The New Nation - Internet Edition

First ODI today: Australia won't take Bangladesh lightly

AP, Darwin

Stand-in Australia captain Michael Clarke says his team will not make the mistake of taking Bangladesh lightly in their three-match limited-overs cricket series starting Saturday.

Bangladesh beat Australia in a one-day match at Cardiff, Wales in 2005 and Clarke, standing in for recuperating regular skipper Ricky Ponting, said the Australians had no intention of underestimating their rivals.

"I can guarantee that definitely won't happen," he said. "It's happened to us before and we've lost, not just to Bangladesh, but to a lot of teams.

"As soon as you take things for granted I think you find yourself asking questions why you've lost that game, so it's important we concentrate on Saturday."

Along with Ponting, who has a wrist injury, Australia will be without opener Matthew Hayden, recovering from an Achilles tendon strain, and strike bowler Brett Lee, who has been granted leave after a marriage breakup.

The Australians looked rusty in a warmup match against an Australian Institute of Sport XI on Thursday, but Clarke said they will quickly improve.

Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons said his team was aiming for consistency and would not be satisfied with occasional, surprise wins over teams such as Australia.

"We always talk about the fact that we have a win here, we have a win there," Australian-born Siddons said. "We're trying to be more consistently competitive."

Siddons said only through consistency would the Bangladesh team earn respect.

"Coming to Australia and everyone knowing that we can be competitive, not asking 'do you think you might win a game?"' he said. "'How many games are you going to win?' is what I want people to ask."

The three one-dayers will be played at Marrara Cricket Ground in the northern city of Darwin. Saturday's match will be followed by games on Sept. 3 and Sept. 6.

Teams:

Australia (from): Michael Clarke (captain), Mike Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Shane Watson, James Hopes, Andrew Symonds, David Hussey, Brad Haddin, Cameron White, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Brett Geeves.

Bangladesh (from): Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Mashrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Alok Kapali, Dhiman Ghosh, Dolar Mahmud, Farhad Reza, Junaid Siddique, Mehrab Hossain, Nazmul Hossain, Raqibul Hasan, Shahadat Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Naeem Islam.

Abahani moves to final beating Farashganj 2-1

UNB, Dhaka

Abahani Limited moved to the final of the Citycell Federation Cup Football with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Farashganj Sporting Club in the first semifinal at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) here on Friday.

The match was locked 1-1 during the first half.

Prantosh Kumar Das and Wali Faisal scored for the traditional 'sky-blue' Dhanmondi outfit, while Khokon Das for the 'old- Dhaka' outfit.

Khokon Das put Farashganj SC ahead in the very 2nd minute of the match by a powerful ground shot after the ball came his way off the fisted clearance by Abahani custodian Biplob (1-0).

Prantosh leveled the margin for Abahani Limited in the 26th minute by a placing shot, capitalizing on a Samad Yusuf minus (1-1).

After the breather, Wali Faisal scored the second goal for Abahani in the 64th minute by a close range push, utilizing a pass from defender Sujon (2-1).

In the 2nd semifinal, Dhaka Mohammedan meets Chittagong Mohammedan today (Saturday) at 5:00 pm, also at the same venue.

The final match of the tournament will be held on September 1 at 4:30 pm, with Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar giving live coverage.

Yellow cards: Al Amin, Mamun Miah, Mohammad Yusuf (Farashganj SC)

Squads:

Abahani Limited - Biplob, Siraji, Yusuf, Sujon, Wali Faisal, Abul, Joy (Prodeep), Zahed Parvez, Prantosh, Emily and Ibrahim (Tipu).

Farashganj SC - Al Amin, Faisal, Ramjan (Rentu), Mamun, Rajib, Russell, Kabir, Khokon, Khalilur (Chanchal), Anamul and Yusuf (Mamun).

Referee - Abdul Hannan Miron.

Siddons wants more from Bangladesh

AFP, Darwin

Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons has challenged his side to show more consistency and trouble the world's best teams on a more regular basis.

Siddons, who was a prolific batsman in Australian first- class cricket for many years but never played at the top level, was speaking here Friday as his team prepared for a three-match one- day series against world champions Australia.

The series, which will be played on drop-in wickets prepared in Queensland, was scheduled as a warm-up for the now-postponed Champions Trophy.

