The New Nation - Internet Edition

Opening match of 2nd round of Pioneer Football kicks-off today

Sports Reporter

Golam Mostafa Lane Kishore Sangha will face Dhaka Eleven Club in the opening match of the second round of the Dhaka City Corporation Pioneer Football League which kicks-off today at 4.30 PM at the Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium in Kamalapur.

A total of 20 teams divided into four groups are participating in the second round.

Golam Mostafa Lane Kishore Sangha, Shwadhinata Krira Sangha, Lalbagh Tarun Sangha, Jatrabari Jhatika Sangsad, Dhaka Eleven Club have been billed in Group-A, Tangail Football Club, Arambagh Krika Sangha (Junior), Mir Hijirbagh KC, Madrasapara SC, Noakhali Football Academy have been taken place in Group-B, Rampura KC, Moghbazar KC, Mansoor Sporting Club, Mugdapara Samaj Kalyan and Krira Sangsad, Surjoshena SC have been pencilled in Group-C, Tejgaon Nabataranga Krira Sangha, Bangladesh Sporting Club, Nababpur KC, BKSP, Mohammadpur Jobo Samaj Kalyan Sangsha have been placed in Group-D.

The second phase of the league will come to an end on August 8.

The champions of each group will move into the final. The winners of the two semifinals will face each other in the final.

The champions and the runners-up will take part in the next year's third Division Football League.

It may be mentioned that Dhaka Metropolis Football League arrange the football meet under supervision of Bangladesh Football Federation.

Sonali Otit to honour best referee

Sports Reporter

Sonali Otit Club decided on Friday to honour the best referee of the Premier Division Football League every year. The Club announced that the referee will get the award on behalf of legend late footballer Monwar Hossain Nannu. The award will be named Monwar Hossain Nannu Award.

Kabaddi Referees Refresher Course held

UNB, Dhaka

The daylong Kabaddi Referees Refresher Course, organized by Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation, was held at the Federation office on Thursday.

National Sports Council (NSC) director (sports) Haiyul Kayyum inaugurated the course as chief guest. Some 35 referees, senior players, officials and organizers took part in the course conducted by Kabaddi Referees Committee.

After the course, three referees -- SMA Mannan, Asgar Ali and Rafiqul Islam -- were awarded certificates as international referees, while Monir Hossain as first class referee.

Hackett in best of health for Beijing record bid

AFP, Sydney

Australian swimmer Grant Hackett is enjoying one of his healthiest preparations as he gears for a historic attempt to win a third consecutive Olympic 1500m freestyle title in Beijing, his coach said Friday.

Hackett, 28, has had a catalogue of illnesses at major meets and was troubled by pneumonia in the lead-up to the 2004 Athens Olympics.

He is taking no chances before next month's Games and revealed this month that he wears a mask over his face when he flies, shuns public areas as much as possible and avoids touching handrails and wash basins unnecessarily to keep himself free from germs.

But his coach Ian Pope said his preventative measures appear to be working as Hackett is in the midst of his best preparation in years.

Australia's swimming team captain was highly encouraged by his last race at the Grand Prix meet here two weeks ago where he swam his fastest 1500m while in full training, 14:51.62.

The world 1500m record-holder had never gone under 15 minutes before while in full training.

If Hackett succeeds in winning his third Olympic gold medal in the 1500m event he will be the first man in 104 years to win the same swimming event in three consecutive Games.

"Grant's had one of the most consistent preparations he's ever had," Pope told The Australian newspaper. "He hasn't been sick, which is a big thing for him.

"People might joke about lengths he's going to, but it's working."

Since Hackett was diagnosed with asthma last year and began taking medication to stabilise his condition, his health has improved markedly.

Thirteen men have broken 15 minutes for 1500m this year and Hackett said he expects he will have to swim a sub-14:55 heat to qualify for the final, then back up for a sub-14:40 final.

Hackett has held the world record in the 30-lap event at 14:34.56 since 2001.

So focused is Hackett on his event, he said he will not carry the Australian flag at the opening ceremony in Beijing even if asked because the swimming programme begins the following day.

The Australian swimming team will go into a pre-Olympic training camp in Kuala Lumpur on July 26.

Australia to send 434 athletes to Beijing

AFP, Sydney

Australia will send its second- largest team of 434 athletes to an overseas Olympics for next month's Beijing Games, the Australian Olympic Committee said Friday.

Only the 482-member team which represented Australia at the 2004 Athens Games ranks larger, while the country's biggest team was assembled for the home 2000 Sydney Games with 632 athletes, the AOC said.

