The New Nation - Internet Edition

Brothers Union beat Chittagong Abahani

UNB, Dhaka

Brothers Union registered their 2nd consecutive win in the Citycell B League, beating Chittagong Abahani by 1-0 goal in the day's lone match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) here on Thursday.

After the day's result, Brothers Union Club bagged seven points while Chittagong Abahani remained at their previous tally of four points both playing three matches each.

Nigerian striker Michael Oniya scored the all-important goal for the traditional Gopibagh Outfit in the 34th minute with a left-footer from just outside the danger zone after getting a pass from Tapu (1-0).

The Brothers Union Club could have left the ground with a bigger margin but they squandered couple of good scoring chances.

In the very 9th minute, Oniya failed to net from around the penalty spot as his feeble shot went just wide of the post finding the opponent custodian helpless.

Then in the 30th minute, Oniya could consider himself unlucky when his left footer volley from close range returned to play hitting the side after getting a right side cross from Tapu.

After the breather, Mehdi Hasan Tapu came in action in the 60th minute when his header from inside the D-box off a corner taken by Zahid went just over the cross bar.

The day's match could be rated as a one-sided affair for the 'all orange' Dhaka outfit. On the other hand, the port city club was off coloured throughout the match and could hardly able to produce any good scoring chances.

Yellow cards - Masud Rana, Shakil Ahmed (Brothers Union), Santosh, Rashedul Alam (Chittagong Abahani.

Brothers Union - Ariful, Divine, Shuvra, Masud Rana, Arup, Tapu, Munna (Liton), Zahid, Shakil, Shakil, Oniya (Monju).

Chittagong Abahani - Mintu, Kashem (Jahangir), Mithun, Kiran, Nazir, Lok Bandhu, Santosh (Rashedul Alam), Rony, Emon, Mamun (Sohel), Ismail.

Referee - Mizanur Rahman

Today's match - Muktijoddha SKC vs Arambagh KS (3:30 pm) at BNS.

National booters begin residential camp today

UNB, Dhaka

National booters begin residential camp today (Friday) at the BKSP in Savar ahead of the Merdeka Cup Football Tournament to be held in Malaysia on October 15-25.

The brief eight-day camp will continue till October 4.

All the 30 players have been advised to report to team coach Shafiqul Islam Manik at 9am tomorrow at BFF Bhaban.

Talking to reporters Manik said he would give emphasis on physical fitness of the booters in the camp.

He said that he has already screened out some players from ongoing B. League, who have less physical fitness. They will be given special training.

The 20-member final squad is like to be announced on October 10, he said.

In the last year Merdeka Cup Football Tournament, Bangladesh suffered defeat in all the three group phase matches by Singapore, Indonesia and Zimbabwe.

Preliminary squad: Aminul Haq, Azharul Islam Himel, Hasan Al Mamun, Rajani Kanta Barman, Kazi Mojammel Hossain Shaikat, Enamul Haq Sharif, Arman Aziz, Mohammad Robin (Mohammedan SC), Biplob Bhatachariya, Mohammad Sujan, Wali Faisal, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Abul Hossain, Prantosh Kumar Das, Arif Khan Joy, Enamul Islam MamunZahed Pervez Chowdhury, Zahid Hasan Emily, Mehedi Hasan Uzzal (Abahani Limited), Ziaur Rahman, Amit Khan Shuvra, Ariful Isalm, Atiqur Rahman Mishu, Motiur Rahman, Arup Kumar Badya, Zahid Hosain (Brothersd Union) Firoz Mahmud Hossain Titu (Muktijoddha SKC), Sheikh Russell, Alfaz Ahmed (Sheikh Rusell KC), Enamul Haq (Farashganj KC).

GP-BCB Academy clinches series 2-1 beating Sri Lanka Development Squad in final match

UNB, Dhaka

Visiting GP-BCB National Cricket Academy team clinched the three-match one day series 2-1 beating Sri Lanka Development Squad by three wickets in the 3rd one-day match at the NCC Ground in Colombo Thursday.

Batting first, Sri Lanka Development Squad were bundled out for 147 in 41.3 overs.

