The New Nation - Internet Edition

2nd three-day match between Bangladesh: A & Warwickshire ended in a draw

UNB, Dhaka

The rain-affected second three-day match between visiting Bangladesh A team and English county side Warwickshire ended in a draw on the third and last day at Edgbaston in Birmingham Sunday.

The first three-day match between touring Bangladesh A team and England Under-19 team also ended in a draw due to rain at the Hazelgrave Ground in Loughborough.

Trailing by 109 runs in the 1st innings, the visiting side began their 2nd innings Sunday and faced batting debacle as they scored 130 runs for 8 in 44 overs when play was called off for the last day.

One down Nazimuddin contributed innings highest 39 off 38 balls featuring six fours and a six followed by Nayeem Islam's 22, Rajin Saleh's not out 21 and opener Tamim Iqbal's 16.

LM Daggett caused the major damage claiming four wickets for 41 runs while Groenewald bagged two wickets for 40 runs.

Earlier, replying to Bangladesh's first innings total 252 for all, Warwickshire declared their first innings at a handsome 361 for 9 in 91.5 overs with an unbeaten 100 from middle order DL Maddy.

Pacer Nazmul Hossain was the most successful among the 2nd string Bangladesh side scalping five wickets for 90 runs while Rubel Hossain grabbed three wickets for 86 runs.

Bangladesh A team will play the 3rd match against Leicestershire on July 16-18, the 4th against Derbyshire July 21-23 and the 5th three-day match against a South African selection on July 25-27.

After the three-dayers, Bangladesh A will play three one-day matches against Lancashire on July 30, Marylebone Cricket Club on August 1 and Durham on August 3.

Pakistan's Asif fails drugs test

BBC Online

Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Asif has tested positive for a banned substance during an Indian Premier League (IPL) game, tournament organisers have said.

Only last month Asif, 25, was detained at Dubai airport on suspicion of carrying illegal drugs.

He was held in Dubai for two weeks before returning to Pakistan after a decision was made not to press charges.

"I am shocked and surprised because I was extra cautious and never used any banned substances," said Asif.

In a statement the league said: "The Indian Premier League confirms the player in violation is Mohammad Asif.

"It was also checked if Mr Mohammad Asif had applied for and was granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). It was found that Mr Mohammad Asif had not applied for a TUE.

"A note in writing has been sent to the player and his home board and to the franchisee on the findings."

Asif now has the option of asking for his 'B' sample to be tested and, should he do so, his case would be referred to the IPL's drugs tribunal, a three-man group including former India captain Sunil Gavaskar.

If the positive result is upheld, Asif could face a ban from future IPL seasons as well as possible sanctions from the Pakistan board.

Asif played for the Delhi Daredevils during the lucrative Twenty20 tournament which began in April and ended in June.

The news that Asif has tested positive for a banned substance is the latest in a series of controversial incidents that the player has been involved in.

In 2006, both Asif and fellow Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar were found to have taken the banned steroid Nandrolone after failing internal Pakistani Cricket Board drug tests.

The pair were banned for one and two years respectively, before the ruling was overturned on appeal.

In 2007 Asif was involved in a dressing-room altercation, during which he was struck with a bat by Shoaib, who was later sent home from the World Twenty20 tournament.

And 2008 has seen him involved in two separate drug offences.

The 25-year-old said he would speak to the PCB before taking any further steps.

BFF signs agreement with CITYCELL for next three years to run football

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) on Monday signed an agreement with mobile phone operator CITYCELL for the next three years to run the football tournaments, including three main events.

Under the agreement, CITYCELL will provide Tk 16.5 crore to run the football tournaments.

The cell phone operator will become the title sponsor of upcoming Federation Cup Football, B. League and School Football Tournaments. Besides, they will remain co-sponsors of the other football events organized by BFF.

Signing the accord at the BFF Bhaban in the afternoon BFF president Kazi Salahudin said they are grateful to CITYCELL for sponsoring the tournaments. He hoped they would extend further assistance in future.

Describing the agreement as historical he said, "It is a great opportunity for us to develop football after getting such a big amount." He hoped that if they are able to bring popularity in football, CITYCELL might extend the contract.

Replying to a question, Salahuddin said CITYCELL would provide the sponsor money as and when BFF requires for organizing the tournaments. However, the exact amount allocated for the various tournaments would be announced later, he said.

Mychael Seymour, chief executive officer of CITYCELL expressed satisfaction and felt honoured in joining hands with the BFF to bring back life to football in this country.

