The New Nation - Internet Edition

Farashganj reach semifinals beating Arambagh

UNB, Dhaka

Farashganj SC is the first team to reach the semifinals of the Citycell Federation Cup Football Tournament eliminating Arambagh KS by 2-0 goals at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here on Monday.

Striker Enamul Haque scored both the goals for the old Dhaka outfit Farashganj -- the first one in 35th minute and the second goal in 90th minute.

Referee Tayeb Hasan had to show six yellow cards - five to Farashganj and one to Arambagh - to control the match.

Yellow card recipients are: Al Amin, Uttam, Enamul, Tonny and Yousuf (Farashganj), and Tabith (Arambagh).

Bangladesh again lose to AIS

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh National Cricket team tasted a massive nine-wicket defeat by Australian Institute of Sports (AIS) in their fourth practice one-dayer at the Gardens Oval in Darwin of Australia on Monday.

Earlier, Bangladesh lost to the same opponent in the third practice one-dayer at the same venue on August 23.

Batting first Bangladesh scored 229 for the loss of nine wickets in the stipulated 50 overs.

In reply, AIS coasted home in 36.2 overs making 230 for the loss one wicket.

Alok Kapali was the only batsman of Bangladesh who got success in batting. He made 62.

GJ Sulivan harpooned four wickets at the cost of 30 runs while TP Kelly grabbed three wickets giving away 41 runs.

Later, opener UT Khawaja and MW Hill put on together an unbroken 156-run partnership in the second wicket stand.

UT Khawaja hit an unbeaten101 while MW Hill remained undefeated with 87.

Spinner Abdur Razzak got one wicket conceding 32 runs.

Bangladesh will play their last practice one-dayer against Northern Territory Chief Minister's Eleven tomorrow at the same venue.

Bangladesh Army earns a facile 135-37 points win over Kushtia

UNB, Rajshahi

Bangladesh Army earned a comfortable 135-37 points victory over Kushtia DSA in a match of the Premier Bank 23rd National Basketball Championship here on Monday.

In the day's other matches, BKSP beat Jessore by 54-29 points, Bangladesh Navy outclassed Bangladesh Police by 112-70 points and Khulna DSA beat hosts Rajshahi by 82-56 points.

The quarterfinal match begins today (Tuesday).

India wins 3rd one-dayer against Sri Lanka

AP, Colombo

Captain Mahendra Dhoni's crucial 76 runs coupled with sharp seam bowling helped India beat Sri Lanka by 33 runs Sunday in the third one-day international to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, India made a moderate 237-9 in 50 overs. The visitors were in trouble on 91-4, when Dhoni came in to form two important partnerships - 54 with Suresh Raina (54) and 67 with Rohit Sharma (32) - to steer India away from a low total.

In reply, the host team was dismissed for 204 in 49 overs, despite a defiant 94 from captain Mahela Jayawardene who waged a lone battle for an unlikely victory after a top-order collapse left them struggling on 94-7.

Seam bowler Praveen Kumar made the breakthrough for the visitors, when he had Sanath Jayasuriya caught behind for 13 runs with the total on 18.

Only eight runs later, Zaheer Khan trapped the other opener Kumar Sangakkara (9) lbw.

Australia still keen to tour Pakistan

AP, Sydney

The Australian cricket team is "passionately keen" to tour Pakistan in April next year, despite the postponement of next month's Champions Trophy tournament over security concerns.

Cricket Australia is "desperately hoping" political turmoil in Pakistan eases in time for the scheduled 2009 tour, which would be Australia's first to the Islamic republic since 1998, CA spokesman Peter Young said Monday.

Australia was scheduled to travel to Pakistan earlier this year, but that tour was postponed because of civil unrest caused by the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Under a revised itinerary, Australia will travel to Pakistan for five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match in April, before returning in 2010 for a three-test series.

"What we're all hoping now is the situation in Pakistan allows us to go there next year," Young said. "We're passionately keen to be able to do that.