Arafat Sunny captured three wickets for 22 runs while Ziaur Rahman, Nasir Hossain and Sajedul Islam took two wickets apiece.

In reply, GP-BCB National Cricket Academy team cantered to victory scoring the required 148 for 7 wickets in 46.3 overs with Nayeem Islam scoring an unbeaten 50.

Nayeem remained not out on 56 while Nasir made 22.

Earlier, in the first one-day match on Sunday, the GP-BCB Academy team earned a thrilling one-wicket win over Sri Lanka Development XI, while the hosts leveled the series 1-1 beating the visitors by four wickets in the second match on Tuesday.

Beach Kabaddi training begins in Cox's Bazar

UNB, Dhaka

A training session on beach kabaddi began on Thursday with eight players in Cox's Bazar.

Bangladesh will take part in the First Asian Beach Games to be held in Bali, Indonesia on October 18-26.

Players - Ziaur Rahman, Al Mamun, Kamal Hosain, Sadekul Islam, Maftun Haq, Jayed Hossain, Mohammad Firoz and Sirajul Islam.

Coach-Abdul Jalil.

Among the participants six players will be finalised from the training course.

Friends Social draw with Uttar Baridhara

Sports Reporter

Friends Social Welfare Organisation drew 1-1 with Uttar Baridhara Club in the day's lone match of the Second Division Football League at the Kamalapur Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium on Thursday.

After a barren first half Javed of Frinds Social Welfare Organisation put his yeam ahead in the 65th minute of the play.

Mostafijur of Uttar Baridhara equalised the margin in the 79th minute of the game.

Bengal Tigers to distribute best cricketer awards today for last two years

UNB, Dhaka

Cricket Fan Club 'Bengal Tigers' will distribute its 'Aramex Bengal Tigers Cricketer of the Year' award for the years 2006-07 and 2007-08 at a function at Imperial Hotel here today (Friday).

The Bengal Tigers will select the best cricketers for the last two years by direct voting of its members and cricket personalities from a short list considering their performance in the international cricket.

Managing Director of Aramex International and former BCB general secretary Mahbubul Anam will be present at the function as chief guest while former BCB vice-president Aziz Al Kaiser Tito as special guest.

Bengal Tigers President Kazi Tabarakul Islam Arif will preside over the function. It will be followed by an iftar party.

The Bengal Tigers Cricketer of the year award carries a crest and Tk 20,000 as prize money. The Fan Club will also award the best woman cricketer for the year 2007-08 that carries a crest and prize money of Tk 10,000.

The short-listed cricketers for the year 2006-07 are Mohammad Ashraful, Mashrafee Bin Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Shakib Al Hasan, while that for the year 2007-08 are Mashrafee Bin Mortaza, Shakib Ala Hasan, Mohammad Ashraful, Tamim Iqbal and Shahadat Hossain Razib.

Pakistan gets nine-million dollar offshore cricket deal

AFP, Karachi

Pakistan will play cricket in the Gulf as part of a nine-million dollar deal, officials said Thursday, providing foreign experience to a side struggling to find teams willing to come to their country.

Several international teams have refused to tour Pakistan amid security fears sparked by terrorist attacks, including the weekend suicide bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad that killed at least 60 people.

The deal would help the Pakistan Cricket Board "fill its coffers" and give appearance money to the players, the board's chief operating officer, Shafqat Naghmi, told AFP.

"It's a major boost and we have signed the deal worth nine million dollars for a period of three years with Dubai sports city," Naghmi said.

Details of the deal were to be announced in the next few days.

Pakistan cricket was badly hit after the elite eight-nation Champions Trophy due to be held in the country this month was postponed over security fears.

That proved a double blow after Australia postponed their full tour to Pakistan in March-also on security grounds.

Pakistan's invitations to South Africa, Sri Lanka, India and New Zealand for short one-day series have also failed.

The side asked South Africa to host them for a tri-nation one-day series after the postponement of the Trophy, which was turned down by Cricket South Africa.

Pakistan have also invited the West Indies to play two Tests in November, but reports from the Caribbean suggested players also had concerns about security.

But the West Indies have agreed to play three one-day internationals with Pakistan in Abu Dhabi from November 12-16, Naghmi said.