"Bangladesh has always loved football. The game has been played in this country for over a century and people from all walks of life enjoy football's vitality and excitement throughout the year," he added.

Mychael said they foresee that football will not only revive but take on challenges outside the country in near future.

BFF senior vice president Abdus Salam Murshedi, vice presidents Manjoor Hossain Malu, Swakat Ali Khan Jahangir, Kazi Nabil Ahmed, Badal Roy and CITYCELL executives Dr. Anand Rajasingham, Sania Mahmood were present on the occasion

CCDM chairman to hold introductory meeting with Clubs today

UNB, Dhaka

Newly elected chairman of the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) Eng Ghulam Mohammed Alamgir meets today with representatives of Dhaka League clubs to familiarize with them.

The meeting will be held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) conference room at 5:00 pm.

Earlier on July 8, Eng Alamgir had been given the charge of CCDM and chairman of the Tournament Committee.

Sara Errani captures first WTA title at Palermo International

AP, Sicily

Sara Errani captured her first WTA Tour singles title when she beat Mariya Koryttseva of Ukraine 6-2, 6-3 in the Palermo International final on Sunday.

The chair umpire awarded fifth-seeded Errani an ace on her first match point after going down to check the mark on the red clay court and overruling the linesman's call.

"It was a great match for me; maybe neither of us played our best but it was very important for me to win today," Errani said.

"I think the difference between us was I was stronger in the long points. It was difficult to stay physically strong the whole week because it's very hot here, but I think I did better in the end."

She is the first Italian to win the singles crown in Palermo. Errani had never been to a tour final of any kind before this week. Now she owns both singles and doubles titles.

On Saturday, Errani teamed with Nuria Llagostera Vives to capture the doubles title.

Seventh-seeded Koryttseva was also gunning for her first WTA title in her second final.

"I was trying my best but it just wasn't my day," Koryttseva said. "She was using smart tactics and I just wasn't able to play my game. I could have won my first title today but I can't think about that - tomorrow is another day and another tournament. I just try to improve my game, day by day."

South Africa skipper Smith salutes staying power

AFP, London

South Africa captain Graeme Smith was proud of the character he and old schoolfriend Neil McKenzie demonstrated after their hundreds batted the Proteas towards an unlikely first Test draw against England.

The duo shared a stand of 204 before Smith was out shortly before the close but the left-hander's innings of 107 played a major role in South Africa reaching stumps on 242 for one after they'd been made to follow-on.

That still left them 104 runs behind England's first innings 593 for eight declared.

However, Michael Vaughan's men headed into Monday's final day knowing they had to take nine wickets, having managed just one on Sunday, to have a chance of going 1-0 up in this four-Test series.

For the 27-year-old Smith, this was his second Test hundred at Lord's.

Five years ago the Western Province batsman made 259, the highest individual score by an overseas batsman in a Lord's Test, a match the Proteas won by a crushing innings and 92 runs.

Smith, who batted for over five hours after being dismissed

for just eight in the first innings, acknowledged this was

another sort of century entirely after England dominated the first three days of this match

"The first few days were very different to 2003. We've been outplayed and England have been more precise," he said.

He added: "One thing you learn is to bat the situation. It was really good hard Test cricket today, man-on-man, and it defines the character of people."

The South Africa skipper, who prior to this Test had been at the crease for just two hours on tour, after suffering a hamstring injury while playing in the Indian Premier League, added: "It's got to be one of my best innings, considering the pressure we'd been under."

England unhappy with India itinerary

AFP, London

English cricket chiefs reacted with "disappointment" on Monday after receiving the proposed itinerary for England's tour of India later this year, warning they'd yet to accept it fully.What particularly upset officials at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was the lack of international matches at India's major grounds such as Calcutta's Eden Gardens, Bangalore and Chennai while neither of the scheduled two Tests is being played in Delhi, which they said represented a snub to fans.

An ECB statement issued Monday said: "ECB are disappointed that, despite their representations, the itinerary doesn't offer the thousands of supporters who follow the England team abroad the opportunity to experience more of the great cricket grounds of India.

"As far as the ECB are concerned, the acceptance of the itinerary remains subject to acceptable logistical arrangements and an an acceptable security environment and security arrangements being in place at each of the venues."

England's tour, which begins in November, also features seven one-day internationals.

That follows an agreement the ECB reached with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about the tour series to India in 2008 and the reciprocal tour to England in 2011.

The BCCI preferred England play two Test matches and seven one-day internationals rather than three Tests and five one-day internationals.