Despite being without captain Ricky Ponting, opener Matthew Hayden and speedster Brett Lee, the home side is expected to be far too good.

Bangladesh can take some heart from an upset win over Australia in Cardiff in 2005, when Siddons was an assistant coach for the Australians, but he said it was time Bangladesh became a respected foe in international cricket.

Siddons said his team had shown it could upset the best in the world, but with just 40 wins in 184 one-day internationals they needed to do so far more often.

"We always talk about the fact that we have a win here, we have a win there," he said.

"We're trying to be more consistently competitive. Snatching a win here and snatching a win there is not what I'm about in the future, it's about being consistent.

"Coming to Australia and everyone knowing that we can be competitive, not asking 'Do you think you might win a game?'

"'How many games are you going to win?' is what I want people to ask."

Bangladesh has won just one of its last 12 one-day internationals, and that was against the United Arab Emirates.

Not since April 2007 at the World Cup, when they upset South Africa by 67 runs, have they beaten one of the premier sides in world cricket, with 24 losses in succession against Test-playing nations.

Michael Clarke, who will lead Australia in the absence of Ponting, said the Australians would not be taking their opponents lightly.

"As soon as you take things for granted I think you find yourself asking questions why you've lost that game," he said.

Coin rolls over Ivanovic in shocking US Open upset

AFP, New York

Qualifier Julie Coin scored the biggest upset in US Open women's open era history Thursday, sending world No. 1 and top seed Ana Ivanovic crashing out in the second round.

Coin, who is ranked 188th in the world, was making her Grand Slam debut after successfully coming through the qualifying rounds.

She had tried but failed earlier this year to qualify for the other three Grand Slams-Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon.

The 25-year-old Coin clinched the victory on her third match point in the one hour, 57 minute match at the main Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"Today I felt nervous at the beginning and then it went away," said Coin, of France. "I don't know how I did it.

"I am not thinking about anything right now. Just enjoying the moment."

Ivanovic looked like the more nervous of the two in the deciding third set. She posted a total of eight double faults and made 37 unforced errors to 26 for Coin.

"This is very disappointing to me but something I have to accept," Ivanovic said. "I never saw her (Coin) play before so I didn't know what to expect.

"She played a lot better than I expected. She served very well."

Ivanovic, of Serbia, converted just one of her eight break- point chances and didn't record an ace.

She managed to survive two match points before going down in one of the biggest upsets in women's tennis history.

"I kept thinking play your game and get your first serve in," Coin said.

Until Coin's win, the previous earliest exit by the top seed at the US Open in the modern era was when Billie Jean King was ousted in the third round of the 1973 tournament.

Earlier this year at Wimbledon, No. 1 ranked Ivanovic lost to 133rd ranked Zheng Jie of China 6-1, 6-4 and in 2005, No. 1 Lindsay Davenport was beaten by 133rd ranked Kim Clijsters in three sets at the WTA Indian Wells tournament in California.

Coin moves through to the next round where she will play French countrywoman Amelie Mauresmo.

"It will be like playing a No. 1 because she used to be No. 1," Coin said of Mauresmo.

Coin, who broke Ivanovic's serve five times, double faulted on her first match point. Her second match point came two points later and it took a superb crosscourt forehand right down the line for Ivanovic to stay in the game.

Coin clinched the win when Ivanovic sailed a forehand wide and long on the third match point.

Ivanovic has not had a long reign at number one. Her stay at the top was interrupted for a week earlier this month, but she since regained the top spot in the WTA rankings.

The six-foot-one Ivanovic came into the final Grand Slam of the year complaining about a lack of preparation due to injuries. But she wasn't making any excuses on Thursday.

"Today I didn't feel it," she said of the thumb. "I'm just happy to be back on track without pain.

"Now all I have to do is put some hard yards on the court and go back out there and work hard."

Sixth seed Dinara Safina advanced to the third round by beating Roberta Vinci of Italy 6-4, 6-3 in a second round match.

It has been a breakthrough season for Safina who has won three of her eight career titles in 2008. She reached the final at the Beijing Olympics but had to settle for silver after losing to Russian compatriot Elena Dementieva.

"I think it still could be better," she said. "There is more room to improve. Hopefully in the next match I can do better."