Watson keen to make impact in India Tests

AFP, India

Fit-again Australian Shane Watson said Thursday he was determined to play a key role with both bat and ball in the upcoming Test series in India.

The all-rounder, 27, is set to figure in the opening Test of the four-match series starting in Bangalore on October 9 as a seamer and middle-order batsman.

Injuries have restricted Watson's Test appearances to just three matches since his debut in January 2005, but the talented all-rounder said he was confident of serving his team well on the tough tour.

"What my bowling does give is a bit of impact, especially more so on the fourth and fifth day of a Test when I know I can come in, give it all I have got and have a bit of a crack," Watson told reporters here.

"Playing the Indians here it is a good way to challenge them, physically and mentally, not sledging, but having an aggressive persona about you. It will help the team if I do get an opportunity and complement the bowlers we have."

Watson got the opportunity to resurrect his Test career when all-rounder Andrew Symonds was ignored for the tour on disciplinary grounds.

"I got injured before the 2006 Ashes and it gave Andrew an opportunity. It is amazing how things do change," said Watson, who played his last Test in November 2005 against the West Indies. "I hope Andrew gets back because I love the way he plays and I know what he can give, but I have got to make the most of the opportunity."

Australia captain Ricky Ponting recently said Watson deserved a place in the squad even if Symonds was available.

"He could get himself picked in the side as a batter alone, but what he can give us with the ball is a bonus. I would be surprised if he did not play in the opening game," Ponting had said.

Watson said he had the batting technique to succeed on Indian pitches.

"I know I have got the technique to be able to bat in the top order. I have been doing it for Queensland ever since I started, so I know I have the technique to be able to bat anywhere," he said.

"If I do get an opportunity anywhere I know I can perform."

Watson was a revelation in the Twenty20 Indian Premier League earlier this year as he was named the player of the tournament for scoring 472 runs and taking 17 wickets for champions Rajasthan Royals.

"I have shown the Indian public because I have been able to play and perform, but I have not done that in Australia yet. It would be nice to turn that around," said Watson.

Australia will train in Jaipur till Sunday before the official part of the tour starts with a four-day practice game in Hyderabad from October 2.

The Bangalore Test will be followed by back-to-back matches in Mohali, New Delhi and Nagpur.

Scolari sets sights on quadruple after Pompey stroll

AFP, London

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is targetting a historic quadruple after marking his first English cup game with an emphatic victory over FA Cup holders Portsmouth.

Scolari watched two-goal Frank Lampard inspire his side to a stunning 4-0 League Cup third round win at Fratton Park.

The Brazilian, whose side finished runners up in the Premier League, Champions League and League Cup last season, named a much stronger side than expected and afterwards explained: "We have four competitions this season and I will try to win all four.

"It is the same for the players. It will be very difficult but we have the team for it, we have the players for it.

"Last year they got to three finals and this is what I want.

You could see by our team the League Cup is important to us."

Midfielder Lampard set Chelsea on course for a place in the last sixteen by netting his 20th League Cup goal from the penalty spot nine minutes before half time.

Michael Ballack was taken down by a wreckless late lunge from Portsmouth defender Nadir Belhadj and Lampard sent England team-mate David James the wrong way to pick out the bottom left corner.

Florent Malouda doubled four times winners Chelsea's lead on the stroke of half- time, slotting expertly past James with a well-struck shot on his weaker right foot.

Lampard, who scored in Chelsea's 4-0 Premier League win over Portsmouth on the opening day of the season, wrapped up the Londoners' victory from close range four minutes into the second half after David James had flapped at Salomon Kalou's cross.

Ivory Coast international Kalou put the seal on a man of the match performance by notching Chelsea's fourth in the 64th minute.

Kalou was given far too much freedom down the right before cutting in on his left foot and rifling past James at his near post.

Scolari, who completed the loan signing of veteran Brazilian midfielder Mineiro in the build up to the game, added: "I am pleased with the performance, I thought we played well.

"Portsmouth is a difficult place to come to. Sometimes it is crucial to score the first goal and if they had scored first it would have been difficult.

"I was pleased with the way we controlled the game. The side is looking good and I have been very impressed with the players since I arrived.

