The New Nation - Internet Edition

National cricketers to leave for Pakistan tomorrow

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh national cricket team leaves for Pakistan on Saturday to compete in the Asia Cup beginning on June 24.

The statistics suggests that the Asia Cup is not a happy hunting tournament for Bangladesh as they won just one out of their 21 encounters. In 2004 in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh notched their first Asia Cup win crushing Hong Kong by 116 runs.

Ahead of their next campaign, the Tiger's 15-member squad had its last practice session at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) Thursday.

Speaking at a press conference at the SBNS Thursday afternoon, skipper Mohammad Ashraful said, "We are looking forward to play better cricket than the recently concluded tri-series (Kitply Cup)."

Asked whether their previous tour to Pakistan in April will be an added advantage, the top order batsman said, "The wicket in all the five matches of that tour were good and we hope to utilize our opportunities."

Replying to a question, the captain said he had tried to play considering the situation in both the matches of the Kitply Cup adding, "I will try to play on demand of the situation. If there is a necessity to play aggressive cricket, I will certainly do that."

Ashraful, who had a four-day course on meditation right after the Kitply Cup, told a questioner that at the moment he is not in a position to comment on the result of the course. "There was no negative sides during the 40-hour long course and hope to be benefited from that."

About their group stage opponent like UAE, the skipper said in international cricket everyone needs to play with 100% focus and he thinks there will be no problem playing against them.

Coach Jamie Siddons said his target is at least one win in the first two matches. "And then we will go to the second round where I expect just to play really good cricket. I have seen some great signs in the batsmen on individual basis. But as per as putting that together, the players haven't done it yet."

But the Aussie coach seemed pretty confident in putting his team's best. "Whether we will win after the first round I am not sure, But I am looking forward putting our best game together as per as batting is concerned and a much better game in bowling."

Placed in group A of the Asia Cup, the Tigers will play their first match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on June 24 while they will take on Sri Lanka on June 25 both at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Bangladesh Squad: Mohammad Ashraful (Captain), Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (Vice Captain), Mahmudullah Riyad, Tamim Iqbal, Alok Kapali, Abdur Razzak, Farhad Reza, Shahriar Nafees Ahmed, Nazim Uddin, Roqibul Hassan, Shahadat Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehrab Hossain (Jr.), Dollar Mahmud and Musharraf Hossain.

Officials: Shafique-ul-Heera (manager), Jamie Siddons (coach), Sarwar Imran (bowling coach), Mohammad Salah Uddin (bowling coach), Grant Trafford Luden (Strength and conditioning coach), Darryn Lifson (physiotherapist), Nasir Ahmed (computer analyst) and Rabeed Imam (media manager).

Abahani Limited remains stranded at Airport for nine hours

UNB, Dhaka

Abahani football team destined for Malaysia on Thursday was stranded at Zia International Airport for about nine hours due to delay of Bangladesh Biman flight.

Scheduled to fly at 11-30am the team will now leave at 9-30pm, Manager Satyajit Das Rupu told UNB by phone from the airport.

Abahani will represent Bangladesh in the AFC President's Club Cup Football in Kuala Lumpur scheduled for June 22-24. The sky blue outfit is placed in Group-A along with WAPDA Football club of Pakistan, Police club of Nepal and Regar Tadaz team of Tajikistan.

The Dhaka giant will play their opening match on June 22 against Nepal Police Club, the 2nd on June 24 against Regar-Tadaz and the 3rd and last on June 26 against Pakistan WAPDA Football Club, all at MPPJ Stadium, 25 km away from capital in Kuala Lampur.

Abahani squad: Joy, (captain), Biplob, Uzzal, Abul, Zahid, Prantosh, Wali Faisal, Siraji, Nazrul, Sujan, Yousufi, Ibrahim, Sunny, Mamun, Tipu, Obaidur, Prodip, Tareq and Emili.

AHF Cup Hockey: Bangladesh Group A champions defeating Uzbekistan

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh Hockey team emerged as the Group A champions of the Third Men's AHF Cup Hockey Competition when they drubbed Uzbekistan by 8-3 goals in their last Group A encounter in Singapore on Thursday.

Bangladesh achieved their semifinal berth from this group.

