The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bangladesh A post 275/6 in 2nd one-day against MCC

UNB, Dhaka

Riding on an unbeaten century by right-handed batsman Rokibul Hasan, touring Bangladesh A team scored a fighting 275 for 6 in 50 overs in their second one-day match against Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) at the Racecourse, Durham University Ground, Durham on Friday.

Rokibul contributed not out 112 off 124 balls with eight fours and a six, while Dhiman Ghosh came up with a brisk fifty.

Earlier, sent into bat first, the visitors faced early batting wobble as three top order batsmen -- Nazimuddin 1, Tamim Iqbal 11 and Rajin Saleh 5 -- went cheaply leaving the team score at 27/3.

However, number four Rokibul Hasan along with Shakib Al Hasan steadied the innings putting up a valuable 71 runs in the 4th wicket before Shakib perished for 41 runs off 54 balls that featured five fours.

Then Nayeem Islam along with Rokibul carried on for 51 runs to take the score to 149/5 as Nayeem departed for 25.

After that Dhiman Ghosh joined Rokibul to make a valuable 113-run stand with Dhiman contributing 55 runs off 40 balls with four fours and two sixes.

WRS Gidman and JS Miles grabbed two wickets each for 40 and 44 runs respectively.

The second string Bangladesh side, which conceded a six- wicket defeat against English county Lancashire in the first one-day match on Wednesday, will play their last one-day match with another county side Durham on Sunday 3 at Chester-le-street.

Bangladesh A team remained unbeaten in the longer version cricket in the ongoing England tour playing five three-day matches.

Bangladesh beat English county Derbyshire by one-wicket in the 4th three-day match. Earlier, in the four three-day matches, they drew with England Under-19 team, Warwickshire, Leicestershire and South Africa.

Thanou threatens to sue IOC chief

BBC Online

Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou has threatened she could sue IOC president Jacques Rogge personally if she is not allowed to compete at the Olympics.

Thanou is in Greece's squad, but Rogge has said he could bar her following her withdrawal from the 2004 Games.

In a letter obtained by BBC Sport, Thanou's lawyer warns the IOC he will take legal action if this happens.

"These actions will be directed not only against the IOC, but against certain IOC individuals," it reads.

Thanou and compatriot Kostas Kenteris missed a drugs test of the eve of the Athens Olympics.

It was the third time each had missed a test, resulting in an automatic two-year ban from competition by the IAAF.

The sprinters are also currently the subject of a criminal case after claiming to have been involved in a motorcycle accident in Athens on the evening of the missed test.

Rogge has already warned he will be able to prevent Thanou from competing at the Beijing Games, after she handed over her accreditation when asked to appear before a 2004 IOC disciplinary commission investigating her missed test.

"When Thanou handed over her accreditation, she was no more an Olympic athlete," Rogge said.

"We said at the time that we would review the eligibility of Thanou for Beijing."

The 33-year-old is also demanding to be awarded Marion Jones' 100m gold from the 2000 Olympics by Monday.

Failure to do so will also result in legal action, according to the letter obtained by BBC Sport.

"The IOC must hand the gold medal from the Sydney Olympiad to Ms Thanout there are no legal grounds for refusing the medal," the letter reads.

Jones was stripped of her five medals from the Sydney Games after admitting she was taking the banned steroid THG at the time.

The IOC is reluctant to award Thanou the gold medal, even though she finished second behind Jones in the Sydney 100m.

The IOC's executive board is due to discuss Thanou's case this weekend, by which time it will have received recommendations from the disciplinary commission.

The IOC's director of legal affairs, Howard Stupp, sent a letter to Thanou on 25 July to outline the organisation's case against the sprinter.

This letter has also been obtained by BBC Sport and explains that the IOC will consider the following facts about Thanou's case:

o your general attitude and behaviour towards the IOC and the Olympic Movement (at) the 2004 Olympic Games

o your subsequent acknowledgement of having breached the rules of the IAAF

o the status of the criminal procedure directed against you by the Greek judicial authorities

A spokesman for the IOC said an announcement about Thanou was not expected before the end of next week.

Thanou held a news conference in Athens on Friday and held aloft her accreditation for the Beijing Games.

She said: "There is no official charge against me, so why am I being asked if I want to take part in the Olympics even though I have qualified under the rules?

"I have been maligned and my career was damagedt this is still going on. Enough is enough."

Harbhajan leads India fightback

BBC Online

Spinner Harbhajan Singh took 4-71 in the final session as India fought back to restrict Sri Lanka to 215-5 on day two of the second Test in Galle.

Sri Lanka were 137-1 after Malinda Warnapura and Kumar Sangakkara had put on 133 following Michael Vandort's dismissal in the first over.

But Harbhajan ended their stand and then took two more wickets.

Virender Sehwag had carried his bat for an unbeaten 201 as spinner Ajantha Mendis took 6-117 in India's 329.

