The New Nation - Internet Edition

Australia beat Bangladesh

AP, Darwin

Opener Shaun Marsh scored 69 not out as Australia defeated Bangladesh by eight wickets to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in their limited-overs cricket series.

Australia dismissed Bangladesh for 117 before Marsh posted another half-century stand with opening partner Shane Watson. The home side reached the victory target of 118 in just 22.4 overs, with Mike Hussey not out eight.

Australia won the first game by 180 runs last weekend. The third and final match is Saturday, also at Darwin's Marrara Cricket Ground.

Bangladesh's batsmen offered little resistance and were all out in 36.1 overs after making just 74 in 27.4 overs in the first match.

Tamim Iqbal was out to Nathan Bracken off the first ball of the day, a perfect outswinger, and his dismissal paved the way for a quick finish. Bangladesh slumped to 3-15 after six overs after Bracken and Stuart Clark struck in successive overs.

Mitchell Johnson took 3-17, Clark 2-15 and Bracken 2-16.

The early finish to the Bangladesh innings gave Watson and Marsh nine overs to bat before the break, and they had the job nearly half done by cruising to 46 without loss.

Their eventual stand of 73, when Watson was trapped lbw for 29, was their third of 70 or more in six matches batting together for Australia.

Marsh followed his 76 in the first game with another strong performance containing some sweetly-timed pull shots and flicks off his pads, a lofty four over mid-wicket off a free hit delivery and a six down the ground near the end.

The left-handed Marsh has scored three half-centuries in six innings for Australia, after he starred in the inaugural Indian Premier League tournament earlier this year.

Spinner Shakib Al Hasan was the only successful bowler for Bangladesh, and his 2-38 also included the wicket of captain Michael Clarke (1), out stumped trying to hit over the top.

Wicketkeeper Dhiman Ghosh top-scored for Bangladesh with 30, and took to legspinner Cameron White, but threw away the chance to post a decent score when he holed out down the ground in Clark's first over of his second spell.

Johnson bowled a few loose deliveries early, but dismissed Zunaed Siddique (21) and Shakib Al Hasan (19) in successive overs, after the pair posted a stand of 38 for the fourth wicket.

White finished with 2-39 from seven overs, his longest spell in international cricket.

Malik's captaincy under fire

AP, Islamabad

Ex-Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam has weighed into the mounting criticism of current skipper Shoaib Malik's style of leadership.

Malik has been forced to respond to media reports this week that senior players including Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi and vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq are all eyeing his job.

Allrounder Shahid Afridi was quoted as saying the dressing room culture in the current Pakistan squad is far from perfect.

"I don't think he has the ability to keep players together," former captain Intikhab Alam told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Malik has led Pakistan in two test series and lost both since he was elevated as skipper last year. His appointment as captain runs until December, but there is growing doubt the 26-year-old allrounder will last that long.

"Malik is not impressive at all and it's better the Pakistan Cricket Board should start looking for a new captain to lead the side against India at home," next January, Alam said.

Malik lost the test series against South Africa at home in October last year before losing 1-0 in the three-test tour of India in December. His performance in limited-overs internationals is slightly better, leading Pakistan to 20 wins from 30 matches.

Despite losing to South Africa and India, he set a new Pakistan record of 12 successive victories in one-dayers when Bangladesh and Zimbabwe played back-to- back series here earlier this year.

Malik said he felt proud of the milestone, despite the fact it came against two of topflight cricket's weakest teams.

A "record is a record and it's not under my control against which opponent we play," Malik said after completing a 5-0 rout of Bangladesh.

It's Malik's failure against stronger teams that most worries Alam.

"That's the big problem," Alam said. "When you play teams that are in the top rankings of world cricket, you get tested and on both occasions (against India and South Africa) Malik has failed."

Alam, a burly leg-spinning allrounder who led Pakistan in 17 of his 47 test matches between 1959-77, said the current Pakistan squad experienced a void in leadership following Inzamam-ul-Haq's retirement at the end of last year's World Cup.

"Let's be honest, we don't have captaincy stuff in the present lot," Alam said. "It's a big honor to lead your country, but on the other hand you should have a good cricketing brain and have some maturity to handle various pressures."

Malik has defended himself in the domestic media.

"I think it will die down with time," Malik told a leading Urdu language newspaper, Daily Jang, of the criticism.

"I never asked for captaincy, but when I was offered the job I took it as a challenge and in the better interest of the country."

Lack of education, according to Alam, is another problem in the general development of cricketers.

"Most of our cricketers come from humble backgrounds where they hardly get an opportunity to go to school, so that's another major problem in raising a good leader," he said.

Alam nominated vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq as the best candidate to replace Malik. But Misbah, who has played outstandingly in all the three formats of the game over the last year, is not interested.

"Captaincy brings an extra load of responsibility and I am enjoying my present status of vice-captain," Misbah told reporters in Lahore.

Younis Khan, who was groomed for two years under Inzamam, and Afridi are the two other candidates. If it was a choice between that pair, Alam would opt for Afridi.

"You have to take a chance with someone in the present lot, so why not see how Afridi fares," Alam said.

