The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bangladesh 'rebels' open for compromise

Internet

The 13 Bangladesh players who have been banned for 10 years by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for joining the Indian Cricket League are not considering to move the court at this point of time, but instead are available for a compromise formula, if one can be worked out. This was revealed by the former Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar.

Speaking over telephone from his Dhaka residence minutes after the decision was announced by the BCB, he said: "We are not considering legal option at this point of time. What crime have we done? We have signed a three-year contract with the ICL with a condition to be released for national duty.

"We want to meet the board officials and discuss the issue with them. If no compromise is reached, we shall decide about our next course of action. We shall also demand our dues from the board."

The Tigers were individually contacted by Kaustubh Laheri, a Kolkata-based ICL agent, it was revealed.

"Now the chances of hosting the home series against New Zealand are 50-50," Rafiqul Alam, the national chief selector said.

"It will be a loss to the team but we shall utilise the services of young and talented players and seniors also," he added.

"Farhad Reza, Dhiman Ghosh and Alok Kapali were the members of the recent squad that toured Australia recently and are affected by this 10-year ban," he concluded.

Dhaka Abahani taste 1st win beating Farashganj 1-0

UNB, Dhaka

Dhaka Abahani Limited earned a hard-fought 1-0 goal against Farashganj KC in the only match of the Citycell 2nd B League at the Narsingdi Stadium on Friday.

This was the first victory for the celebrated "sky-blue' Dhanmondi outfit after conceding a 2-1 defeat to minnows Rahmatganj MFS in their opening match on Sept. 13.

Abul Hossain scored the all-important goal for Dhaka Abahani in the 42nd minute.

Today's match: Chittagong Abahani vs Muktijoddha Sangsad KC (Chittagong Stadium 3:30 pm).

Bangladesh crush Malaysia 75-08, beaten 24-22 by Japan

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh crushed Malaysia by 75-08 points in a match of the 3rd Asian Women's Kabaddi Championship held in Madurai in Tamilnadu State of India on Friday.

In another match, Bangladesh lost to Japan by 24-22 points at the same venue.

Euro Famous edge past Matuail

Sports Reporter

Euro Famous Club edged past Matuail Udayan Sangsad 1-0 in the day's lone match of the Second Division Football League at the Kamalapur Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium on Friday.

After a barren first half Sahedul scored the match-winning goal for the victorious team in the 72nd minute of the play.

Today Little Friends Club will meet Friends Social Welfare Organisation while Dhanmondi Club will face Karwan Bazar Progoti Sangha at the same venue.

Ponting needs to show patience in India : Chappell

Internet

Ricky Ponting needs to show more patience and caution at the start of his innings if he is to reverse his terrible batting record in India, according to former Australian captain Ian Chappell.

"Ponting's desire to dictate gets him into a bit of trouble in India," Chappell told Herald Sun. "He hasn't displayed the patience required at the start of an innings when you are facing good spinners in India."

Ponting has scored only 172 runs in 14 innings in India at an average of 12.28. He was tormented by Harbhajan Singh during the 2001 tour, falling to the offspinner five out of five times, and played only one Test - in which he scored 11 and 12 - on the 2004 tour because of injury.

However, Ponting hasn't struggled on the rest of the subcontinent. He averages 65.70 in six Tests in Sri Lanka and scored 119 in his only Test in Pakistan.

"He tends to push out at the ball when defending rather than letting the ball come to him," Chappell said. "Good players of spin reach out to smother the spin in attack, but in defence let the ball come to them. Ponting has been dismissed for so many low scores; he hasn't found a method that will allow him to survive this danger period.

"The important things t are finding a survival method, watching the ball off the pitch really closely, working out what shots you can and can't play, and learning you have a fraction of a second longer to play the ball off the pitch when compared to Australia."

National Cricket League starts October 10

Sports Reporter

The 10th National Cricket League starts on October 10 at the different venues across the country. National Cricket League, the country's lone first class cricket meet will be held on home and away basis. every team will face each other two times.

