The New Nation - Internet Edition

Ashraful under pressure: Bangladesh team returns home

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh National Cricket team led by Mohammad Ashraful returned home yesterday after they had been whitewashed by mighty Australia 3-0 in the three match ODI series in Darwin of Australia.

Bangladesh made a poor start in their ODI campaign as the Tigers were skittled out for only 74 and tasted a formidable 180-run defeat by the world champions Australia in Darwin on August 30.

Later, Bangladesh were shot out for 117 in the second ODI and conceded a massive eight-wicket defeat by Aussies in Darwin on September 3.

The Tigers could not come out from their misery as the Tigers were bundled out for 125 in the third ODI and tasted 73-run defeat by Australia in Darwin on September 6. Bangladesh's only consolation was opener Tamim Iqbal, who hit a notable 63 in the last ODI against tight bowling of Australia. The prolific Bangladesh opener was adjudged the man of the match for his outstanding batting.

It may be mentioned that Australia took part in three ODI matches against Bangladesh without their regular four notable players, They are : Ricky Ponting, Bret Lee, Mathew Hayden and Andrew Symonds.

Without four key playrs Australia ravaged Bangladesh, it is a common question to the general people if the four key players participated in the three ODI against Bangladesh, what kind of result will bring the Tigers for the cricket lovers of the country.

The 14 crore people of the country expect consistent and responsible batting, bowling and fielding from their side. Thepeople of the country do not want to watch those kind of amateur cricket any more.

Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful has admitted the pressure of leading the hopes of a cricket-mad nation can get "out of control", but that hasn't stopped him from declaring he can transform them into one of the world's top five teams.

Ashraful failed to deliver on heavy expectation as Bangladesh slumped to a 3-0 series loss in Darwin this week, with coach Jamie Siddons stating the only reason he is still in the side is because he is captain.

"I am the biggest critic of my inconsistency, I know I have let many people down including myself for that," Ashraful told the Herald.

"My natural instinct is to dominate bowlers and get on top of them. I play better when I start dominating from the start. Maybe I take a few more risks because of that early on in my innings.

"I am trying to play the way I could be more successful in the long run. I am working really hard on that with Siddons who I think is an excellent batting tactician. I believe the results will come soon."

Asked how he envisioned the next decade, he replied: "I see myself playing cricket at the highest level and performing with the bat in both forms of the game. I want to win more matches for Bangladesh and hope to see the team ranked among the top five nations in world cricket."

Brothers Union, Abahani Limited reach Futsal final

UNB, Dhaka

Brothers Union Club advanced to the final of the Citycell Futsal Tournament eliminating Rahmatganj MFS by 3-2 goals in the semifinal at the NSC wooden floor gymnasium here Sunday.

The "all-orange" Gopibagh outfit will play the final match tomorrow (Monday) at 3 pm against Abahani Limited, which got walk over against their arch rivals Mohammedan SC in the day's another semi-final.

BFF president Kazi Salahudin will witness the final as chief guest and distribute the prizes among the winners.

In the day's match, Abdullah Pervez struck twice in the 20th and 24th minute while Tapu netted another goal in the 33rd minute for Brothers Union. Zakir and Jahangir scored one goal each in the 16th and 22nd minutes respectively for Rahmatganj MFS.

BCB selects 26 players for U-19 Phase II Camp

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has selected 26 players for the Under-19 Phase II Camp that will begin at the BKSP on Wednesday (September 10).

The selected players have been requested to report to U-19 coordinator Taslim Uddin Tuhin on Sept. 10 at 01:30 pm at the BKSP.

The camp will run up to Sept. 16 where former national player Minhazul Abedin Nannu will act as head coach.

Players: Tasamul Haq, Al Hamim, Noor Hossain, Imamul Muttakim, Mehadat Amin, Mominul Haque, Naim Mohammad Asif, Sabbir Ahmed, Tajul Islam, Alauddin Babu, Saddam Hossain, Chowdhury Labbyek, Shaker Ahmed, Irfan Sukur, Sadaf Sarkar Hasib, Taibur Rahman Parvez, Mohammad Saim, Ariful Zaman, Victor, Isamul Ahsan, Enamul Haq, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mubassher Khan, Abul Hasan Raju, Sohag Reza and Mohammad Saikat Ali.

