The New Nation - Internet Edition

Ctg Mohammedan hold Brothers Union

UNB, Dhaka

Chittagong Mohammedan SC forced Brothers Union Club to play 1-1 goal draw in their opening match of the Citycell 2nd B League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) on Wednesday.

Ghanaian recruit Raphael Sagno scored for Chittagong Mohammedan while Nigerian striker Micheal Oniya scored the equalizer for the Brothers Union Club. The match was locked 1-1 in the first half.

Sagno put Chittagong Mohammedan ahead in the 34th minute with a box shot capitalizing on Ariful Islam right wing cross (1-0).

Micheal Oniya restored the parity for Brothers Union Club with back heal shot two yards from goal mouth after taking a head from Arup Kumar, who converted Meshu's corner shot at the left wing in the 44th minute.

After the lemon break, both teams launched attacks, but failed to take lead despite getting easy chances.

Brothers Union's Meshu received marching order for double yellow cards in the match. Referee Tayeb Hasan had to show six yellow cards to control the match.

After the match, Chittagong Mohamedan SC manager Mohammed Yousuf expressed satisfaction over his team's performance saying boys played competitive football.

Brothers Union coach Khandakar Wasim Iqbal said his boys failed to play their natural game resulting in draw.

Yellow cards: Ariful and Meshu (Brothers Union); Prodip, Linkon, Camara, and Sanowar (Ctg Mohammedan).

Red card - Meshu (double yellow cards)

Referee - Tayeb Hasan

Today's match: Arambagh KS vs Dhaka Mohammedan SC (BNS 3:30 pm).

Eves Kabaddi team leaves for India to take part in Asian Kabaddi Championship

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Women's Kabaddi team left here for India Wednesday morning to take part in the 3rd Asian Women's Kabaddi Championship with a high hope to reach the final.

The third version of the 12-team Asian Women's Kabaddi will be held in Madurai in Tamilnadu State on September 18-21.

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

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

He, however, added that they are yet to know the grouping and fixture of the tournament.

Bangladesh eves finished 4th in the inaugural Championship held in the Indian city of Hyderabad in 2005, but did not take part in the 2nd version of the meet held in Iran.

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: Players - Shahnaj Parvin Maleka (captain), Yasmin Ara, Latika Chakma, Laboni Chakma, Fatema Akter Sheela, Hasna Mariam Barna, Farhana Khatun, Mariam Khatun, Moyna Begum and Quamrunahar Sheela.

Officials - Rowshan Akhter Chhabi (manager), Subimal Chandra Das (coach), M Nazrul Islam (jury member), Amir Hossain Patwaryand Asgar Ali (technical officials).

BSWA announces its sports award for 2007: Rakib names as sportsman of the year

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Sports Writers Association on Wednesday announced its sports awards for the year 2007 with Grand Master Abdullah Al Rakib as the best sportsman of the year to receive "SA Mohsin Trophy".

It named seven sportsmen, organizer, association and sponsors for the awards considering their contribution in the field of sports during the year.

The recipients are: Shakib Al Hasan (cricket), Ziaur Rahman (kabaddi), Shafiqur Rahman Munna (organiser), Hazi Abdus Sattar (special contribution to sports), Rajshahi DSA (active association) and United Insurance Company Limited (sponsor) and Abdullah Al Rakib (sportsman of the year).

The awards will be distributed later.

Police SC blank Kadamtala Sangsad 2-0

UNB, Dhaka

Police SC beat Kadamtala Sangsad by 2-0 goals in a match of the Second Division Football League at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium at Kamalapur on Wednesday.

Bisweswar and Amirul scored one goal each for the winners.

In the day's other match, East End Club edged past Karwan Bazar Pragoti Sangha by a solitary goal scored by Ismail.

Today's matches: T&T Club Motijheel vs Gazirchat SC (Kamalapur Stadium 2 pm); Prantik KC vs Sadharan Bima KS (Army Stadium 3 pm).

Five players share joint lead in Rating Chess

UNB, Dhaka

Five players shared joint lead in the points in the Destiny 2000 Limited 3rd Open FIDE Rating Chess tournament with 4.5 points after the 4th round matches at the Chess Federation Hall room on Wednesday.