A total of six divisional cricket teams will take part in the league, the country's most prestigious cricket competition. The teams are :Khulna Division, Rajshahi Division, Dhaka Division, Chittagong Division, Barisal Division and Sylhet Division.

It may be mentioned that there will be no changes in the competition format which will be the same as it was in the previous season. That means the two participating teans will face each other in the four-dayer cricket match and then, the two teams will meet each other in a one-dayer cricket clash.

India move 2009 world championships out of Delhi

AFP, New Delhi

The 2009 world badminton championships have been shifted from the Indian capital of New Delhi to the southern city of Hyderabad, an official said on Friday.

The change was made due to the delay in renovation work being carried out at the Siri Fort Sports Complex in New Delhi, which is also the venue for the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

"Hyderabad has excellent badminton facilities and will be a good place to hold the world championships," Indian badminton chief V.K. Verma said.

"The world body approved the change after we told them the New Delhi stadium may not be ready in time."

The world championships are scheduled for August 10-16 next year.

Sri Lanka lift domestic ban on 'rebel' ICL players

AFP, Colombo

Sri Lanka will re-admit players aligned with the unauthorised Indian Cricket League into domestic cricket, officials said on Friday, in a move that defies the world cricket establishment.

"Players will be allowed to play for their respective clubs and share their expertise, but cannot represent the country," Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) media manager Shane Fernando told AFP.

The SLC had last year banned its five ICL players-Marvan Atapattu, Russel Arnold, Upul Chandana, Avishka Gunawardena and Saman Jayantha-from playing any official cricket matches.

The decision comes two days after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) joined its counterparts from other countries in banning 13 players, including former captain Habibur Bashar, who has signed up with the ICL.

The ICL, bankrolled by India's largest listed media company Zee Telefilms, was launched last year in a direct conflict with the powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The BCCI not only barred any ICL player or official from taking part in official cricket, but also convinced other boards to take similar action against their 'rebel' players.

The Indian board also started its own lucrative Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition, featuring the world's top stars, to counter the ICL.

Not surprisingly, ICL officials welcomed Sri Lanka's decision.

"This is a step in the right direction," ICL business head Himanshu Mody told the Cricinfo website.

"We hope that this decision will pave the way for Sri Lankan cricketers to play both for the ICL and their country in the near future."

The ICL's first season last year 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.

The Dhaka Warriors will be added as the ninth team in the second season starting on October 10.

GP-BCB Academy suffers 65-run defeat to Sri Lanka Academy

UNB, Dhaka

A five-wicket haul by KRNU Perera guided Sri Lanka Academy team to earn a 65-run win over touring GP-BCB National Cricket Academy team in the 2nd four-day match at Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday.

Resuming the 2nd innings today (Friday) with overnight score of 212 for five in 84 overs, the hosts finally scored 285 for all in 117 overs, setting the target of 217 runs against the visitors.

Night-watch batsman BMAJ Mendis (93*), who scored a polished 136 in the first innings in addition to four wicket haul, today also displayed his mantle in batting scoring 138 runs off 271 balls with 13 fours and one six.

Nasir Hossain grabbed four wickets for 42 runs while Mahbubul Alam took three wickets for 78.

Chasing the winning target of 217, GP-BCB National Cricket Academy team started their 2nd innings and were all out for 151 in 42.3 overs in the face of fierce bowling attacks by the Sri Lankan.

Mahbubul Alam (53) was the only batsman who scored half century for the touring side.

KRNU Perera caused the major damage claiming five wickets for 46 runs while WCA Ganegama captured three for 25 runs.

Earlier, GP-BCB National Cricket Academy team were all out for 321 in their 1st innings in reply to Sri Lanka Academy's 252 runs of the 1st innings total.

The 1st four-day match between the two sides ended in a draw.

Touring BCB Academy will play the 1st one-day match on Sept 21 at Premadasa Stadium, the 2nd on September 23 at SSC ground and the final one-day on September 25 at NCC ground.