Australia, with a population of 21 million, is aiming to finish among the top five nations on the medals standings after finishing fourth in Sydney and Athens.

AOC director of sport Fiona de Jong said a top-five finish was achievable.

"It's going to be tough t (but) our athletes will do us proud in Beijing," de Jong said.

De Jong said the main challenges would be medical problems and dealing with the heat and humidity in the Chinese capital.

"But we are used to operating in challenging conditions," she said.

Australia will also send a 75-strong medical contingent.

Local bookmakers are favouring Australia to win between 13 to 15 gold medals and 41 to 50 medals in all.

Australia achieved its best Olympic Games gold medal haul in Athens with 17 in 2004, while the country's best overall tally of medals was 58 at the 2000 Sydney Games.

The AOC late Friday used its discretion to add 1500m runner Jeff Riseley to the track and field team after he recorded an A qualifier time last weekend in Rome.

Rower James Tomkins will be competing at his sixth Olympics, while five others will be contesting their fifth Games-shooters Michael Diamond and Russell Mark, kayaker Clint Robinson and cyclists Stuart O'Grady and Shane Kelly.

Equestrian Laurie Lever is the oldest Australian athlete, making his Olympic debut at age 60, while swimmer Emily Seebohm is the youngest at 16 years, just a matter of weeks older than fellow swimmer Cate Campbell and diver Melissa Wu.

Rowing is the largest component of the Australian team with 48 members ahead of swimming (43) and track and field (40). Australia will for the first time have a boat in each of the 14 events.

Three of the athletes have competed at previous Olympics for other countries-Lalita Yauhleuskaya (shooting) for Russia, Maria Pekli (judo) for Hungary and Semir Pepic (judo) for the Slovak Republic.

A total of 43 athletes competing for Australia next month were born outside the country.

Three athletes are appealing against their omission from the team-modern pentathlete Angie Darby, cyclist Chris Jongewaard and sprinter Patrick Johnson.

No Tibetan flags allowed at Olympic equestrian events

AFP, Hong Kong

Spectators and competitors at the Olympic equestrian events in Hong Kong will be banned from displaying any political slogans, including pro-Tibet flags, organisers said Friday.

Under the Olympic charter, all forms of political propaganda are banned and tight security at venues in the territory will ensure the rules are complied with, said John Breen co-ordinator of security and support for the equestrian events.

"Tibetan flags are prohibited under the rules," Breen told reporters, adding that the Tibetan flag was "not representative of a country".

Security staff deployed at venues hosting the equestrian events from August 8-21 would police the ban, he said.

The equestrian events of jumping, dressage and cross-country are being held in Hong Kong as part of the Beijing 2008 Games because China could not guarantee a disease-free environment for the horses. They are expected to attract around 16,000 spectators.

Announcing "house rules for spectators" at the Olympic events, Breen said the regulations did not carry the weight of law, and no one found in breach would face criminal charges.

Nor would security staff at the venues have power to conduct body searches to ensure ticket holders were not wearing clothing displaying political messages, or carrying contentious flags or posters, he said.

Rather, anyone who did break the rules-by, for instance, holding aloft a Tibetan flag-would "simply be removed from the venue," Breen said.

China's communist government is particularly sensitive about the display of pro-Tibetan banners and flags at the Olympics as its rule of the Himalayan region is a popular worldwide political cause.

Since riots broke out in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, and other cities in March, a government crackdown on anti-Chinese sentiment among Tibetans has been criticised by human rights groups and activists for its severity.

While security across China, and especially in Beijing, has been tightened in the lead-up to the Games, Hong Kong remains proud of its tradition of tolerance and protest, and few of the city's seven million people have much interest in the events to be hosted here.

Benny Lau, senior manager of security and support for the equestrian events, conceded that displays of political propaganda, including those most likely to cause offense to Beijing such as its rule of Tibet and its role in the troubled Sudanese region of Darfur, are not illegal in Hong Kong.

But, he said, "political, religious, racial slogans will be disallowed" at Olympic venues.

Use Twenty20s for Test cricket's survival : Ranatunga

Internet

Arjuna Ranatunga, the former Sri Lankan captain and interim chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket, has said that money brought in by Twenty20s should be used for the benefit of Test cricket, while criticising players for complaining about heavy schedules only when it had nothing to do with the Indian Premier League (IPL).

"Twenty20 brings in money and is business.

That money should be used for Test cricket's survival," Ranatunga told the Hindu, before switching to the issue of player fatigue.