"The former president (Musharraf) is now resigned and we're all hoping the civil situation returns to order," he added. "We haven't had a senior Australian team in Pakistan for a long time."

The International Cricket Council announced Sunday the Champions Trophy limited-overs tournament would be postponed from next month until October, 2009. The ICC made the decision in the face of a possible boycott of the limited overs tournament by Australia, the defending champions, New Zealand, England and South Africa.

Young said the future of the scheduled tour would depend on advice Australia received from security experts.

"If the expert advice says it's safe, we go and we're happy to recommend to players that we go," he said. "If the safety and security advice says it's not safe then we don't go and our track record speaks for itself on that front."

Young said safety and security issues existed in almost every country in the world that Australia played cricket, with the exception of New Zealand.

"Professional risk assessment says the risk is acceptable in some of those places. Unfortunately at the moment, it's not acceptable in Pakistan."

Meanwhile, acting Australia captain Michael Clarke welcomed the ICC's decision to postponed the Champions Trophy.

"It's a great result for all the players just to find out whether we're going or not going," Clarke said Monday. "I think all the guys are happy now we know now the that ICC, Cricket Australia and ACA (Australian Cricketers' Association) would make a decision and they've finally done that."

Real Madrid win Supercup

AFP, Madrid

Real Madrid won the Spanish Supercup for the first time since 2003 with a 4-2 win at home over Valencia with goals by Ruud van Nistelrooy, Sergio Ramos, Ruben de la Red and Gonzalo Higuian.

The Spanish champions headed into the return leg of the tournament-which is contested each year between the league champions and the winners of the King's Cup-with a 3-2 deficit.

Valencia midfielder David Silva, who helped Spain to win Euro 2008, opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with an accurate shot that slipped in the left side of the net as Real keeper Iker Casillas looked on helplessly.

Real striker van Nistelrooy equalised four minutes into the second half with a penalty kick that slid past the right side of Valencia goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand.

The Spanish champions were awarded the penalty due to a goal-line incident involving Valencia defender Raul Albiol.

Real Madrid took the lead in the 77th minute with a confusing and contested goal by defender Sergio Ramos from close range.

De la Reg scored in the 85th minute from 35 metres with Higuain adding the club's fourth goal three minutes later.

Morientes managed to score a second for Valencia in the dying minutes of the match following a pass from David Villa.

Players and observed a minute of silence before the start of the match as a mark of respect for the 154 people who died after a Spanair jet crashed Wednesday at Madrid airport shortly after takeoff.

Amongst the victims of the Crash, Spain's worst aviation accident in 25 years, was the Bulgarian mother of 15-year-old Martin Kozhuharova who was recently recruited by Real Madrid's youth team.

Real coach Bernd Schuster was without a number of players. Midfielder Wesley Sneijder, defender Fabio Cannavaro, striker Javier Saviola and defenders Michel Salgado and Christoph Metzelder missed the match due to injury.

Argentine midfielder Fernando Gago and Brazilian defender Marcelo were absent due to their participation at the Olympics in China for their national squads.

Schuster included Real's Brazilian forward Robinho, who on Friday called on the club to let him join Chelsea before the transfer window closes at the end of the month, in his squad but did not include him in his starting line-up.

The player was jeered by a small group of fans as he left Real's team hotel and as well as when he arrived at the club's Bernabeu stadium.

"Robinho don't be ungrateful, stay," read one back and white sign that was hung from the stands of the stadium by fans during the match.

Pepe returned to the squad after being suspended for the opening encounter.

Rafael Van der Vaart started for Real and received a red card in the first half during in his first appearance in front of the Madrid fans since joining the club from Hamburg earlier this month.

West Indies win tri-series cricket title in Canada

AP, King City

Captain Chris Gayle's first one-day international century since 2006 steered West Indies to defeat Canada by seven wickets in Sunday's tri-series cricket final.

Gayle smashed 110 not out off 77 balls in leading West Indies to 181-3 in the 28th over, in reply to Canada's 179 all out in the 47th.