Three-day U-18 Football trial program begins

UNB, Dhaka

A three-day Under-18 Football final trial program, organised by Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), began Wednesday at the Bangabandhu National Stadium with the participation of 150 selected booters.

BFF president Kazi Salauddin formally inaugurated the program as chief guest at 10:30 pm.

Initially, BFF conducted the U-18 football training program from July 1-31 August with 900 footballers from 35 districts with the cooperation of the District Football Associations to groom the talented booters aimed at reducing the crisis of players in the future leagues and tournaments.

Out of the 900 trainees, BFF picked up 150 talented booters to give them intensive training.

The booters' training program will also be conducted in phases in the remaining districts.

BCB Academy team leaves tonight for Sri Lanka

UNB, Dhaka

A 15-member GP-BCB National Cricket Academy team, led by Nayeem Islam, leaves here Thursday night for Sri Lanka on a three-week tour during which they will play three one-day, one two-day and two four-day matches.

The BCB Academy team will first play the only two-day match against Sri Lanka on September 7-8 in Dambula. The visitors will play the 1st four-day match Sept. 10-13 at Dambula and the 2nd four-day match Sept. 16-19 at Premadasa Stadium.

Of the three one-day matches, the BCB Academy team will play the first one on Sept. 21 at Premadasa Stadium, the 2nd on Sept. 23 at SSC ground and the 3rd and last one on Sept. 25 at NCC ground.

BCB-GP National Cricket Academy team: Nayeem Islam (Captain), Marshall Ayub (Vice Captain), Shamsur Rahman, Imrul Kayes, Forhad Hossain, Mahbubul Karim, Nasir Hossain, Sohrawardy Shuvo, Arafat Sunny, Sajidul Islam, Delwar Hossain, Mahbubul Alam (Robin), Rubel Hossain, Ziaur Rahman and Ashiqul Islam Rajib.

Team Management: Operations Manager - Khaled Mahmud, Academy Head Coach - Ruwan Kalpage, Physio/Fitness Trainer - Bayjedul Islam, Computer Analyst - Mohammad Salauddin, National Pace Bowling Coach - Champaka Ramanayake.

Brazilian Viera back at the helm of Iraq football

AFP, Baghdad

Brazilian coach Jorvan Viera was back at the helm of Iraq's national football team on Wednesday after lifting them to the Asian Cup champions title last year.

"He signed on Tuesday evening for a one-year contract and his salary was set at 600,000 dolllars," Abdel Halak Massud, the financial chief of the Iraqi football federation, told AFP.

His deputy Fernando receive 200,000 dollars, Massud said.

In 2007, Viera inked a two-month contract for 40,000 dollars and proceeded to rekindle the war-blighted nation's feverish passion for football as Iraq downed regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the Asia Cup final.

Results of Second Division Football League

Sports Reporter

Police Ac came from behind and earned a 2-1 vistory over Little Freinds Club in the day's second match of the Second Division Football League at the Kamalapur Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium on Wednesday.

Ataur of Little Freinds Club put his team ahead in the 35th minute of the play.

After the lemon-break Monirul of Police AC levelled the margin in the 50th minute of the game.

Al Amin of Police struck the match-decider in the 63nd minute of the clash.

In the day's first match at the same venue, East End Club drew with Euro Famous Club 0-0.

Meanwhile, Dhanmondi Club defeated Gazir Chat SC by two goals to nil at the Banani Bangladesh Army Stadium on the same day.

Ripon of Dhanmondi Club scored the two goals in the 35th and 49th minutes of the match.

Today's matches: Bangladesh Boys Club vs Uttar Baridhara Club and T&T Club of Motijheel vs Karwan Bazar Progoti Sangha

Venue: Kamalapur Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Moastafa Stadium.

Prantik KC vs BG Press S&RC.

Venue; Banani Bangladesh Army Stadium.

Chappell takes on new coaching role in Australia

AFP, Melbourne

Former India coach Greg Chappell has been appointed as the new head coach of the Cricket Australia (CA) Centre of Excellence in Brisbane.

CA announced Chappell's appointment on Wednesday, and the former Test batsman was expected to start his new role later this year.

The appointment follows his controversial and ultimately unhappy two-year stint as coach of India, which came to an end after the side's demise at last year's World Cup. That was followed by a similar role at the Rajasthan Cricket Association's Centre of Excellence.

The 60-year-old said he was looking forward to passing on his experience to some of the country's most exciting young players in a new era of Australian cricket.

"I believe I have a lot to offer the younger players, especially in the mental area of the game from both a personal and coaching point of view, and have a lot of knowledge when it comes to individual and team preparations for cricketing tours. "Australian cricket is again going through a period of rebuilding after what has been a very successful era.

"We need to ensure we continue this momentum and prepare the right kind of players who can continue our excellent performances of the past."

Chappell played 87 Tests and 74 one-day internationals and also coached South Australia in the Australian domestic competition.

CA's Centre of Excellence was launched in 2004 and replaced the Cricket Academy that was based in Adelaide for the previous 15 years.

