thursday:

Bangladesh: Mohammad Ashraful (Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Shahriar Nafees, Roqibul Hassan, Alok Kapali, Mushfiqur Rahim (Wicketkeeper), Mahmudullah Riyad, Mashrafe bin Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain Razib, Farhad Reza, Sajedul Islam and Arafat Sunny.

Bangladesh A: Zunaed Siddiqui (Captain), Nazim Uddin, Shamsur Rahman Shuvo, Mehrab Hossain Jr., Naeem Islam, Dhiman Ghosh (Wicketkeeper), Nadif Chowdhury, Musharraf Hossain Rubel, Mahbubul Alam Robin, Rubel Hossain, Dollar Mahmud, Suhrawardi Shuvo and Farhad Hossain.

Eriksson appointed Mexico coach

BBC Online

Sven-Goran Eriksson has been appointed as the new coach of Mexico.

"It's unanimous. Eriksson has been accepted," said Guadalajara president and member of the Mexican federation's executive committee Jorge Vergara.

Sacked as manager of Manchester City on Monday, the 60-year-old former England coach has agreed a two-year deal.

"Mexico is a big job," said Eriksson. "To help Mexico reach the World Cup is a big challenge. You have 120 million people and it's motivating."

The decision to name Eriksson as Hugo Sanchez's successor was taken at a meeting of the 18 owners of the country's first division.

Eriksson was the only serious contender for the Mexico job, which has been vacant since Sanchez left in March.

The Swede spent five-and-a-half years in charge of England, from January 2001 until July 2006, taking them to two World Cup quarter-finals.

Mexico are looking for a manager to take them to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

Eriksson will not officially take up his post until 21 June, when Mexico host Belize Monterrey in the second leg of the second round of World Cup qualifiers.

Until then caretaker coach Jesus Ramirez will remain in temporary charge for the matches against Argentina on 4 June, Peru on 8 June and the first leg with Belize in Houston on 15 June.

Eriksson is Mexico's first foreign coach since Serbian Bora Milutinovic, who resigned in 1997 from his second stint in charge of the team.

Apart from Milutinovic, Mexico has had two Spaniards, two Hungarians and an Englishman as coaches.

Eriksson's season-long stint at City was officially brought to an end on Monday by the club's owner Thaksin Shinawatra, following weeks of speculation.

BBC Sport revealed in April that Eriksson was no longer wanted by owner Thaksin, despite City finishing ninth in the Premiership.

Khulna clinches title of U-16 National competition

UNB, Dhaka

Hosts Khulna Division clinched the title of the U-16 Young Tigers Elite National Competition by virtue of better bonus points against Sylhet Division on the 3rd day of the three-day final at the Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Stadium (BSMRS) Wednesday.

Chasing a victory target of 173, hosts Khulna Division scored 130 for 5 in their 2nd innings at stumps on the 3rd and final day today. Faruk contributed innings highest 65 runs, while Joyanta made 22.

Sayem grabbed two wickets for 15 runs, while AM Rupu took one wicket for 35 runs.

Earlier, resuming with overnight 95 for 2, Sylhet Division made 190 for all in their 2nd innings with night watch batsman Sayem Rizvi making 73 and Mizanur 36.

Sohel and Khaleed claimed three wickets apiece for 40 and 42 runs respectively.

Khulna Division earlier scored 177 runs for all in their first innings, replying to Sylhet Division's first innings total of 159.

Chittagong beat Sylhet in straight sets

UNB, Dhaka

Chittagong DSA made a good start in a Zone Gha opening match of the Inter District Volleyball Competition beating Sylhet DSA by straight 3-0 sets (25-04, 25-07, 25-05) in Chittagong on Wednesday.

Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner M Akbar Ali inaugurated the competition as chief guest. Chittagong Metropolitan Sports Association general secretary Shayesta Khan was the special guest on the occasion.

Six teams -- Comilla DSA, Chittagong DSA, Cox's Bazar DSA, Sylhet DSA, Chandpur DSA and Chittagong Metropolis -- are competing in the zonal phase matches.

Bangladesh Hockey team is expected to leave for Singapore June 12

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh national hockey team is expected to leave here for Singapore on June 12 to take part in the 3rd Men's AHF Cup Championship to be held in Singapore June 14-22.

The participation of Bangladesh team in the nine-nation Asia Cup qualifying round became uncertain due to financial problem as the National Sports Council has allocated Tk 4 lakh only against a budget of Tk 24.38 lakh submitted by Bangladesh Hockey Federation for the Singapore tour.

Hockey Federation general secretary Sajid Adel told UNB that after getting approval of a poor amount from the NSC, they are communicating with some business houses to sponsor the national team for Singapore tour and "we have got positive response from some of them."

Moreover, he said, they sent a letter to NSC chairman and Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed on Wednesday to allocate at least Tk 20 lakh for the tour. "Otherwise our affiliation may be cancelled."

Adel said: "We're now quite hopeful to leave here for Singapore on June 12 to participate in the Asia Cup Hockey qualifier, either with fund from NSC or from the sponsors."

Earlier, Bangladesh have been placed in Pool A of the Asian Men's Hockey with Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan, Brunei Darussalam and hosts Singapore, while Pool B comprises Hong Kong, Oman, Thailand and Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh is scheduled to play Brunei Darussalam on June 14 in one of the four opening day's fixtures. They will play Chinese Taipei on June 15, Singapore on June 18 and Uzbekistan on June 19 in the group matches.

Sarwan century seals Windies draw

BBC Online

A superb rearguard century from skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan helped the West Indies to draw the second Test match against Australia in Antigua.

Sarwan, aided by Shivnarine Chanderpaul who made an unbeaten 77, hit 128 to thwart the tourists' hopes of going two up in the three-match series.

Brett Lee removed opener Devon Smith (0) and Runako Morton (14), while Stuart Clark dismissed Xavier Marshall. But the West Indies dug in to keep the series alive going to Bridgetown.

Declaring on their overnight score of 244-6 and leaving the West indies a nominal target of 372 to win, the Australians wrested the early initiative at lunch.

Lee, who took five wickets in the first innings, continued to bowl with pace and aggression, taking two wickets to leave the home side struggling at 95-3.

He gave opener Smith a thorough working over with a string of sharp, short-pitched deliveries, before the batsman meekly fended a rising ball to Mike Hussey at gully for a duck.