Gayle opened the innings and completed it with his 14th boundary. He also hit six sixes.

With Gayle on 4 not out was Xavier Marshall, who hit an unbeaten 157 against Canada on Friday in the last round-robin game.

Gayle and Sewnarine Chattergoon opened with 88 together before the latter was out leg before to Harvir Baidwan for 23 in the 13th over. Gayle and Carlton Baugh took the score to 165-2 when Baugh, on 29, became the first of two wickets in two overs for debutant spinner Balaji Rao.

Canada's innings was blemished by indecisive running that resulted in three run outs.

Sent in to bat by West Indies in overcast conditions, Canada made a disastrous start, losing its first wicket off the first ball when Mohammed Iqbal was run out by Chattergoon at backward square leg.

Canada captain Sunil Dhaniram and Karun Jethi were also run out by West Indies allrounder Brendan Nash, who took 1-33.

Fast bowler Jerome Taylor was the West Indies' most productive bowler with 3-33 off 6.5 overs.

Hard-hitting opener Rizwan Cheema continued his good form in the series - scoring 61, including 21 runs in an over off fast bowler Daren Powell who bowled much too short. Cheema's 45-ball innings included three sixes and eight boundaries, and he was named man of the series.

Scores:

West Indies 181-3 off 27.3 overs (Chris Gayle 110 not out, Balaji Rao 2-50), def. Canada 179 off 46.5 (Rizwan Cheema 61; Jerome Taylor 3-33, Nate Miller 2-18) by 7 wickets.

Friends Social Welfare make good start, beat Dhanmondi Club 1-0

UNB, Dhaka

Friends Social Welfare Organisation made a good start in the Metropolis Second Division Football League beating Dhanmondi Club by a solitary goal in the opening match at the Bir Shreshtha Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium in Kamalapur on Monday.

Abu Hanif scored the all-important goal for the winners in the very 4th minute.

Earlier, senior vice-president of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Abdus Salam Murshedi inaugurated the league as chief guest.

Seventeen teams are taking part on a single league basis matches. The two top teams (champions and runners-up) will gain promotion to the Metropolis First Division League from the next season.

Two matches will be held everyday -- at 2:30pm and at 4:15pm.

Apart from Kamalapur stadium, one match will also be held at the Army Stadium in Banani at 3:30 pm from September 1.

Participating teams: Dhanmondi Club, East End Club, Police SC, Bangladesh Boys Club, Prantik KC, T&T Club Motijheel, Sadharan Bima KS, Basabo Tarun Sangha, Kadamtala Sangsad, Kawran Bazar Pragati Sangha, BG Press S&RC, Uttar Baridhara Club, Little Friends Club, Euro Famous Club, Gazirchat SC, Matuail Udayan Sangsad and Friends Social Welfare Organisation.

First Rugby Tournament starts today

Sports Reporter

The Diamond Melamine First School Rugby Tournament starts today at the Paltan Maidan. Bangladesh Rugby Association will arrange the rugby competition.

A number of eight schools splitting into two groups will participate in the rugby meet.

Nababpur Government High School, Narinda Government High School, Islambagh Ashraf Ali High School, Heart To Reach School have been pencilled in Group-A while Saint Gregory's High School, West End High School, Hammadia High School, Rahmatullah Model High School have been placed in Group-B.

The champions of Group-A will face the runners-up of Group-B in the first semi-final while the champions of Group-B will meet the runners-up of Group-A in the second semi-final.

The winners of the two semi-finals will face each other in the final on September 1.

The budget of the tournament has been estimated at TK one lakh and sixty four thousand while Diamond Melamine, the sponsor of the has given TK one lakh and ten thousand to Bangladesh Rugby Association. The association will bear rest of the expenditure from its own fund.