Sehwag also passed 5,000 Test runs with his fifth Test double-century, which came from just 231 deliveries and featured 22 fours and four sixes.

He also became only the second India after Sunil Gavaskar to carry his bat through an innings.

India had resumed the day on 214-4 and Sehwag shared 100 runs with VVS Laxman for the fifth wicket.

Mendis broke the partnership and India lost their last five wickets for just 51.

In response, Sri Lanka were 126-1 at tea after the early loss of Vandort, but the slide began in the seventh over of the last session when Warnapura (66) drove a Harbhajan delivery to Gautam Gambhir at short cover.

Harbhajan struck again in his next over, removing the dangerous Sangakkara for 68.

Captain Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera added 48 to the total but never looked comfortable on a pitch offering turn and bounce for the spinners.

Harbhajan struck twice in the 53rd over, trapping Samaraweera lbw and three balls later he had Tillakaratne Dilshan caught bat-pad at forward-short-leg.

Samaraweera challenged the dismissal under the trial laws being used in this series, but third umpire Gamini Silva agreed with on-field umpire Mark Benson and ruled him out.

Sri Lanka can clinch the three-match series with victory in this Test, having won the opener by an innings and 239 runs.

BKSP, Jatrabari KC reach final round

UNB, Dhaka

BKSP and Jatrabari KC reached the final round from Group A of the Citycell Federation Cup Football Tournament after they played to a goalless draw at the Gazipur Stadium on Friday.

Despite the tame draw, the two teams dominate the league table securing five points from three matches with a win and two draws.

In the day's other Group A match at the Banani Army Stadium, newcomers Diganto Prasari, Rajshai edged past Bangladesh Police by a solitary goal scored by Mohammad Alam in the 22nd minute.

With the win, Diganto Prasari secured four points, while Bangladesh Police remained at one point from three matches. Both teams made their exit from the tournament.

Today's matches: Victoria SC vs Bangladesh Navy (Army Stadium 4pm), Sunrise SC vs Bangladesh Customs Krira Parishad (Gazipur Stadium 4pm), and Dhaka Wanderers Club vs Bangladesh Air Force (Bangabandhu National Stadium 4pm).

Injured Sharapova out of Olympics

BBC Online

Women's tennis world number three Maria Sharapova will miss the Beijing Olympics because of a shoulder injury.

The problem caused the 21-year-old Russian to withdraw from this week's WTA Rogers Open in Montreal.

She was in pain in her second-round 7-5 5-7 6-2 win over Poland's Marta Domachowska and an MRI scan revealed two small tears.

"This is something that needs a lot of time to heal. It really hurts me to say I have to miss the Olympics," she said.

"After Wednesday's match I knew there was something seriously wrong with my shoulder," added Sharapova on her official website.

"After taking a few different exams and MRI's, the doctors found two small tears in the tendons of my shoulder.

"There are so many mixed feelings because on Wednesday night they were almost positive there was something wrong with my nerve, which could have ultimately been much more serious.

"But after Thursday morning's tests, for the first time in a while, they were able to give me a different answer and a different problem.

"The timing is so unfortunate and this makes me more sad than anything."

1st Rugby referee training program concludes

UNB, Dhaka

The two-day 1st Rugby referee training program, organised by Bangladesh Rugby Association, concluded at the Outer Stadium here on Friday.

Rugby Association vice-president Mir Mohammad Imam Ali was the chief guest and distributed the certificates among the 35 participants of the program. Association general secretary Mousum Ali was present.

Bangladesh Rugby Referees' Association president Billal Hossain and general secretary Ashraf Uddin Ahmed conducted the training program.

Gurpukur Eleven wins Satkhira Handball League title

UNB, Satkhira

Gurpukur Eleven emerged champions in the Satkhira Handball League beating Park Eleven by 10-7 goals in the final on Friday.

After the final, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Refayetullah distributed prizes among the winners as chief guest.

District Sports Association (DSA) general secretary Mohammad Shahidul Islam, Zilla Parishad CEO Mohammad Gaus and ADC Abdul Aziz were present on the occasion.

Some 40 teams of the district took part in the league organized by Satkhira DSA.

8 players win men's singles 2nd round matches

UNB, Dhaka

Eight players won their respective men's singles qualifying 2nd round matches of the Dhaka Open Tennis Competition that began on Friday at the Ramna National Tennis Complex (NTC).

In the 2nd round, Jamil (NTC) outplayed Moniruzzaman (NTC) 6-0, 6-0, Taslim (NTC) beat Joy (Naogaon) 6-1, 6-2, Mizanur Rahman (NTC) defeated Marzuk Sharif (6-1, 6-0), Channu Lal (Nordic Club) beat Sohan (Naogaon) 6-2, 6-2, Ranjit Pasi (NTC) defeated Russell (NTC) 6-1, 6-1, Shahnewaz (Hotel Sarina) beat Niloy Rahman (NTC) 6-2, 6-2, Bashir Gazi (Hotel Sarina) beat Shafayet (NTC) 6-2, 6-0 and Biplob Ram (NTC) defeated Ritu Raz (NTC) 6-1, 6-2.

