The New Nation - Internet Edition

National squad for Australia tour announced

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has selected 15 players for the ensuing Australia tour, with three changes to the squad that took part in the Asia Cup in Pakistan.

All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, wicket keeper Dhiman Ghosh and pacer Nazmul Hossain have been included in the new squad in place of Musharraf Hossain Rubel, Mushfiqur Rahim and Nazimuddin.

Mohammad Ashraful will lead the side, while pace spearhead Mashrafe Bin Mortaza will act as his deputy.

Chief selector Rafiqul Alam announced the squad at a press conference at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) here Sunday. Skipper Mohammad Ashraful and coach Jamie Siddons were present.

About the exclusion of Mushfiqur Rahim, the chief selector informed that Mushfiqur dislocated his shoulder during the Bangladesh A team's tour to England and they waited a long time for him.

He said: "Mushfiqur had a fitness test Sunday morning. There was no problem with his batting and keeping, but he faced some problem in throwing. As we are going to Australia with just one specialist wicket keeper, we decided to (keep him as standby). Besides, in the Pakistan tour, he was neither very good or very bad."

About top order batsman Nazimuddin, he said Nazim didn't perform up to the mark (in Pakistan tour) and that's why he has been given rest.

On return of pacer Nazmul Hossain, the chief selector said he has been taken in place of Nazimuddin as an additional pacer as Bangladesh would play five practice matches and have six practice sessions apart from their three-match ODI series.

"There is always hot breeze out there at Darwin and some of the wickets are bouncy. So, we thought in that way."

Asked whether Aftab Ahmed, who suffered finger injury, will be available for the home series against New Zealand, the former national player said Aftab is looking better and he is fielding and batting also. He is now fit.

About their target against the current world champions, Rafiqul Alam said: "At present, we are a very bold, driven side. We had a much better batting performance in the Kitply Cup and then in the Asia Cup. We'll try to develop in all things."

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh team will leave here for Australia on August 14. They will play five one-day practice matches against Australian Institute of Sports and Northern Territory Chief Minister's XI before playing the three-match ODI series.

The first four one-day practice matches against Australian Institute of Sports are slated for August 18, 20, 23 and 25 at the Gardens Oval, Darwin. The 5th one-day practice match against Northern Territory Chief Minister's XI will be held on August 27, also at the Garden's Oval.

Later, the three ODIs between Bangladesh and Australia will be held on August 30, September 3 and 6 at the TIO Stadium in Darwin.

Squad: Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (vice captain), Shahriar Nafees, Tamim Iqbal, Roqibul Hasan, Shakib Al Hasan, Alok Kapali, Dhiman Ghosh, Mahmudullah Riyad, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Farhad Reza, Mehrab Hossain Jr., Nazmul Hossain and Dollar Mahmud.

Standbys: Zunaed Siddiqui, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nazimuddin, Musharraf Hossain Rubel and Nayeem Islam.

Mendis sets record as India slump

BBC Online

Spin sensation Ajantha Mendis broke a 62-year-old record to help Sri Lanka close in on a series win over India.

India lead the hosts by just 14 runs after being reduced to 161-5 in their second innings on day three of the third and final Test in Colombo.

Earlier, Kumar Sangakkara was finally out for 144 in Sri Lanka's 396.

Mendis's two wickets, which included Sachin Tendulkar, took his series total to 25 and broke Alec Bedser's record for the most wickets in a debut series.

"It is a phenomenal achievement. He Mendis came in when Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) needed support and he rose to the occasion well," said Sangakkara.

"He has gone beyond our expectations and the important thing for him is to keep learning."

Mendis won leg-before decisions against Parthiv Patel (one) and Tendulkar (14) as India struggled to cope with his spin in the final session.

"It's disappointing that we have not performed as a batting unit. These are the guys who have won games for India. It's just a matter of not clicking. I don't know how it happened," said India's Harbhajan Singh.

"It's a good wicket to bat on and I hope we bat well on Monday. We are looking forward to a good partnership in the morning."

India started their second innings confidently as Virender Sehwag (34) and Gautam Gambhir (26) added a run-a-ball, 62-run opening stand.

However, debutant pace bowler Dammika Prasad made an important double strike after tea with Thilan Samaraweera pulling off a sharp catch in the gully to dismiss Sehwag and Gambhir chopping on to his stumps.

Veteran spinner Muralitharan then trapped Saurav Ganguly lbw with his doosra, with the decision standing despite the left-hander challenging umpire Mark Benson's decision.

Rahul Dravid provided the only glimmer of hope for the tourists, looking solid on 46 not out, and he will start day four at the crease with the injured VVS Laxman.

India's bowlers, missing the injured Ishant Sharma, were frustrated by Sri Lanka's batsmen when the hosts resumed their innings on Sunday morning.

Sangakkara added a further 37 runs to his overnight 107 before India captain Anil Kumble ended his seven-hour innings, but Prasanna Jayawardene contributed 49 and Prasad 36 to help Sri Lanka stretch their lead to a useful 147.

