The New Nation - Internet Edition

Unsupportive structure led to decision to quit : Bashar

Cricinfo

The Bangladesh players linked to the Indian Cricket League have stated dissatisfaction with the system as their reason to retire from international and domestic cricket. However, they stopped short of confirming they had signed with the ICL.

Habibul Bashar, the former Bangladesh captain, said he felt let down by the team management, coach Jamie Siddons in particular. "The situation was getting difficult for me," Bashar, who was dropped from the side for the Asia Cup, told the Dhaka-based Daily Star. "I wasn't receiving support from anyone. Even the coach's attitude was discouraging and I was in the middle of a lot of uncertainty and I was out of cricket for seven months." He said this prompted him to take up the ICL offer, adding none of the players were happy with the existing structure.

In his interview with Cricinfo, Siddons said Bashar was not on the top of his game and had been omitted after many opportunities. "A non-performing senior can't really influence the game of his team-mates," Siddons said. "We would not leave a senior player out of our young team if they had the potential to be a match-winner or be in our team come the next World Cup."

Left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain, one of those linked with the ICL, could earn up to US$200,000 from a three-year contract, and he admitted he hadn't been enjoying his time playing cricket in the last year. "They don't think of us, so why should we think of them," he said.

Opener Shahriar Nafees echoed Mosharraf's views, adding that there was a lot of anger and frustration behind his decision. "I made it to the national team after working for ten years, and I know there's a lot of pride of playing for Bangladesh but, at this moment, I don't feel good to play cricket." Nafees said though he had an offer from the ICL he was yet to confirm his position. "My main focus is education and I want to complete my MBA in the next one-and-a-half years." Nafees had opted out of the tour of Australia to concentrate on his studies.

Dhiman Ghosh wanted to know why he had been dropped from the side if he was the country's No. 1 wicketkeeper. He also said there were a lot of players vying for his spot in the team.

Among the others reported to have received offers from the ICL are Alok Kapali, Nazimuddin, Tapash Baisya, Manjarul Islam, Mohammad Sharif, Golam Mabud and Mahbubul Karim. The latter two are currently touring Sri Lanka with the Bangladesh Academy team. Mohammad Rafique, who has retired, is also believed to have been approached.

Though ICL officials admitted talks are on with 14 Bangladesh players, nothing has been finalised.

Australians commit to India tour

BBC Online

Australia's tour of India will go ahead after a security review recommended the players would be safe to travel to the country, despite recent bombings.

At least 20 people were killed and 90 injured when five devices went off in busy shopping areas around New Delhi last week.

"We have done a review and the advice has not changed since last week," said a Cricket Australia (CA) spokesman.

"The safety and security advice is, broadly speaking, to exercise caution."

More than 400 people have died since late 2005 in bombings in Indian cities.

Earlier this year Australia cancelled a tour of Pakistan and they were one of several nations to express fears over their hosting of the Champions Trophy this month, which led to the tournament being postponed until October 2009.

The chief operating officer of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressed disappointment at what he called Australia's double standards.

"They couldn't accept our assurances they would be provided top security to play in Pakistan," said Shafqat Naghmi.

"But they have accepted Indian assurances and are willing to play in India which has also seen a series of bomb blasts in recent months at major cricket venues. Australia, in fact, would be playing a test in Delhi.

"So why is Pakistan so different from India we want to know? In a way, we are glad they are going to India we hope they will now fulfil their commitment of touring Pakistan next April,"

The CA spokesman said the problems in India were "completely different in intensity and of a different nature.

"We will have security in place around the senior team, which is what we always were going to have.

"In very broad terms the advice we have is in sharp contrast to what we had for Pakistan, which was that it was not safe to travel because the attacks there were targeting westerners."

CA consulted the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) and has arranged for an upgrade of security in and around the dressing rooms, while the team will be escorted to and from the grounds during the four-Test tour.

Players will still be allowed to venture outside of the team hotels "within prudent guidelines".

Australia's A team are already playing in India in a Tri-Series against New Zealand and India, and their manager Justin Sternes insisted there had been no sense of panic.