To mark the ensuing rugby meet, a press conference was held at the conference room of National Sports Council on Monday. General Secretary of Bangladesh Rugby Association Md Moushum Ali, Managing Director of Diamond Melamine Md Mukhter Hossain, Vice-President of the Tournament Committee Monirul Haque and Secretary of the Tournament Committee Hossain A Shikder were present at the conference, among others.

Narinda Pragati Boys thrash Menzis KC 41-18

UNB, Dhaka

Narinda Pragati Boys Club thrashed Menzis KC by 41-18 goals in a match of the 14th Cute Premier Division Handball League at the Outer Stadium Handball ground on Monday.

Narinda Pragati Boys Club dominated the first half by 19-10 goals.

Saidur scored highest 11 goals for Narinda Boys, while Russell netted eight goals for Menzis KC. Saidur was later adjudged the player of the match.

In the day's other match, Old Ideals Club beat Bhratritta Samaj Kalyan Sangha by 39-23 goals after leading the first half 14-7.

Sohel Rana scored highest 15 goals for Old Ideals to be adjudged man of the match. Faisal and Selim netted six goals apiece for Bhratritta SKS.

Today's matches: Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club vs Surjodoy KC (3:00 pm), Old Ideals Club vs Victoria SC (4:00 pm)

28th National Kabaddi begins in Comilla

UNB, Comilla

Khulna DSA made flying start in the 28th National Kabaddi Championship beating Meherpur DSA by 61-15 points with five creditable lonas in the inaugural match at the Comilla Stadium on Monday.

President of Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation and Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad inaugurated the weeklong meet, organized by Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation under the auspices of Comilla DSA.

DIG of Police (Chittagong Range) AKM Shahidul Haque, Kabaddi Federation general secretary M Nazrul Islam and Comilla DSA general secretary Yousuf Jamil Babu were present at the inaugural function, chaired by Deputy Commissioner of Comilla M Manjurur Rahman.

The women's kabaddi players, now in the training camp for the 3rd Asian Women's Kabaddi Championship, played an exhibition match to mark the occasion.

In the day's other two matches, Dinajpur DSA defeated Jhenidah DSA by 44-15 points with two lonas, while Khulna again beat Kishoreganj DSA by 50-7 points with three lonas.

Participating teams:

Group A - Mymensingh, Sylhet and Chandpur;

Group B - Dinajpur, Jhenidah and Satkhira;

Group C - Khulna, Kishoreganj and Meherpur;

Group D - Rajshahi, Patuakhali and Jamalpur;

Group E - Tangail, Rangpur and Kushtia;

Group F - Dhaka, Jessore and Kurigram

Defending champions Bangladesh Rifles, hosts Comilla DSA, two services zone teams -- Bangladesh Police and Bangladesh Army -and six group champion teams will play in the final round beginning Aug 28 at the same venue.

Pakistan disabled cricketers eye India tour

AFP, Karachi

The Pakistan Disabled Cricket Association (PDCA) said Monday it hoped its first-ever national league would pave the way for more world recognition as they eye a tour to neighbouring India.

The PDCA has just staged the first eight-team National League, which Rawalpindi won by beating Multan by two wickets in the final in the southern port city of Karachi on Sunday night.

"We think it's a huge leap for us, and the first-ever league would help us form a strong Pakistan disabled team and (make) our dreams of touring India next year come true," said Salim Karim, the association's president.

Teams from Karachi, Peshawar, Lahore, Faisalabad, Hyderabad and Quetta also took part in the week-long competition.

Pakistan batsman Younus Khan said he was amazed at the enthusiasm of the disabled cricketers.

"I am amazed at their courage and passion," said Younus. "I was behind forming the Peshawar team, and when we announced trials we thought some 10 to 20 players would come, but there were over 100 players in the trials."

Younus said the International Cricket Council (ICC) should support disabled cricket.

"It is eye-catching to see a player with just one hand hitting sixes, and that was on display during the league," he said. "I think ICC must support this type of cricket and give encouragement by arranging series for them."

The PDCA, formed in 2002, is self-financed and refuses charity.