The New Nation - Internet Edition

Nadif ton enables Dhaka take command over Khulna

UNB, Dhaka

Riding on a Nadif Chowdhury ton, hosts Dhaka Division took command in the 4th round four-day match of the Ispahani Mirzapore Tea 10th National Cricket League against Khulna Division as they need only three wickets on the 4th day, Wednesday, to earn victory.

Chasing a massive target of 408 runs, Khulna Division still trails by 285 runs with three wickets in hand as they were 123 for 7 in 48 overs in their 2nd innings when the bails were drawn for the 3rd day at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) here Tuesday.

Skipper Tushar Imran was batting on 23 while tail ender Ziaur Rahman was the other not out batsman with 6.

Apart from opener Nazmus Sadat's 50 off 65 balls with six fours and a six, the other Khulna batsmen -- Mostafizur Rahman 2, Ashraful Aziz 20, Sahagir Hossain 15, Raihan Anas 0, Farid Uddin 1 -- were not able to prolong their innings.

Spinner Mahmudullah Riyad claimed three wickets for 36 runs in 16 overs while Arafat Sunny took two wickets for 26 runs.

Earlier, resuming with overnight 130 for 3 in 47 overs, Dhaka Division declared their 2nd innings at 266 for 7 in 87 overs with Nadif hammering not out 101 off 129 balls that featured 11 fours and three sixes.After the departure of overnight batsmen Riyad 37 and Marshal Ayub 10, number six Nadif single-handedly dominated the Khulna Division attack to set a big target for the visitors.

Pacer Dollar Mahmud grabbed two wickets for 38 runs while Ziaur Rahman, Nazmus Sadat and Robiul Islam took one wicket apiece.

Brief score:

Dhaka Division 1st innings - 251/9 dec., 2nd innings 266/7 dec. Nadif not out 101, Javed 32, Elias 9, Shamsur 46, Riyad 37, Marshal 10, Dollar 2/38.

Khulna Division 1st innings - 110 for all in 44.1 overs, 2nd innings - 123/7 in 48 overs, Nazmus 50, Ashraful 20, Sahagir 15, Tushar batting 23, Ziaur batting 6, Riyad 3/36, Sunny 2/26

Tendulkar, Sehwag to return to ODI squad

Cricketnext.com, Nagpur

Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, who missed the last ODI series in Sri Lanka, are set to return to the Indian limited overs squad when the national selectors meet here on Wednesday to name the team for the seven-match series against England commencing on November 14 at Rajkot.

The selectors are expected to name almost the same team led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has now become the regular Test skipper too following the retirement of Anil Kumble, that won the away series against Sri Lanka 3-2 in August-end.

Yuvraj Singh, young guns Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma, who featured in the domestic Challenger Series and are playing in the ongoing Ranji Trophy championship for their respective state teams, would be eager to get back into international action.

ODI specialists with all-round skills, Praveen Kumar and Irfan Pathan, are also set to make the squad along with Delhi youngster Virat Kohli who made his international debut in Sri Lanka.

Subramaniam Badrinath, part of the Test squad against Australia without being able to make the playing eleven in the first three matches of the rubber, is also expected to be named in the team.

Zaheer Khan, who is spearheading the bowling admirably against Australia, would be leading the pace attack with Munaf Patel and Rudra Pratap Singh, unless the selectors decide to rest him after his long stint against Australia.

Harbhajan Singh would be leading the spin attack while it remains to be seen who would be his support at the other end with contenders being left arm spinner Pragyan Ojha and leg spinners Amit Mishra, who has impressed in the Test series against Australia, and Piyush Chawla.

Dhaka MSC beat SK Russell KC

UNB, Dhaka

Dhaka Mohammedan SC beat Sheikh Russell KC by 2-1 goals in the Citycell 2nd B. League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Tuesday.

With the day's win, Dhaka Mohammedan improved their position securing 11 points from five matches, while Sheikh Russell KC remained at 14 points playing six outings.

In the day's match, striker Mohammad Robin and Nigerian recruit Alamu Bukola Olaleken scored one goal each for the winners, while veteran striker Alfaz Ahmed netted the lone goal for the losers. The winners led the first half 2-0.

Robin put Dhaka Mohammedan SC ahead in the 35th minute with a placing shot from inside the danger zone after receiving a short pass from Nasir, who stood just beside the D-box (1-0).

After the lemon break, striker Bokula increased the winners' margin in the 46th minute with his solo effort when his own rebound shot from inside the D-box came to his way after hitting the body of opponent custodian Biplob (2-0).

Alfaz pulled one back for Sheikh Russell KC in the 77th minute with a placing short after dodging past custodian Aminul and Shaikat, who came forward to clear the ball (2-1).