"I know who my key players are. I know who is important for us to play more games than other players.

"You need to build a team around a few players in essential positions for important games and I know who they are."

Portsmouth have now conceded ten goals in their last two games after Sunday's 6-0 thrashing at big spending Manchester City.

Manager Harry Redknapp refused to condemn his players and instead laid the blame on Germany midfielder Ballack by accusing him of diving to win Chelsea's spot-kick opener.

Redknapp said: "We gave scandalous goals away. The first one was not a penalty. We have seen the video and Ballack left his leg in there and dived, he was very clever.

"We did not deserve to be two goals down at half time and the next two goals were farcical but Chelsea are different class.

"You need all your best players playing at their best to beat them."

Nigerian footballer dies in city hotel

Staff Reporter

A foreigner, who recently took a room at a residential hotel in the city, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Khalicho, 26, a Nigerian citizen.

DMCH sources said Khalicho rented room no. 207 of Moon Star Hotel at Fakirerpool, identifying himself as a football player.

Khurshed Alam, an employee of the hotel, found him lying unconscious in the room and later rushed him to DMCH where physicians on duty declared him dead at about 10:45am.

No other details were available about the death.

FIFA fines Croatia for fans' racism

AP, Zurich

FIFA fined the Croatia Football Federation 30,000 Swiss francs (US$27,700, euro18,800) Thursday after fans directed racist chants at an England player during a World Cup qualifier.

The governing body's disciplinary committee also threatened Croatia with a more severe punishment if it did not control the problem in future.

"Racism has no place in football," FIFA said in a statement, adding it would use "all of the means at its disposal to eliminate this form of discrimination."

Racist chants were directed at England striker Emile Heskey at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb during the second half of England's 4-1 victory Sept. 10.

Heskey, who is black, later branded the fans "ignorant people" and said he tried to ignore the taunts.

England's Football Association said after the verdict it would Pursue complaints whenever its players faced similar taunts.

"We will not accept any racial abuse of any England players," it said. "There can be no place for racist behavior in football or society."

The Croatian federation was previously punished in June for its fans' racism at the European Championship.

It was fined 20,000 Swiss francs (US$17,900, euro12,570) after European governing body UEFA ruled Croatian fans displayed a racist banner and acted in a racist manner toward Turkey supporters during the teams' Euro 2008 quarterfinal.

India fumes at top facilities for Aussies

AFP, Jaipur

India's cricket chiefs are not pleased the touring Australians are being provided top-grade private training facilities at the start of their Test tour, a report said on Thursday.

"We won't get these kind of facilities if India went abroad. We would have got the bare minimum," the Cricketnext website quoted Indian cricket board official Ratnakar Shetty as saying.

"The RCA (Rajasthan Cricket Association) is being a little too obliging to the Australian team. They have done more than what a host country will do." Ricky Ponting's men are in the midst of a week-long training schedule at the RCA's cricket academy in Jaipur before the official part of the tour begins on October 2.

The Australians, who were not due in India till September 29, arrived a week early to acclimatize following the postponement of the Champions Trophy one-day tournament in Pakistan due to security concerns.

Former India coach and ex-Australia captain Greg Chappell, who is closely associated with the Rajasthan academy, ensured that excellent facilities were provided for his compatriots ahead of the four-Test series.

Local officials are only too happy to obey Chappell's commands in his capacity as the touring team's assistant coach.

"Looking at Indian conditions, we have given Australia everything they wanted for practice," said RCA's chief pitch curator Taposh Chatterjee.

"We have prepared 10 wickets for the Australians."

The different playing surfaces include a few that take spin, others which help seam bowlers and the rest are easy-paced batting wickets so typical of South Asia.

RCA officials defended their unusual hospitality for the Australians.

"This is the first time a team has arrived a week ahead of schedule, so why not give them the best facilities," said RCA official Bimal Soni.

"We are fair players."

The tourists will train in Jaipur until Sunday before flying to southern Hyderabad for a four-day match against the Indian board president's XI from October 2.

That will be the final warm-up for the Australians ahead of the first Test starting in Bangalore from October 9.

The remaining back-to-back Tests will be played in Mohali, New Delhi and Nagpur.