Meanwhile, some 12 matches -- 8 in the first round and 4 in the final round -- were decided in the Boy's Under-14 division on Friday.

Shihan RI Newton achieves Ph.D Degree in Martial Arts

Sports Reporter

The 5th World Martial Arts Black Belt Hall Of Fame-2008 was held in MBKS Indoor Stadium, Kuching Sarawak Malaysia from 26 & 27th July 2008 which was organised jointly by the International Martial Arts Research Insititute (Affiliated to Anstead University of UK) & Martial Arts Federation Of Malaysia.

More than 300 Martial Arts exponents from different countries of the world attended at the Martial Arts Black Belt Hall of Fame-2008 and achieved different awards according to their performance. Shihan RI Newton, Black Belt, 7th Dan, President of Bangladesh Karate Association attended at the programme and received Doctorate Degree in Martial Arts.

He completed a thesis on Importance to learn self-defence techniques for Women in Bangladesh under the guidance and supervision of Prof. Dr. Song Swee Hee, Ph.D, Chairman on Martial Arts Federation of Malaysia.

It may be mentioned that Shihan Newton is the first Bangladeshi who has achieved Ph.D Degree in Karate for the first time in South Asian region.

Pioneer Football: Noakhali, Tangail win

Sports Reporter

Noakhali Football Academy and Tangail Football Club won their respective matches of the Dhaka City Corporation Pioneer Football League on Friday.

In the day's first match, Noakhali Football Academy defeated Arambagh Krira Sangha (Junior) by two goals to nil at the Kamalapur Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium.

All the two goals were scored in the first half.

Uzzal and Mahbub of Noakhali Football Academy scored one goal each.

In the day's second match, Tangail Football Club beat Mir Hajirbagh KC by a solitary goal at the same venue.

After a barren first half Jagannath of Tangail scored the all-important goal in the 51st minute of the play.

Today Moghbazar KC will face Surjoshena SC while Rampura KC will meet Mansoor Sporting Club at the same venue.

Ronaldo not a slave, says Blatter

AP, Vietnam

FIFA President Sepp Blatter said he had been misquoted in likening Portugal and Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo to a slave, but said there is modern slavery in football.

"I have never said that Ronaldo is a slave," Blatter told reporters Wednesday on a visit to Vietnam. "But I said slavery with young people, youngsters that European clubs are trying to get 13, 14 and 15 years old boys and bring them to the big clubs. This is in my expression, this is modern slavery." he said "I have never mentioned that for Ronaldo."

"But the press t they have distorted it. "Ronaldo is not a slave."

In an interview last month, Blatter called on Manchester United to release Cristiano Ronaldo if the prized winger asks to join Real Madrid, saying it was not right to hold him against his will even if he was under contract to the English club.

"We should also protect the player and if the player wants to play somewhere else, then a solution should be found," Blatter said in that interview. "Because if he stays in a club where he does not feel comfortable to play then it's not good for the player and for the club t I'm always in favor to protect the player and if the player, he wants to leave, let him leave."

Blatter then added that "in football there is too much modern slavery."

Those comments sparked widespread criticism, particularly from Manchester United, which continues to insist Ronaldo will not be sold despite ongoing speculation he will move to the Spanish champion.

Blatter said Wednesday that Ronaldo and the two clubs can find a solution.

"They will solve this problem," he said "We have nothing to say, FIFA is not going to intervene, let is be as it is now."

Blatter was on a one-day trip to Vietnam to inaugurate the first phase of a FIFA-funded center to train young talented footballers.

SAF CMP beat RRF 2-1 in Shaheed Police Smriti Football Tournament

BSS, Chittagong

SAF CMP team beat RRF by 2-1 goals in the Diamond Cement Shaheed Police Smriti Football Tournament (DCSPSFT)-08 held in Dampara Police Lines field in the city on Friday.

Earlier, Commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP), M Akbar Ali formally inaugurated the tournament as chief guest.

Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) is organizing the tournament in remembrance of martyred police men in the country's Liberation War in 1971. Diamond Cement Limited (DCL) is sponsoring the tournament.

Mahbub Ali, director of DCL, Morshedul Anwar Khan, Deputy Police Commissioner (Sadar), Abu Sufian, Deputy Police Commissioner (traffic), Abu Bakar Siddique, Assistant Police Commissioner (Sadar), Naimul Hasan, Assistant Police Commissioner of DB were, among others, attended the inaugural function.

SAF CMP scored 2 goals in the first half while RRF returned one goal in the second half narrowing difference.

A total of six teams are participating in the tournament.