Mohammedan emerge champions in Futsal tourney beating Abahani 3-1

UNB, Dhaka

Dhaka Mohammedan SC emerged champions in the Abdur Rahim-Gafur Baluch Smriti Futsal Tournament beating arch-rivals Dhaka Abahani Limited by 3-1 goals in the final of the daylong meet at the NSC wooden floor gymnasium here on Wednesday.

Sabbir struck twice and Baktiar netted one goal for the traditional "black and white" team, while Zakir scored the lone goal for the popular "sky-blue" Dhanmondi outfit in the title-deciding match of the five-a-side tournament Wednesday afternoon.

In the semifinals, Mohammedan eliminated National Sports Council (NSC) team by 5-0 goals, while Abahani trounced Rahmatganj MFS by 8-1 goals.

Earlier, in the group matches, Abahani Limited beat Arambagh KS 4-1, Rahmatganj MFS outclassed BSWA 7-2, Mohammedan SC crushed Farashganj SC 7-0 and NSC team beat Brothers Union Club 2-0.

Eight teams, split into two groups, took part in the daylong meet.

Participating teams: Group A - Abahani Limited, Arambagh KS, Rahmatganj MFS and Bangladesh Sports Writers Association (BSWA).

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

Citycell Futsal Tournament begins today

Sports Reporter

The first Citycell Futsal Tournament begins today at the Dhaka Wooden Floor Gymnasium.

A total of eight teams splitting into two groups are taking part in the five-day long football meet.

Dhaka Abahani Limited, Sheikh Russel KC, Arambagh KS, Rahmatganj MFS have been pencilled in Group-A while Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club, Brothers Union, Muktijoddha Sangsad KC, Farashganj Sporting Club have been placed in Group-B.

The champions of the Group-A will take on the Runners-up of the Group-B in the first semi-final on September 7 while the champions of the Group-B will meet the runners-up of the Group-A in the second semi-final on the same day.

The winners of the two semis will face each other in the final on September 8.

Federer, Djokovic survive five set scares

AFP, New York

Four-time defending champion Roger Federer and 2007 runner-up Novak Djokovic survived five-set scares from stubborn fourth-round opponents Tuesday at the 20.6 million dollar US Open.

Federer, whose 12 Grand Slam titles are two shy of Pete Sampras's all-time record, extended his US Open win streak to 31 matches by beating Russian Igor Andreev 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

An ailing Djokovic had to dig equally deep while playing through a sore right hip to defeat Spain's Tommy Robredo 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.

"Novak got a tough one too," Federer said. "You always wish for three sets but honestly those five-setters are fun."

Federer advanced to the quarter-finals where he will play Luxembourg qualifier Gilles Muller.

The other quarter-final in that half of the draw features Djokovic against American eighth seed Andy Roddick, who breezed past Chile's Fernando Gonzalez in Tuesday's late match 6-2, 6-4, 6-1.

Federer said he's not worried about facing an underdog on a roll in the next round.

"It is just a guy who has got even less to lose," Federer said of Muller. "It has been like this for the past 4 ½ years."

Federer, trying to salvage a sub-par season after years of Slam domination, hadn't dropped a set in his first three matches, but Andreev made him work for the victory.

It is rare to see Federer in a five-set match at the US Open but this hasn't been a normal season for the former world number one. Close matches makes life more interesting and gets the competitive juices flowing, he said.

Federer had trouble getting untracked in the first set. It wasn't until he got his serve going and began charging the net that he began to chip away at the hard-hitting Russian, who came into the US Open with a career-high No. 23 ranking.

With his normally reliable forehand stuttering and his body failing him, Serbian Djokovic also had to rally from an opening set loss to Robredo.

Djokovic, who now leads the career meetings with Robredo 4-1, raised both arms into the air as the last ball was struck and then pointed to his heart, knee and head as a crowd of 10,000 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium stood and cheered.

"I need to stay next to the net otherwise I will fall down," Djokovic said immediately after the match. "Really. It was an incredible match."

An exhausted Djokovic said he is still feeling the effects of his previous match.

"If I start talking about the things that are bothering me now, we can talk about this until tomorrow," Djokovic said. "Whoever I play next will be physically fitter than me that's for sure."

Robredo took a spill of his own in the fifth set, rolling near the baseline while lunging for a shot.

Robredo accused Djokovic of exaggerating injuries to get some extra rest.

"If you are not fit enough then don't play," Robredo said.

"I have pain all over my body but I don't complain."

Former champion Roddick easily disposed of Gonzalez in straight sets as he tries to get back to the final of the tournament he won five years ago.

Roddick said he is looking forward to the challenge of playing Djokovic, who he beat in Dubai for one of his two titles this year.

He also joked about being older than third-seeded Djokovic.

"I got to feel good because he has about 16 injuries right now." Roddick said. "His next opponent (Roddick) is a lot older than him.

"Novak has made himself one of the elite players. I just got to try to get the upset."

Luxembourg's Muller became the first qualifier since 2000 to reach a Grand Slam quarter-finals by surprising Russian fifth seed Nikolay Davydenko 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (12/10).