Dhaka Mohammedan kept the match under their control almost during the match while Sheikh Russell KC offered a bit resistance in the end of the match.

Striker Bukola's shot from two yards narrowly escaped the goal post of Seikh Russell at the injury time. Tendulkar, Sehwag to return to ODI squadEarlier, Sheikh Russell KC got a scoring chance in the 15th minute, but Tanveer Chowdhury's lofted shot from the vantage position off Mubarak pass sailed over the cross bar.

Yellow cards: Rajani, Saikat, Nasir and Sharif (Mohammedan)

Today's match: Chittagong Abahani vs Chittagong Mohammedan (3 pm Chittagong Stadium).

Bangladesh-SAfrica Twenty20 today

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh National Cricket team led by Mohammad Ashraful will start their South Africa tour with a day-night Twenty20 International match against South Africa National Cricket team at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.

Earlier, the Tigers faced the Proteas in a Twenty20 International match and the tigers were defeated by the Proteas.

Besides today's match, Bangladesh team will play three ODI matches and two Test matches against South Africa team during their month-long tour.

It may be mentioned that Bangladesh team will take on South Africa A team in a two-dayer match on November 15 and November 16.

Yesterday Bangladesh team took part in a fullfledged practice session in Johannesburg.

It is noteworthy that captain of South Africa team Graeme Smith will miss the Twenty20 International match against the touring Bangladesh team due to injury. Johan Botha will lead the Proteas against the Tigers in the today's match.

The Proteas will be boosted by the return of pacer Dale Steyn, who missed the Kenya ODIs after suffering from severe headaches since mid-September.

Div I Hockey: Police defeat Barnak Samaj

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh Police AC defeated Barnak Samaj by two goals to nil in the Green Delta Insurance First Division Hockey League at the Moulana Bhasani National Hockry Stadium on Tuesday.

Police led the first half 1-0.

Rana scored all the two goals for Police in the 6th and 58th minutes of the game.

In the day's second match, Dhaka Wanderers Club settled for a 1-1 draw with Mukto Bihanga Tarun Sangha at the same venue.

Wanderers Club finished the first half with a 1-0 goal's lead.

Asif of Wanderers Club put his team ahead in the 31st minute of the play.Monir of Mukto Bihanga equalised the margin just four minutes before the long whistle.

In the day's third match, Bachelor SC nade a 1-1 draw with Victoria SC at the same venue.

The pre-lemon session ended in a goalless draw.

After a barren first half Yousuf of Victoria SC led his team by scoring a goal in the 44th minute of the clash.

Sumon of Bachelor SC levelled the margin just five minutes before the final whistle.

BOA introduces "Sports for all" program in Rangpur today

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Olympic Association has taken an initiative to introduce a five-year "Sports for all" program in the country to involve the masses in sports.

It begins today (Wednesday) at the Rangpur Zilla School ground, followed by Nov 16 in Sylhet.

BOA wants to involve the hard working people living in the country's rural areas, having no touch with the sports, at-least a daylong sports activity in a year.

Resurgent Dhaka Warriors make it three wins in a row

Agency, Chandigarh

Dhaka Warriors continued their march up the table with their third straight victory, beating Ahmedabad Rockets by 13 runs.

Dhaka, who after four games were at eighth place and seemingly out of contention for the semi-finals, have now stormed to No. 2 in the points table.

Nazimuddin gave Dhaka a manic start with a couple of boundaries in the first over. Jason Gillespie struck in the next, removing Shahriar Nafees, but the runs continued to flow. Four sixes came in the space of seven balls as even the mis-hits flew over the boundary; Dhaka were 42 after 3.3 overs.

Aftab Ahmed fell soon after and the tempo flagged with left-arm spinner Sumit Kalia sending down a couple of tidy overs.

Nazimuddin still had a couple of sixes left in him before he holed out to midwicket for a 29-ball 48. Alok Kapali made 26 but Habibul Bashar struggled to maintain the momentum.

Dhaka reached a formidable total thanks to Mahbubul Karim's late blitz. He used his feet well against the spinners, repeatedly coming down the track and hitting them inside out over long-off.

Reetinder Sodhi's shorter deliveries were dispatched to the square boundaries while Gillespie was lofted over midwicket.

Sixty-three runs came off the last six overs and Ahmedabad were left needing 182 for victory.

Their openers, Murray Goodwin and Ryan Campbell, had raced to 27 after three overs before Campbell was bowled by Tapash Baisya.

Goodwin slammed Mohammad Sharif for three fours in the next over and Sodhi, pushed up the order, launched Mohammad Rafique over midwicket. The next ball from Rafique was a quicker one which foxed Sodhi, crashing into his off stump.