"Players speak about the heavy schedule.

But the moment they talk about the IPL all their fatigue disappears." But he was concerned over a reduced career span for international cricketers.

"It is hard to see a cricketer who begins his international career now playing for more than ten years," he said.

"We need to strike a proper balance between Tests, ODIs and Twenty20 cricket.

Cutting down on the ODIs alone is not the answer." Ranatunga, who played 93 Tests and 269 ODIs during his 18-year career, felt that playing for the country should be given precedence.

"I cherished playing for the country.

It was the greatest honour for me," he said.

"I am happy I retired during the period I did.

I agree that the cricketers need the money, but country should always come first." Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan board is in discussions with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to reschedule a tour next after its players who had signed with the IPL expressed reservations about making the trip since it clashed with the event.

Cricket Australia unaware of England Twenty20 plans

AFP, Sydney

Cricket Australia (CA) said Thursday it knew nothing about reports that a team from Down Under was set to be part of a new Twenty20 competition in England.

Plans for an English Premier League (EPL) to begin in 2010 unveiled this week include England's 18 first-class counties plus two unnamed overseas teams.

The Guardian newspaper reported that the overseas teams represent Australia and South Africa but CA said there had been no approach from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

"We're not aware of the details of the (ECB) proposal," Sutherland told national news agency AAP. "We are seeking to understand the details."

Sutherland said Wednesday that his organisation planned to revamp its own domestic Twenty20 competition in 2010 and hoped to include overseas players.

He said CA was keeping a close eye on international developments in the ultra-short form of the game.

"We're really aware of a lot of things that are developing at the moment in Twenty20 cricket, particularly with domestic competitions," Sutherland said.

"We're already on the record as saying we are planning a revamp of our Twenty20 Big Bash. It will be a larger and (on) different scale in 2009-10 but we see that there is a lot to learn from other parts of the world and we are closely monitoring that."

Sutherland said that the Australian competition would ideally include international players, although scheduling could be a problem due to the cricket world's tight calendar.

"The challenges of our summer period, which coincides with the cricket season for eight or nine of the 10 Test-playing countries, means that period from September through to April is a very busy time," he said.

"There aren't many opportunities to play state (domestic) cricket. We'd love to see them play more and if we can find a window we will, but it's not as easy as some might think."

3rd three-day match between Leicester and Bangladesh A heading for draw

UNB, Dhaka

The 3rd three-day match between English county side Leicestershire and Bangladesh A is heading towards a draw on the 3rd and final day at the Grace Roard, Leicester Friday.

Earlier, the previous two rain-affected three-day matches of the second string Bangladesh side against England Under-19 and Warwickshire ended in draws.

After having a 24-run 1st innings lead, the hosts took an overall 67-run lead without loss scoring 43 runs in 9 overs in their second innings on the final day when last report came in.

TJ New and HH Dippenaar were batting with 24 and 10 runs respectively.

Earlier, replying to Leicestershire's 1st innings total of 354/4, the Bangladesh A side responded well as they posted 330 for all in 97.5 overs riding on three fifties from Tamim Iqbal, Nazimuddin and Mushfiqur Rahim.

Resuming with overnight 215/3, the visitors were unable take lead as they lost the last seven wickets at regular intervals to trail by 24 runs in the first innings.

After the departure of skipper Junaed Siddiqui for 25 leaving team total at 44, another opener Tamim Iqbal along with number three Nazimuddin put up valuable 132 runs in the 2nd wicket stand before Tamim returned to the pavilion contributing innings highest 78 off 164 balls with 14 fours.

Nazimuddin was the 2nd highest scorer for the visitors with 75 runs off 122 balls that featured 11 fours and two sixes while wicket keeper Mushfiqur Rahim remained not out on 60 off 82 balls that included 10 fours.

Rokibul Hasan 19, Shakib Al Hasan 18, Nayeem Islam 16 were the other notable scorers for Bangladesh A.

JKH Naik captured three wickets for 70 runs while TC Smith, DT Rowe and SJ Cliff took two wickets apiece.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh A team will play the 4th match 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 tested positive for steroid

AFP, Karachi

Pakistan paceman Mohammad Asif tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone during the Indian Premier League (IPL), his lawyer said Friday.

The 25-year-old was named on Monday as the player who tested positive for a banned drug during the IPL held between April and June, and the Pakistan Cricket Board suspended him on Tuesday.

It is the second time in his career that Asif has tested positive for the substance, having been found with nandrolone in his system in October 2006 along with Shoaib Akhtar.

