The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shoaib targets Pakistan return with Surrey stint

AFP, Karachi

Fit-again Shoaib Akhtar vowed Tuesday to use a short stint with Surrey to mount a comeback at international level, saying he would do his best to help the English county side avoid relegation.

Surrey, who look set for the drop as they are bottom of the County Championship table with only three matches to go, have recruited the mercurial Pakistan paceman on a contract until the end of the season. Akhtar, on the way back from injury and disciplinary breaches, will fly to London on Wednesday. The 33-year-old said there could be no better launching pad for a return.

"I am honoured to play for a county like Surrey," Akhtar told AFP. "I will do my best to win all three matches for the county and I am fit and raring to go."

Akhtar said he would try and live up to the standards of one of his idols Waqar Younis, who once played for Surrey, and "keep up the traditions of Pakistan fast bowling."

The bowler said his arrival in England has been slightly delayed due to family illness.

"My mother was not well, otherwise I wanted to reach there for the last four or five matches. But still it is a great opportunity for me to prove my fitness before the Pakistan team fly out to South Africa or for a possible series or against India at home," said Akhtar.

Pakistan's team is lacking international cricket after Australia postponed a full tour to the country over security fears in March.

To add to their woes, the International Cricket Council was forced to postpone September's Champions Trophy until next year after non-Asian teams raised concerns about playing in Pakistan, which has been riven by bombings and suicide attacks.

Nadal tested at US Open: Venus, Serena into last 8

AP, New York

Rafael Nadal withstood his first test at this U.S. Open, shifting into another gear to beat Sam Querrey 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-3 on Monday and match his best result at the tournament that's always bedeviled him.

Playing for the sixth year at Flushing Meadows, the No. 1-ranked Nadal rallied to reach the quarterfinals. He got quite a workout - and a scare - from his unseeded, 20-year-old American opponent.

"Very tough," Nadal said. "Sam is a big player, a big server. He has a great future."

Down 6-5 in the third set, Nadal suddenly flashed the form that won at Wimbledon, the French Open and the Olympics. Hitting harder, grunting louder and moving in closer, he quickly forced a tiebreaker and leaped to celebrate.

Nadal won the final four points to take the tiebreaker and later served out the match.

Nadal next plays another unseeded American, Mardy Fish, who reached the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open for the first time with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 win over No. 32 Gael Monfils.

Also advancing was No. 17 Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, who ended the run of Kei Nishikori, the first Japanese man to reach the U.S. Open's fourth round in the 40-year Open era. Del Potro won the contest between teenagers 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 for his 23rd consecutive victory.

Del Potro will face No. 6 Andy Murray of Britain, who beat 10th-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 6-1, 6-3, 6-3.Tempers flared when the two played in Rome in May.

Murray claimed del Potro insulted his mother during a first-round match. Judy Murray provided vocal support for her son from the stands.

Del Potro nearly hit Murray in the head with a ball in the second set. The Argentine retired while trailing 5-7, 6-4, 1-0.

Murray was asked Monday if he was surprised del Potro hadn't tried to clear the air.

"I've known him since we were really young," Murray said.

"Doesn't really bother me. I wasn't great friends with him before. I don't need to be friends with him now. "So, no, I'm not surprised."

Venus and Serena Williams set up yet another Grand Slam family reunion. Two months after meeting in the Wimbledon final, this time they square off in the quarterfinals.

Bangladesh to play 2nd ODI against Australia today

UNB, Dhaka

Touring Bangladesh will play their 2nd match of the three-match Commonwealth Bank ODI series against world champions Australia today (Wednesday) at the TIO Stadium in Darwin with a hope to lift their confidence devastated with their batting debacle in the first match.

The match will start at 9:30 am Darwin time and 6:00 am Bangladesh standard time.

The Bengal Tigers who are suffering from an image crisis for their lowest ever ODI total of 74 runs to concede a humiliation 180-run defeat in the first ODI will play their 3rd and last ODI on Saturday.

The Bangladesh team, divided into two groups, made their net practices at the TIO Stadium's nets and the Marrara Oval's center wicket this afternoon.

Bangladesh has made one change in their lineup as their reliable batsman Roqibul Hasan was ruled out of the final squad due to a thumb injury giving a chance to left-hand opener Zunaed Siddique. Zunaed will open the batting with Tamim Iqbal.

The Bangladesh camp had remained quite since the batting debacle in the first ODI that hurt the image of the team in Darwin and the players are determined to make a turnaround in the second match tomorrow, according to message received here.

"We'll have to play a much, much better game. Getting over 250 or even in the region of 220-230 could be said a good performance. That'd give us a chance," said captain Mohammad Ashraful.

The challenge for the Tigers has been lifting the battered confidence and Coach Jamie Siddons spoke separately with the batsmen and the bowlers emphasizing the need for playing from the heart.

"Their bowlers and batsmen are no longer unknown. The pitch is also familiar now and hopefully our batsmen would concentrate on building the innings rather than playing shots which is not on, especially on this track," said Siddons.

Meanwhile, Australia promised another ruthless performance but leg-spinner Cameron White who took 3 for 5 in the first game reckons the series is far from over for the tourists.