Rajon hit hat-trick with three goals, Jimi netted two and Habul, Krishna, Chayan struck one time each on the board.

Bangladesh secured 10 points from five matches.

Pioneer Football: Moghbazar draw with Siraj Smriti Sangsad

Sports Reporter

The match of the Pioneer Football League between Moghbazar KC and Siraj Smiriti Sangsad ended in a goalless draw at the Mohakhali T&T Ground on Thursday.

In the play-off match of the Central Zone, Nababpur KC beat Khilgaon Progoti Sangsad by 4-1 goals in the tie-breaker at the Kamalapur Bir Srestha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium on the same day.

The stipulated time ended in a goalless draw.

Nababpur KC became champions of the Central Zone while Khilgaon Progoti Sangsad finished runners-up.

Div 1 Kabaddi: Matuail, Dhaka Wanderers win

Sports Reporter

Matuail Milon Smriti Sangsad outplayed Dhalpur Shatadal Sangsad by 56-25 points with four lonas in the first match of the opening day of the First Division Kabaddi League at the Kabaddi Stadium on Thursday.

The winners led the first half 27-11.

In the day's second match, Dhaka Wanderers Club defeated Manik Nagar Kabaddi Club by 30-19 points amid two lonas at the same venue.

The victorious team had a 21-15 points lead in the first session.

Earlier, Director (Sports) of National Sports Council Md Haiyul Kaiyum inaugurated the league as the chief guest. General Secretary of Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation Md Nazrul Islam and Chairman of the Tournament Committee Md Shah Alam present at the time.

Today Srijoni Sangsad will meet Ali Sporting Club at 4:00 PM while Diamond Sporting Club will face Singna Sangsad at 5:00 PM at the same venue.

ICC looks for options to preserve Tests from T20

AFP, Pakistan

Cricket's governing body said Thursday it will be exploring options to preserve interest in five-day Tests in the face of the growing popularity of Twenty20 matches.

The options, including proposals to a hold Test championship, will be discussed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) when its board meets in Dubai from June 29, its acting chief executive Dave Richardson said.

Experts say the fast-rising Twenty20 format, with just 40 overs per match and a huge crowd-puller, is putting the future of Tests and 50-over one-day internationals in danger.

Besides two Twenty20 leagues in India-one backed by the Board of Control for Cricket in Indian and the other by a private group-Texan billionaire Allen Stanford recently launched his own league pitting an all-star West Indian team against England.

Other countries like Pakistan and Australia are also keen to launch their own T20 leagues.

"I am certainly in favour of looking at options to make sure that we provide a really good quality context for Test cricket to take place so that it can be preserved as the pinnacle of the game," said Richardson.

He and other ICC officials, including president Ray Mali, were here for Wednesday's official launch of the Champions Trophy, which Pakistan will host in September.

"The ICC will be considering a number of options in the upcoming board meetings, one of which is to introduce a Test championship or league. There are so many ways this could be done, a league over one year, two years or four years, the details have yet to be worked out."

Richardson, a former South African wicketkeeper-batsman, admitted Twenty20 is the most popular brand of the game these days.

"There is no doubt that domestic Twenty20 leagues, such as those held in India and other competitions like in South Africa, England and Pakistan have been a fantastic success, they have attracted new audience to the game.

"The ICC's policy has always been to encourage such popular formats butt if you ask any player around the world he would say that he likes to play Test cricket for his country," he said.

Richardson rubbished claims that the ICC is not endeavouring to preserve Test cricket, saying: "The ICC always gives importance to, and is serious to make sure that a special place is maintained for, Test cricket in the calendar."

He refused to admit that 50-over cricket will die after the introduction of Twenty20.

"I think 50-over cricket will benefit from Twenty20, already we have seen that the approach to batting, fielding and bowling (is) going to have to be improved if you want success in Twenty20," he said.

"For me, 50-over cricket will be a perfect balance between Tests and T20," he added.

Federer refuses to contemplate end of era

AFP, London

Roger Federer should be embracing the prospect of becoming the first man to win six successive Wimbledon titles.

Instead, he finds himself locked in a desperate battle to salvage his reputation as the world's greatest player with Rafael Nadal casting an intimidating shadow over Centre Court, Federer's private playground.