Serena and Venus Williams rolled over their opponents on Thursday with Serena defeating Elena Vesnina of Russia 6-1, 6-1 and Venus brushing aside 113th ranked Rossana De Los Rios 6-0, 6- 3.

Serena needed just 58 minutes to dispatch Vesnina who is ranked 71st in world.

Asked if she would have preferred had a more competitive match, Serena said she likes to get them over quick.

"Not too many long rallies but I am serving well," said the fourth seeded Serena.

The seventh-seeded Venus moves through to the third round where she will play Alona Bondarenko who beat Sabine Lisicki 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 on Thursday.

Serena next faces Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama.

"She's pretty much relentless," said Serena. "I better be ready. That girl is a tough cookie."

Sugiyama rallied to beat Olga Govortsova of Belarus 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-1.

The Japanese men were also celebrating Thursday as Kei Nishikori advanced to the third round when Roko Karanusic, of Croatia, retired at the end of the second set with the Japanese teen leading 6-1, 7-5.

Nishikori, who is playing in his first US Open, will face fourth seed David Ferrer, of Spain.

"I tried to go to the net more often, because he was using the slice a lot," Nishikori said. "I tried to make more first serves. He gets more nervous when I make my first serve."

Asif drug case decision awaits new PCB chief

AP, Rawalpindi

The Pakistan Cricket Board has completed its findings into fast bowler Mohammad Asif's drug case, but the final decision on his future can only be taken by the yet-to-be-appointed new chairman of the board, a PCB official said Friday.

"We have completed our work and now it's up to the new chairman to decide on our recommendations," PCB's chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi told the Associated Press.

Asif was detained for 19 days in Dubai after authorities allegedly found a substance containing opium in his wallet as he traveled through Dubai's international airport on his way home from playing in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament.

Uttar Baridhara , BG Press S&RC win matches

UNB, Dhaka

Uttar Baridhara and BG Press S&RC won their respective matches in the Metropolis Second Division Football League beating opponents at the Bir Shresthha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium in Kamlapur on Friday.

Uttar Baridhara Club beat T&T Motijheel Club by 1-0 with Abul Kalam Azad scoring the all-important goal in the 27th minute.

In the day's other match, BG Press S&RC defeated Sadharan Bima KS also by the same margin with Erine netting the match winner in the 39th minute.

Today's matches: Basabo Tarun Sangha vs Karwanbazar Pragati Sangha

Kadamtala Sangsad vs Friends Social Welfare Organisation

New Zealand to face India, West Indies in home series

AFP, Wellington

New Zealand will face India and the West Indies in two home series in the coming season, taking on both teams in two Tests and five one-day internationals.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said today both teams would provide a good measure of where New Zealand was placed in world cricket.

"It will be nice to face the contrasting styles of the West Indies and India this summer," Vettori said.

"They are two teams who are both on the rise, and they will provide a good measure of where we are at in our own development."

In Test cricket New Zealand currently rank a lowly seventh, four places behind India but one ahead of the West Indies. But in one-day internationals, New Zealand are third, one place ahead of India and five in front of the West Indies.

New Zealand Cricket said the West Indies were due to arrive in December, playing two Tests ahead of two Twenty20 games and five one-day internationals.

India arrive in March for a Twenty20 match, followed by five one dayers and two Tests.

Premier Division Handball: Narinda Pragoti Boys emerge champion

UNB, Dhaka

Last time runners-up Narinda Pragoti Boys Club emerged champions in the Cute Premier Division Handball League beating Old Ideals Club by 29-17 goals in the title-deciding last league match at the Outer Stadium handball ground here Friday.

Narinda Pragoti Boys led the first half by 19-9 goals.

Registrar of Cooperatives department M Masud Elahi witnessed the match as chief guest and later distributed prizes. Handball Federation general secretary Asaduzzaman Kohinoor was present

After the last league match, champions Narinda Pragoti Boys Club finished top of the league table securing full 18 points, followed by runners-up Old Ideals Club with 15 points from six matches.

Saidur scored seven goals for the champion side to be adjudged man of the match. Mamun netted 10 goals for Old Ideals.

Meanwhile, Mir Hasibul Hasan of Narinda Pragoti Boys Club announced his retirement after the day's match.

Saidur also became the player of the league for his consistent performance, while Surjodoy Krira Chakra was named the disciplined side in the League.