"For these young players getting a game in is more important than anything else - this series means a lot to them," he said.

Australia are set to leave for India on Sunday, starting the tour with warm-up matches in Jaipur and Hyderabad.

The first Test is scheduled to start in Bangalore on 9 October, with subsequent Tests in Mohali, Delhi and Nagpur.

Responsibility for the recent blasts was claimed by a Muslim militant group in an e-mail sent to Indian media outlets. The same group has claimed responsibility for two other bomb attacks in Jaipur and Bangalore.

SK Russel KC earns hard-fought 3-2 win over Farashganj

UNB, Dhaka

Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra earned a hard-fought 3-2 goals win over Farashganj Krira Chakra in their opening match of the Citycell 2nd B League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) here on Tuesday.

Moroccan recruit skipper Touati Youness struck twice and veteran striker Alfaz Ahmed scored one goal for the winners while Kabir Hossain and Mohammad Yousuf netted one goal each for the losers. The match was locked 1-1 during the 1st half.

Sheikh Russel KC found the net in the very 5th minute of the match as opponent custodian Al Amin failed to capture a goal-bound ball taken by striker Alfaz, from 12 yards off Ighir Mohammed right wing cross (1-0).

Farashganj got the equalizer when skipper Kabir converted a spot kick in the 18th minute. Skeikh Russel KC had to compensate a goal after Masud Khan Jony fouled Farasjganj's striker Yousuf in the penalty area. Referee Abdul Hannan Miron made no mistake to award the spot kick in favor of Farashganj (1-1).

After the lemon break, Youness increased the margin for Sheikh Russel KC in the 54th minute with a close range tap taking a right side minus from Mobarak (2-1).

Farashganj's Yousuf again leveled the margin for his team with a superb header form inside the D box giving no chance to custodian Titu, 20 yards off Dominic's right wing angular free kick (2-2).

Youness completed the winners' tally from a penalty stroke in the 85th minute. Sheikh Russel KC awarded with the spot kick when opponent defender Ramjan fouled Mobarak in the danger zone (3-2).

Earlier, both the teams launched several attacks in the entire proceeding but spoiled some scoring chances. However, Sheikh Russel KC played a better football and notched their deserving victory.

Yellow Cards: Jony, Alfaz and Titu (Russell); Ramjan, Uttam, Khokon, Yousuf and Amirul (Farashganj).

Teams:

SK Russell -- Titu, Bourdif (Hasan), Parvez, Aminul, Zahirul, Ighir, Tanveer (Bulbul), Mobarak, Jony (Nurul), Alfaz, and Youness.

Farashganj SC - Al Amin, Faisal (Rentu), Ramjan, Uttam (Mamun), Rajiob, Ansari, Kabir, Khokon (Amirul), Dominic, Enamul and Yousuf.

Referee - Abdul Hannan Miron

Today's match: Brothers Union Club vs Ctg Mohammedan SC (BNS 3:30 pm).

Women's Kabaddi team leaves for India today for Asian Kabaddi Championship

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Women's Kabaddi team leaves India today (Wednesday) morning to participate in the 3rd Asian Women's Kabaddi Championship.

The third version of the 12-team Asian Women's Kabaddi will be held in the Indian city of Madhurai in Tamilnadu State on Sept 18-21.

Participating teams are: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Iran, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.

On the eve of the India tour, Bangladesh coach Subimol Chandra Das told UNB "Our target is to play in the final. This time our team is far better than the last SAF Games team."

Bangladesh finished 4th in the inaugural Championship held in the Indian city of Hyderabad in 2005. Bangladesh women's kabaddi team earned bronze medal in the last South Asian Games in Sri Lanka in 2006.

Shahnaj Parvin Maleka will lead the India-bound Bangladesh women's kabaddi team.

Women's Kabaddi team consists of players - Shahnaj Parvin Maleka (captain), Yasmin Ara, Latika Chakma, Laboni Chakma, Fatema Akter Shila, Hasna Mariam Barna, Farhana Khatun, Moriam Khatun, Moyna Begum and Quamrunahar Shila.