"The IPL have informed us that the B-sample of his urine could possibly be tested in the same laboratory in Switzerland on July 28," Asif's lawyer Shahid Karim told AFP.

"Asif is very keen to have his name cleared so he is anxious to go to Switzerland because he is confident to get out of this mess and play," said Karim.

Asif had a taste of trouble earlier this year when he was seized at Dubai airport while returning from the IPL in India on June 1 on charges of possessing opium.

He was detained at the airport for 19 days before the Gulf police deported him after they found the quantity of the drug "insignificant."

The fast-rising bowler was banned for one year after he first tested positive for nandrolone two years ago, while Akhtar got a two-year lay-off. Both bans were overturned on appeal.

The Pakistan Cricket Board dropped Asif from a 30-man provisional squad for September's Champions Trophy squad announced on Tuesday.

The World Anti-Doping Agency said on Friday that it was monitoring Asif's case.

"We are monitoring the case and since it is under process we would not like to comment any further. The B-sample test is a player's right," media manager Frederic Donze said.

Sprinter Chambers can't compete in Beijing

AP, London

British sprinter Dwain Chambers failed Friday in his bid to overturn a lifetime Olympic ban because of doping, and will not be able to compete at the Beijing Games.

London's High Court refused to grant an injunction against the British Olympic Association's bylaw that bans doping violators for life from the games. Chambers' legal team said it would not appeal the decision.

"The judge has made his decision," Chambers said.

The sprinter did not comment on possible retirement plans. His attorney suggested in court Thursday that Chambers was likely to retire if he lost the case.

Chambers, who won the 100 meters at last Saturday's British Olympic trials in 10 seconds, served a two-year ban after testing positive for the steroid THG in August 2003.

The BOA, which is expected to announce its final sprint squad Saturday ahead of Sunday's deadline, said it would not seek to be reimbursed for its costs. It also regretted that Chambers had wasted his "undoubted talent."

"It is a matter of regret that Dwain Chambers t should by his own actions have put himself out of the running to shine on the Olympic stage in Beijing," BOA chairman Colin Moynihan said.

"However, on behalf of the athletes, the BOA will continue to send a powerful and important message that nobody found guilty of serious drug cheating offenses should have the honor of wearing a Team GB vest at the Olympic Games."

Chambers would have been eligible to compete had only International Olympic Committee rules applied.

"We now consider the issue closed and look forward to Beijing and turn all our focus to our final preparations of the athletes who will represent Great Britain," UK Athletics spokeswoman Claire Furlong said.

In his deliberation, Judge Colin Mackay highlighted the new IOC rule, which came into effect July 1 but is not retroactive, banning athletes from the following Olympics if they have received a drug suspension of at least six months.

"We welcome the court's judgment," IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said. "We believe in a zero tolerance approach to athletes who take banned drugs."

Mackay said Chambers had little chance of winning a medal in Beijing and that it would be unfair to deny an opportunity for athletes who had never taken drugs, upsetting the harmony of the team.

He also feared athletes in other sports could launch immediate appeals if Chambers won his bid, such as cyclist David Millar and shot putter Carl Myerscough, who were each convicted of doping offenses.

"Many people both inside and outside sport would see this bylaw as unlawful," Mackay said. "In my judgment, it would take a much better case than the claimant has presented to persuade me to overturn the status quo at this stage and compel his selection for the games."

Mackay said Chambers' argument of restraint of trade would be unlikely to succeed at a full trial, even if he could argue that there are indirect financial benefits from appearing at the amateur event.

"His 10-second time achieved last weekend is confronted by the fact that there will be nine other athletes in Beijing who have run a faster time this year," Mackay said.

Mackay noted with frustration that Chambers only issued the proceeding against the BOA at the "11th hour" on July 3, meaning that the time to assimilate the arguments was limited.

The arguments were digested in court in a one-day hearing Thursday. They were earlier submitted in written form.

The BOA had argued that if Chambers succeeded, the British team's reputation would be tarnished and London's ability to deliver the 2012 Games would be impaired because sponsors would be unwilling to invest.

Chambers' lawyer, Jonathan Crystal, told the court Thursday it was "an exaggerated position" and argued that his client's "redemption and rehabilitation" after testing positive for THG should be recognized.

Chambers briefly returned to the track in 2006 after serving his two-year ban and pursued an alternative - but ultimately unsuccessful - foray into American football.

The 30-year-old Chambers returned to the track in March and won a silver medal in the 60 at the World Indoors.