Coaches and Staffs: Head Coach - Minhazul Abedin Nannu,

U-19 Assistant Coach/Trainer/Computer Analyst/Fielding Coach - Mizanur Rahman, Physio - Debashish and U-19 Age Group Trainer - Tushar Kanti Howlader

Div II Football: East End, BG Press record wins

Sports Reporter

East End Club eased past Little Friends Club 2-0 in the day's first match of the Second Division Football League at the Kamalapur Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium on Sun day.

Biplob of East End Club scored two goals.

In the day's other match at the same venue, BG Press S&RC beat Bangladesh Boys Club by a solitary goal riding on Shipon's lone goal.

Meanwhile, Police AC made a goalless draw with Uttar Baridhara Club at the Banani Bangladesh Army Stadium on the same day.

Today 's matches :

T&T Club of Motijheel vs Kadamtala Sangsad

Sadharan Bima KS vs Bassabo Tarun Sangha

Venue : Kamalapur Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium.

Prantik KC vs Karwan Bazar Progoti Sangha

Venue : Banani Bangladesh Army Stadium.

Federer too strong for Djokovic

BBC Online

Defending champion Roger Federer gave one of his best displays of a troubled season to beat Novak Djokovic and reach his fifth successive US Open final.

The Swiss world number two, unbeaten at Flushing Meadows since 2003, stormed to the first set after an early break.

Djokovic rallied to take the second but Federer showed his class and experience to come through 6-3 5-7 7-5 6-2.

Federer will play Andy Murray or Rafael Nadal in the final, which has been moved to 2200 BST on Monday.

Rain began to fall during the third set between British number one Murray and world number one Nadal, forcing the match to be suspended until Sunday.

"This was a big match, I knew it from when I saw the draw," said Federer. "He's been playing very well on hard courts for the last one-and-a-half years.

"It was important to stay grounded because I knew the match could change, like it did in the second set.

"I think I broke his will when I won the third set and then I knew if I played well I could win in four sets."

And looking ahead to the final, Federer admitted he would like another crack at Nadal.

"I won't be surprised if Andy would beat Rafa, but just I think the meaning would be more to play against Rafa here at the Open," he said.

In what was a rematch of last year's final, both Federer and Djokovic held their opening service games in impressive fashion, but Djokovic could not manage to do so in his second as Federer's power from the baseline saw him establish a 3-1 cushion.

Federer denied the Serbian any opportunities to get back into the first set, making just three unforced errors in total.

The second set looked like it too would hinge on the fourth game, when Federer sent a backhand wide to hand Djokovic his first break of the match and a 3-1 lead.

Federer, appearing in his 18th straight Grand Slam semi-final, battled back to 4-4 but then at 5-6, having already saved two set points, pulled a forehand wide to hand the Serb the set.

Defeat for Federer would have seen the 27-year-old slip to number three in the rankings behind Djokovic.

But, after the third set went with serve up to 5-5, the 12-time Grand Slam champion raised his level to secure a crucial break en route to taking the set 7-5.

Federer lost to Djokovic in the semi-finals of this year's Australian Open but there was to be no repeat for the 21-year-old, who made two backhand errors to gift Federer a break in the fifth game of the fifth set.

The world number two never looked likely to relinquish that advantage and did not lose another game in sealing his triumph.

"I think he deserved to win, absolutely," said Djokovic. "I was just a little disappointed from my side that I wasn't able, physically I wasn't able enough to give him a challenge.

"I think I played well that second set, and, you know, was on serve in that third one. Then I was just unlucky to lose that third set and then more or less routine in the fourth for him.

"Overall, it's been a very exhausting tournament mentally and physically for me, so I'm happy that I got to the semi."

And asked if he regretted his critical comments towards the New York crowd following his semi-final win over Andy Roddick, the Serb said: "No, I think they were pretty fair."