In 2011 the ECB's preference was for four Test matches, five one-day internationals and an international Twenty20 on India's tour of England.

England tour of India dates:

Nov 06: England arrive, Mumbai

Nov 09: One-day warm-up match, Mumbai

Nov 11: One-day warm-up match, Mumbai

Nov 14: 1ST 0DI v INDIA, Rajkot

Nov 17: 2ND ODI v INDIA, Indore

Nov 20: 3RD ODI v INDIA, Kanpur

Nov 23: 4TH ODI v INDIA, Jamshedpur

Nov 26: 5TH ODI v INDIA, Cuttack

Nov 29: 6TH ODI v INDIA, Guwahati

Dec 02: 7th ODI v INDIA, Delhi

Dec 05: 3-day warm-up match, Baroda

Dec 11: 1ST TEST v INDIA, Ahmedabad

Dec 19: 2ND TEST v INDIA, Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai

Bangladesh concede 2-8 defeat against Pakistan in Junior Asia Cup Hockey

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Under-21 Hockey team suffered a humiliating 2-8 goals defeat against world giant Pakistan in their third and last Group B match of the 6th Men's Junior Asia Cup Hockey in Hyderabad, India, on Monday.

After the day's match, Bangladesh finished third in the four-team Group B ahead of Oman and will play the classification match on Wednesday (July 16) against the bottom ranked team of Group A, yet to be finalize.

In the day's match, Bangladesh made a good start with their superb performance and dominated the first half by 2-1 goals surprising the sub-continental giant of world hockey Pakistan.

Asaduzzaman Chandan put Bangladesh ahead in the very second minute of the match converting a penalty corner (1-0) while Kashif Ali of Pakistan leveled the margin in the 22nd minute, also from a penalty corner (1-1).

Promising forward Iqbal Nadir again put Bangladesh ahead in the 24th minute by a nice field goal with the frustration of world hockey elite Pakistan.

But, the scenario was completely changed in the second half when Pakistan proved their mettle scoring seven goals in a row to crush Bangladesh by 8-2 goals.

In previous two group affairs, Bangladesh earned an empathic 7-1 goals victory over Oman in their 2nd match on Sunday after conceding 0-8 goals defeat against Asian giant South Korea in the inaugural match on Friday.

Bangladesh team: Mehrab Hossain Kiron, Asaduzzaman Chandan, Tapash Barman, Moshiur Rahman Biplob, Irfanul Haque, Abdur Sajjad John, Rasel Mahmud Jimmy, Sheikh Mohammad Nannu, Rimon Kumar Ghosh, Krishna Kumar, Iqbal Nadir, Shamsul Alam Sujon, Al Moshiur Rahman, Hasan Jubair and Abu Nahid Lebu.

National team begins practice: Squad to be announced by July 22

UNB, Dhaka

The national cricketers began their practice camp Monday at the Mirpur She-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) for the ensuing Twenty20 meet in Canada and ODI series against host Australia.

Only nine players joined the day's two-hour long fitness session under the supervision of Aussie coach Jamie Siddons.

The players who were present are Mohammad Ashraful, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Farhad Reza, Mahmudullah Riyad, Shahriar Nafees, Mehrab Hossain Jr., Alok Kapali, Abdur Razzak Raj and Shahadat Hossain Razib.

Meanwhile, another seven players from the recently concluded Asia Cup squad -- Nazimuddin, Mushfiqur Rahim, Dollar Mahmud, Musharraf Hossain Rubel, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Rokibul Hassan -- who are now accompanying the Bangladesh A team in England is expected to join the training session on return home.

The Tigers will go for their full stretch training from Tuesday, which will continue till July 18. After that there will be a two-day recess on July 19 and 20 before resuming the camp.

Talking to UNB Monday afternoon, chief selector Rafique ul Alam informed that they will announce the preliminary squad of 20-22 players by July 22.

The chief of the three-member selection panel said that they will announce first the preliminary squad considering the visa formalities. He also informed that the final 15-member team will be announced later.

The national side is likely to leave here for Canada on August 11 to take part in the four-nation Twenty20 meet to be held on August 14-17.

Apart from Bangladesh, Pakistan, West Indies and the hosts Canada are the other participating nations in this shorter version of cricket.

After the Twenty20 meet, Bangladesh will head towards Australia to play a three-match ODI series against the hosts beginning on August 31.

Bangladesh will play their first match against the world champions on August 31, the 2nd match on September 3 and the 3rd match on September 6, all at the Marrara Cricket Ground at Darwin.