When he lost his Australian Open title in January, the world number one was able to point to the debilitating effects of glandular fever.

But there was no escape clause for his humiliation at the hands of Nadal in the French Open final as the Spaniard handed him his worst career defeat.

Federer stopped the rot with a fifth title on grass at Halle to extend his winning streak on the surface to 59 matches, and he insists a return to the All England Club is the perfect antidote to his recent difficulties.

"I haven't lost on grass for six years. I still definitely feel very strong about my chances and being the big favourite going into grass," he said.

Not everyone agrees.

Australia's Pat Cash, Wimbledon champion in 1987, believes Federer has lost his aura of invincibility.

"I would hazard a guess that Nadal has burrowed himself deeper than ever into the previously rock-hard Federer self-belief," Cash told the Sunday Times.

"The way that Federer allowed his head to drop in the last set of the French Open final, when all his gambles and strategies seemed to have been ripped to shreds, suggests he has an inferiority complex that needs a lot of repair work."

Nadal has lost to Federer in the last two Wimbledon finals but came close to an upset victory in an epic five-set title match in 2007.

The Spaniard also now has his first grasscourt trophy under his belt, secured at Queen's, and boasts 11 wins against six defeats in his career meetings with Federer.

Nadal is only 22. Behind him are dangerous 21-year-olds Novak Djokovic, who took Federer's Australian Open title, and Andy Murray.

Federer has beaten Djokovic six times in eight but the last four have been shared; Murray has a 2-1 record over the Swiss.

"It's motivating to see all these young players coming up, but I'm quite confident the second half of the season is going to be better than the first," said Federer.

Should he win a sixth title, he will surpass the 1976-1980 run of Bjorn Borg.

The legendary Swede, who admitted nothing would give him greater pleasure than to see Federer clinch a sixth victory, also sees Nadal as a potential champion.

"If he survives the first two or three rounds, then I pick Nadal to win Wimbledon," said Borg.

"He's playing really good on the grass. He's feeling very comfortable."

But Federer has an ally in Andy Roddick who he beat in the 2004 and 2005 finals.

"Playing the final on red clay against Nadal is not the same as playing on a grasscourt," said Roddick.

"If anything, it's going to annoy him to where he wants to prove everybody wrong. Maybe if he wins it six times, people won't question him. People are sitting here saying, 'Can Roger win Wimbledon?' Yes, he can. He's won it five times."

Do-or-die in Asian World Cup qualifying

AFP, Singapore

A final two teams will know if their World Cup dreams remain alive or are dead and buried after Sunday's round of group games in Asian qualifying, as the race to South Africa heats up.

Eight countries-Australia, Bahrain, Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, North Korea, and Uzbekistan-have already secured their passage into the final phase of qualifying.

That leaves two tickets still to be stamped, with four teams battling for the right to go into the hat on June 27 for the draw for the deciding round.

Groups One and Five are still on a knife-edge, with Iraq playing Qatar in Dubai and United Arab Emirates against Syria in Al Ain.

A draw for resurgent Iraq at the Al Ahli Stadium will be enough for the Asian champions to advance, while Syria need to beat UAE by a 3-0 margin.

Adnan Hamad's Iraq have come back from nowhere, hauling themselves into contention with a 2-1 win over China in Tianjin last weekend, while Qatar were drubbed 3-1 by Australia.

"That victory helped us to continue our bid for a ticket in the World Cup finals," said Hamad. "We are confident."

Despite being outclassed by the Socceroos, Qatari coach Jorge Fossati believes his team can rise to the occasion.

"We still have a chance to qualify," he said.

"If we beat Iraq we will do it, so I trust my players to deliver.

"Hopefully, we will have learned from our mistakes and we won't make those mistakes against Iraq. Actually, I am confident that we will beat Iraq and qualify for the next stage."

Australia take on China in Sydney looking to finish top of the group, with Harry Kewell keen to play a full 90 minutes as he continues his recovery from lengthy injury spells.

The Aussie skipper has split with Liverpool and is on the lookout for another club and wants to complete his month-long batch of four matches with the Socceroos to regain confidence.

And then we'll look forward to the next round," said Kewell.

Australian coach Pim Verbeek said the match would provide an opportunity to test some of his younger players alongside a core group of senior stars.