Officials : Manager - Rowshan Akhter Chhabi, Coach - Subimal Chandra Das, Jury Member - M Nazrul Islam, Technical Officials - Amir Hossain Patwari and Azghar Ali.

Dhanmondi Club, Friends Social earn identical 1-0 victory

UNB, Dhaka

Dhanmondi Club and Friends Social Welfare Organisation earned an identical 1-0 win over their opponents at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium at Kamlapur on Tuesday.

In the day's 1st match, Dhanmondi Club edged past BG Press by a solitary goal scored by Ripon in the 73rd minute.

In the 2nd match, Friends Social Welfare Organisation beat Uro Famous Club by a lone goal. Bokul scored the all-important goal for the winners in the 15th minute.

In another match at the Army Stadium, Little Friends Club played to goalless draw with Matuail Udayan Sangsad.

Today's matches: Police SC vs Kadamtala Sangsad (Kamalapur Stadium 2 pm); East End Club vs Karwan Bazar Pragoti Sangha (Army Stadium 3 pm).

Jankovic aims for top of the world

AFP, Tokyo

Jelena Jankovic said today she was determined to regain the title of world number one at this week's Pan Pacific Open in Japan after holding the rank for just one week.

"Anytime you achieve the number one ranking, it doesn't matter whether it's for a week or many years," said the 23-year-old from Belgrade, who spent her brief stint as world number one during the Beijing Olympics.

"Of course, I'd love to come back to that spot. That's why I'm here to play. I really want to come back to the number one position. I'll try my best."

Jankovic had a chance to regain the top spot at the US Open, but she lost to Serena Williams in the final, giving the number one ranking to the American.

She is only 126 behind Williams at second place this week.

"It's every player's dream to become number one in the world," Jankovic said. "I'm just the 18th player in the history of tennis to achieve that, so it's a huge achievement."

"But not many people make it and I'm really proud that I'm one of those who joined the selection of great champions," added Jankovic, also the semi-finalist at the Australian and French Opens.

Safin choses Thailand over Davis Cup semi

AFP, Bangkok

Volatile Russian Marat Safin has decided to play in the Thailand Open next week instead of for his country in their Davis Cup semi-final against Argentina.

The former world number one said that going to Buenos Aires for the tie from September 19-21 and then to Bangkok the following day would be too much and his priority right now was improving his world ranking. He is currently 38.

"Marat will not be going to Argentina for Davis Cup," said a statement on the 28- year-old's website.

"He needs to keep getting points before the end of the year and he felt the trip from Buenos Aires to Bangkok would be very long and tiring and could make it difficult for him to play well in Bangkok in order to get points.

"He talked to (Russian captain) Shamil Tarpischev and asked to be released from the team for Davis Cup which Tarpischev agreed to.

"Marat's thoughts will be with the Russian team and he wishes them all the best of luck and to play well and win."

Russia are already without Mikhail Youzhny due to illness with the squad now headed by Nikolay Davydenko, Igor Andreev and Dmitry Tursunov.

Tarpishchev had earlier named Igor Kunitsyn as a reserve.

The 576,000-dollar Thailand Open is headlined by Australian Open champion and world number three Novak Djokovic.

Real coach says Robinho has joined 'mediocre' club

AFP, Madrid

Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster said Monday that Brazil international Robinho, who made a shock move from the Spanish champions to Manchester City earlier this month, had joined a "mediocre" club.

"From a sports point of view, for me it is a disappointment because Robinho had everything here to triumph," he told private television Cuatro.

"But you have to respect his dream to be a good player in a mediocre club in England," the German coach added.

Robinho, who was under contract with nine-time European Champions Real until 2010, had repeatedly said he was determined to join Chelsea, who are now coached by former World Cup-winning Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.

But in the final minutes of the transfer window on September 1, the 24-year-old winger signed a four-year deal with Manchester City-who were playing second-tier football just six years ago -- after Chelsea refused to meet Real's asking price of 40 million euros (57 million dollars).

Robinho had been unhappy with Real over their willingness to sell him to fund a failed move to sign Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United.

He scored his debut goal for Manchester City during his new side's 3-1 loss on Saturday to Chelsea.