National Kabaddi begins tomorrow

Sports Reporter

The 28th National Kabaddi Men's Competition begins tomorrow at the Dhaka Kabaddi Stadium.

A total of 18 districts splitted into six groups will take part in the first phase at Comilla Venue. They are: Dinajpur, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Jamalpur, Dhaka, Tangail, Kishoreganj, Kushtia, Satkhira, Jhenaidah, Khulna, Meherpur, Jessore, Patuakhali, Comilla, Sylhet, Kurigram. The top team of each group will play in the final round.

Reigning champions of Bangladesh Rifles will straightly compete in the final round.

A number of five services teams will play in the first phase at the Dhaka Kabaddi Stadium. They are: Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Air Force, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Jail team. Of them, two teams will get tickets of the final round.

The final round will be held in Comilla from August 25.

General Secretary of Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation Md. Nazrul Islam disclosed all the matters, which is related to the Kabaddi meet. Nazrul was speaking at a press conference held at the conference room of National Sports Council on Sunday. Chairman of the Tournament Committee Md. Amir Hossain Patwary, Member Secretary of the Tournament Committee Md. Abdul Haque were also present at the conference.

Prime Bank Tigers Cup Golf concludes

Sports Reporter

Prime Bank Tigers Cup Golf Tournaments were held at the Rangpur Golf & Country Club from 8th August to 9th August. In the Men's Group Col Zaman became the winner while Mrs Sadrul became winner of Ladies Group and Mrs. Kaiser finished runner-up.

On 9th August at Rangpur Cantonment the inauguration ceremony was held in the morning and the prize distribution ceremony in the evening. GOC of 66 Infantry Division of Rangpur and Senior Vice President of Rangpur Golf & Country Club Major General Syed Fatemi Ahmed Rumi, psc, was the chief guest while Saheda Pervin Trisha, Director and Shahadat Hossain, former Director of the Bank were special guest. Syed Mahbubur Rahman DMD of the Bank was also present as guest of honour.

Chittagong Mohammedan move to quarter-final beating Jatrabari 3-2

UNB, Dhaka

Chittagong Mohammedan SC moved to the quarter-final of the Citycell Federation Cup Football when they clinched a hard-fought 3-2 goal win over Jatrabari Krira Chakra in the Group B match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) here Sunday.

In was the 2nd win for Mohammedan SC after the 2-1 goal win over Chittagong Abahani in the opening group match on August 6.

During the play, foreign recruit Anthony Pele Doe, captain Nur Hossain Doulat and Tohidul Islam scored one goal each for the winners after leading the 1st half 2-1. Victor and Yeasin netted one goal each for the losers.

Anthony put Mohammedan SC ahead in the 15th minute with a header from Sharif's free kick at mid-field (1-0). But striker Victor scored an equalizer for Jatrabari KC in the 23rd minute when he pushed the ball from the danger zone utilising Yeasin's close pass (1-1).

Doulat scored the 2nd goal for Mohammedan SC in the 30th minute with an easy shot utilizing a close pass from Linkon (2-1). Touhidul quickly raised the margin with a shot from the opposition danger zone (3-1).

Yeasin pulled one back for Jatrabari KC with a eye-catching angular shot in the 68th minute at the top of the D box giving no chance to opponent custodian Mamun Khan (3-2), who performed well under the bar earlier foiling some certain goals attacks from the opposition.

Mohammedan SC played well in the 1st half, but failed to make much headway in 2nd half in the face of several offensives from Jatrabari KC who failed to avail two good scoring chances to level the margin.

They got the 1st scoring chance in the 78th minute, but substitute Shohel's powerful shot at the top of the D box narrowly missed the target.

Mohammedan SC had another scoring chance to level the margin in the 86th minute but this time custodian Mamun foiled Touhidul's speedy shot at the cost of corner.

Dhaka Abahani reach quarterfinal

UNB, Dhaka

Dhaka Abahani reached quarterfinal of the Citycell Federation Cup Football Tournament eliminating Chittagong Abahani by 4-1 goals in the group B match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Sunday.

Striker Zahid Hasan Emily and midfielder Arif Khan Joy struck twice each for Dhaka Abahani in the 22nd, 61st, 59th and 85th minute while Mithun scored the consolation goal for Chittagong Abahani in the 36th minute.

Earlier, in the opening Group match on August 6, Dhaka Abahani made a flying start drubbing Jatrabari KC by 4-1 goals.

Thailand wins women's 53 kg weightlifting gold

AP, Beijing

Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon of Thailand won the weightlifting gold medal in the women's 53 kilogram category Sunday, setting an Olympic record.

South Korea's Yoon Jinhee finished in second place and Natassia Novikava of Belarus got the bronze.

Jaroenrattanatarakoon lifted a total of 221 kilograms in Sunday's competition. She pulled off 95 kgs in the snatch and an Olympic high score of 126 kgs in the clean and jerk.

Her total was 8 kgs better than Yoon and Novikava. Yoon got the silver because of a lower body weight.