They are GM Reefat Bin Sattar and FM Abu Sufian Shakil of Biman, Junior Champion FM Minhazuddin Ahmed Sagar, FM Sk. Nasir Ahmed, FM Mohammad Javed and Debaraj Chatterjee of Destiny, FM Syed Mahfuzur Rahman Emon of Chittagong Mohammedan and Monir Hossain of Pritam Prijam.

In the 5th round matches, Reefat drew with Emon, Sagar drew with Nasir, Shakil beat Alimul Haque Kazal., Javed beat Arman Siddique Mithu, Debaraj beat Ahmedul Haque and Monir beat Sirajul Kabir.

The 6th round matches start today (Thursday) at 3:30 pm at the same venue.

Handball Referee Refreshers Course begins

UNB, Dhaka

A Handball Referee Refreshers Course, organized by Bangladesh Handball Federation, began on Wednesday at the Federation office room.

Federation General Secretary Asaduzzaman Kohinoor formally inaugurated the two-day course as chief guest.

A total of 25 men and women participants are taking part in the course.

GP-BCB Academy takes command scoring 310/8 on day 2

UNB, Dhaka

GP-BCB National Cricket Academy took command over Sri Lankan Development XI on day two of the 2nd four-day match at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday.

Resuming the 2nd day on Wednesday with overnight score of 33 for one wicket, the visitors scored 310 runs for eight in 94 overs in their 1st innings in reply of Sri Lankan Development XI 252 runs.

Skipper Nayeem Islam, Imrul Kayes and Arafat Sunny played a major role to take the team to a comfortable position.

Imrul Kayes scored 67 runs, while Arafat Sunny made 63 for the touring side. Nayeem Islam (73) and Ziaur Rahman (13) were at the crease at stumps on the day.

BMAJ Mendis captured three wickets for 61 runs, while TSM Masmulla bagged two for 27 runs.

India's 'rebel' cricket league takes on ICC after Bangladesh signings

AFP, New Delhi

The unrecognised Indian Cricket League took a swipe at the sport's governing body on Wednesday after signing 11 Bangladesh internationals for their second season.

The ICL, bankrolled by India's largest listed media company Zee Telefilms, said it was frustrated at the International Cricket Council's delay in granting it official recognition.

"We had applied for recognition in April, but till now nothing concrete has come out," ICL's business head Himanshu Mody said ahead of their new season starting on October 10.

"They are acting in a tardy manner. If we don't hear anything from them in 14 days we will pursue the matter again."

Media reports said legal action was one of the options the ICL was considering in a bid to hasten a decision.

The powerful ICC-recognised Indian cricket board, which launched its own Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition earlier this year, has banned ICL players from all official matches.

The Indian board also convinced its counterparts from around the world to shun ICL players amid the ICC's stated position that only tournaments okayed by the respective boards would be recognised.

The ICL's first season comprised Twenty20 and 50-overs-a-side matches between eight teams that included a mix of international players and domestic Indian cricketers.

Among the top stars aligned with the ICL are retired former Test captains Brian Lara of the West Indies and Inzamam-ul Haq of Pakistan, besides fiery New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond and veteran Chris Cairns.

A team from Bangladesh, called the Dhaka Warriors, will be inducted as the ninth team this year and includes 11 internationals led by former Test captain Habibul Bashar.

"Please don't call us rebels," said Bashar, 36. "The ICL contracts do not prevent us from playing for Bangladesh. We are as keen as anyone to play for our country."

ICL chairman Kapil Dev, a legendary all-rounder and India's lone World Cup winning captain, lashed out at the Indian board for treating his players as "untouchables."

"This is not South Africa or the apartheid regime, why are our players regarded as untouchables," Dev told AFP.

"Is it their fault they want to play? We are just trying to provide them with a better life, better conditions, better infrastructure and good medical facilities.

"The Indian board has victimised players for no reason. We are here to promote the game. That is not the monopoly of the Indian board.

"I hope Bangladesh will not ban those players who have come to us. We want them to play for their country and come to us only in their free time."

With Bangladesh cricket in a crisis after the mass exodus and fears of more players signing with the ICL, the Indian board washed its hands of the new developments.

"It has nothing to do with us," said Indian official Rajiv Shukla. "It is a matter between the Bangladesh board, the players and the ICC."

Bangladesh, who are due to host New Zealand for two Tests and three one-day internationals next month, have lost 47 of their 53 Tests with just one win over fellow wooden spooners Zimbabwe.