"They've got some dangerous players. They are very aggressive and probably at some stage of the series a couple of their batters will come off. We just have to make sure that we are switched on and don't take anything for granted," said White.

Teams:

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Zunaed Siddique, Mehrab Hossain, Mohammad Ashraful (Captain), Shakib Al Hasan, Alok Kopali, Dhiman Ghosh (Wicketkeeper), Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (Vice Captain), Abdur Razzak, Nazmul Hossain, Shahadat Hossain. 12th man - Mahmud Ullah Riyad.

Australia: Michael Clarke (Captain), Michael Hussey (Vice Captain), Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin (Wicketkeeper), Shane Watson, David Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh, Brett Jeeves, Cameron White.

Umpires: Amiesh Saheba (India) & Bruce Oxenford(Australia)

Match Referee: Javagal Srinath (India).

BFF earns over Tk8 lakh in Fed Cup Football

UNB, Dhaka

Tickets of worth Tk 842,600 have been sold during the Citycell Federation Cup Football that ended Monday.

Tournament committee chairman Fazlur Rahman Babul told reporters at the BFF Bhaban on Tuesday afternoon.

During the final match between Dhaka Mohammedan SC and Abahani Limited tickets of Tk 292,820 have been sold while tickets of Tk 69,430 and Tk67,130 have been sold in the two semifinals, he said.

Results of Second Division Football League

Sports Reporter

T&T Club of Motijheel defeated BG Press S&RC by two goals to nil in the day's first match of the Second Division Football League at the Kamalapur Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium on Tuesday.

All the two goals were scored in the first half.

Arman of T&T Club scored the two goals in the fourth and 39th minutes of the game.

In the day's second match at the same venue, Karwan Bazar Progoti Sangha beat Sadharan Bima KS by a solitary goal.

After a barren first half Shipon scored the all-important goal in the 77th minute for the winners.

At the Banani Bangladesh Army Stadium, Bassabo Tarun Sangha outplayed Kadamtala Sangsad by 2-0 goals on the same day.

The winners led the first half 1-o.

Kari of Bassabo put his team ahead in the 24th minute of the first half.

Ata made it 2-0 for the winners in the 69th minute of the play.

Today East End Club will take on Euro Famous Club at 2.00 PM at the Kamalapur Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium while Police AC will face Little Friends Club at 3.45 PM at the same venue and Dhanmondi Club will meet Gazir Chat SC at 3.00 PM at the Banani Bangladesh Army Stadium.

1st Citycell Footsul Football Tournament begins tomorrow

UNB, Dhaka

The first-ever Citycell Footsul Football Competition, organised by Bangladesh Football Federation, begins Thursday (Sept 4) at the Paltan Wooden Floor Gymnasium with four matches on the opening day.

B. League holders Dhaka Abahani will face Rahmatganj (1pm), Sheikh Russell KC meet Arambagh KS (2pm), Federation Cup holders Dhaka Mohammedan take on Farashganj (3pm) and Brothers Union play Muktijoddha Sangsad (4 pm).

A total of eight metropolises clubs, split into two groups, will take part in the four-day meet, sponsored by mobile cell phone company Citycell.

"The competition has been arranged as per the FIFA and AFC guidelines to develop the skill of the local booters," tournament committee member Fazlur Rahman Babul told reporters at a press conference at the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) this afternoon.

He informed that Bangladesh will take part in the AFC Footsul qualyfying round matches next year.

Sponsor Citycell will provide Tk 3 lakh to finance the tournament.

Tournament committee chairman Khurshid Alam Babul, BFF members Hasanuzzaman Khan Bablu and Satyajit Das Rupu were present.

Participating teams:

(Group A)-- Abahani Limited, Sheikh Russell KC, Arambagh KS and Rahmatganj MFS.

(Group B) - Mohammedan SC, Brothers Union Club, Muktijoddha Sangsad KC and Farashganj SC.

Abdur Rahim Gafur Smriti Footsul Competition today

UNB, Dhaka

The day-long Abdur Rahim Gafur Smriti Footsul Competition, organised by Bangladesh Football Federation, will be held today (Wednesday) at the Dhaka Wooden Floor Gymnasium.

A total of eight teams, split into two groups, are taking part in the meet. Top two teams from each group will play the final at 5 pm.

Perticipating teams:

(Group A)-- Abagani Limited, Arambagh KS, Rahmatganj MFS and Bangladesh Sports Writer Association (BSWA).

(Group B) - Mohammedan SC, Farashganj SC, Brothers Union Club and National Sports Council (NSC).

Hick to end 24-year cricket career at season's end

AP, London

Former England batsman Graeme Hick will retire from county cricket at the end of the season after 24 years with Worcestershire and having scored 136 first-class centuries.

The 42-year-old Hick, who was born in Zimbabwe, has currently scored 41,112 runs in a career that began in 1983.

He scored 3,383 runs in 65 tests for an average of just 31 in his nine-year England career, which ended in 2001.

Udal to captain Middlesex

AFP, London

Former England off-spinner Shaun Udal will captain Middlesex for the remainder of the season in the absence of the injured Ed Smith, the county cricket side confirmed Tuesday.

Ed Joyce had been deputising for Smith, who has an ankle injury, but is now considering his long-term future after a meeting with club officials.