"We're going to keep some players here because we're going to win, we like to win, we'd like to finish with 13 points after the six games," he said.

Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer will not play due to suspension.

The United Arab Emirates will be more than happy to emulate their opening performance of the campaign against the Syrians, which ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

History favours Bruno Metsu's men, who have never lost to Syria at home, winning and drawing three encounters each since 1979.

"We have nearly secured our qualification but we must prepare very well against Syria in our last match," said Metsu.

Iran, who have already qualified from the group, play Kuwait.

In other games, Japan are planning revenge against Bahrain in Saitama, after the Gulf side upset them 1-0 at home last March.

Oman and Thailand play a dead rubber in the other group game.

The two Koreas face each other in Seoul after the North failed in its attempt to have the game moved to a third country, citing demonstrations in the southern capital against the resumption of US beef imports.

Group 4 table toppers Uzbekistan play Saudi Arabia looking to keep intact their record of winning all their group games. No other team has managed the feat.

Sharapova cruises through fame game

AFP, London

When 17-year-old Maria Sharapova became the third youngest Wimbledon women's champion in 2004, she famously tried - and failed - to call her mother from Centre Court.

Four years later, Sharapova, not to mention mobile phone technology, has undergone a revolutionary change.

Not only is the Russian a three-time Grand Slam title winner on the court, she is also a global brand off it, raking in an estimated 25 million dollars.

Her name recognition is so powerful that an internet search brings up over seven million results. Not bad for a 21-year-old.

"When you are 16 or 17, things take you by surprise. The things I experienced the morning after I won Wimbledon, you just wake up and you feel it," said Sharapova.

"You go out your door and a van is following you. Was I ready for that? It teaches you. That's not something you learn."

In the days after her Wimbledon breakthrough, major endorsement deals were being signed and she now boasts an impressive array of blue chip backers which, allied to her tennis and her looks, make her the world's richest sportswoman.

Not bad for a girl who at the age of six left her mother behind in Russia to travel with father Yuri to Florida. Neither spoke English and he took up numerous jobs to pay for his daughter's tuition at the Bollettieri academy.

"You realise how you got there and what it took and how much you have sacrificed in your life to get to that point," said Sharapova.

In the four years since that famous 73-minute demolition of Serena Williams on Wimbledon Centre Court, Sharapova believes she has had to grow up faster and develep a thicker skin than other girls her age.

Despite her roots, she has endured thinly disguised barbs from some of her compatriots on tour who point to her American accent, and ignore her fluent Russian, as evidence of an alleged lack of patriotism.

Their suspicions were only made deepened by Sharapova's long-delayed Fed Cup debut, in which taking part is a pre-requisite of competing in the Beijing Olympics.

"After I won Wimbledon, I felt like there were many expectations of me. That really took me by surprise," she said.

"It was like if you won a Grand Slam at 17, all of a sudden everyone thought I should be winning a Grand Slam every single year.

"That was absurd. Now I deal with expectations fine. I don't care about them. I have confidence in my own self to know what I do well. I know my faults. I'm not scared of them."

Alfaz Ahmed joins Sheikh Russell KC

UNB, Dhaka

Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra stole the show at the fag end of the 36-day inter-club players transfer for the 2nd B. League (Professional League) today recruiting famed striker Alfaz Ahmed from Muktijiddha Sangsad KC.

Soon after joining the new club, veteran striker Alfaz said, "Our team studded with young players and good team sprit is targeting to become champions in the B League"

Terming Sheikh Russell KC as a reputed team Alfaz said he would play a good football for my team that finished 4th in the maiden B. league.

Custodian Titumir Chowdhury Titu, medio Mostafa Anwar Parvez, Masud Khan Jonny of Muktijoddha SKC, and Monwar Hossain of Brothers Union also signed for Sheikh Russell KC on Thursday.

Besides, they confirmed the services of their old players --Mahmudul Hasan, Maksudul Alam Bulbul and Tanveer Chowdhury on the day.

In all, 21 players registered with Sheikh Russell KC today.

Farashgang SC, Chittagong Mohammedan SC and Arambagk KS also took part in the registration formalities on Thursday recruiting 21, 20 and 9 players respectively.