The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bangladesh Football team announced

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF ) announced on Wednesday the 18-member Bangladesh National Footdall team, which will take part in the ensuing Third Grand Royal Challenge Cup scheduled to be held in Myanmar from November 11 to November 21.

Nokia, a leading mobile phone manufacturer company will sponsor Bangladesh National Football team during the football meet. Nokia has given TK 12 lakh to Bff to promote the National Football team. Nokia and BFF signed an agreement for this purpose.

Marking the sponsorship, a press conference was held at the Bangladesh Football Federation House on Wesnesday.

President of Bangladesh Football Federation Kazi Salauddin, Senior Vice-President of BFF Abdus Salam Murshedi, Vice-President of the federation Badal Roy, Managing Director of Nokia Prem Chand, Head of Marketing of Nokia Noufel Anwar, Coach of Bangladesh National Football team Shafiqul Islam Manik were present, among others.

Kazi Salauddin said, "We hope Bangladesh Football team will bring bright future from Myanmar. It is my pleasure that Nokia is with us. It is not for money but Nokia is a brand which is known all over the country. I hope Nokia will continue their partnership with BFF for a long time."

Prem Chand said, "I am delighted to be present here. We always promote premium sports. We are the best brand and I am excited that a good change has been done in BFF recently. We are not only sponsoring the team but also we will give incentive to the players if they perform satisfactory in the upcoming football tournament.

Our brand is a successful brand and we hope that the National Football team will also bring success. We want to go through the grass rout level of bangladesh's football. Football is in my heart and we wish every success in Myanmar."

Shafiqul Islam Manik said, "Our target is to show consistent performance. We selected the players of the National team on the basis of discipline, commitment and performance."

A total of six teans splitting into two groups are taking part in the Third Grand Royal Challenge Cup.

Host Myanmar, Bangladesh, Indonesia have been pencilled in Group A while Vietnam, Hyundai FC, Malaysia have been billed in Group B.

Bangladesh will take on Myanmar on November 11.

Bangladesh will meet Indonesia on November 13.

The champions of the Group A will face the runners-up of the Group B in the first semifinal on Novenber 18 while the champions of the Group B will take on the runners-up of Group A in the second semifinal on November 19.

The winners of the two semifinals will face each other in the final on November 21.

Bangladesh team will leave the city for Myanmar on November 9.

Bangladesh squad: Motiur Munna (captain), Aminul Haq, Biplob Bhattacharya, Rajani Kanta Barman, Mohammad Sujan (vice captain), Wali Faisal, Ariful Islam, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Enamul Haq Sharif, Kazi Mozammel Hossain Saikat, Mamunul Islam Mamun, Zahid Hasan Emily, Mohammad Robin, Zahid Hossain, Arman Aziz, Alfaz Ahmed, Atiqur Rahman Mishu and Zahed Pervez Chowdhury.

Officials - Badal Roy (manager), Shafiqul Islam Manik (coach), Golam Rabanni Chhoton (assistant coach), Mahfuz Ullah Chisty (team doctor) and Ahmed Syed Al Fatah (media manager).

Laxman hopes to make his 100th test appearance special

Reuters, Nagpur

Indian batsman Vangipurappu Laxman hopes his rich vein of form against Australia will continue when he plays his 100th test match from Thursday.

"It's a great moment for me and for all the people associated in this journey of mine. I hope I can make it special," Laxman told Indian media on Wednesday.

The stylish middle-order batsman will become the eighth Indian to play in 100 test matches when he takes the field against the world's top-ranked side in the final test at Nagpur.

The hosts lead the four-match series 1-0 after winning the second test in Mohali by 320 runs. Two tests ended in draws.

Six of Laxman's 13 test centuries have come against Australia, including a second double hundred in last week's drawn third test.

"I have always enjoyed playing against them. It gives you a lot of satisfaction to do well against the top side in the world," said Laxman, 34.

"They have always been number one since I started playing international cricket."

An elegant stroke-maker, Laxman took the cricket world by storm in 2001 by making a then Indian test record 281 against Australia in Kolkata, rallying the team to victory after being asked to follow on and sparking a comeback series triumph.

Laxman, who made his test debut in 1996, has scored 6,313 runs at 45.41.

He will join Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid and Saurav Ganguly in the select band of Indians to play in 100 tests.

Standard Chartered School Kabaddi Competition to begin next month

UNB, Dhaka

The First National Standard Chartered School (Boys and Girls) Competition, organized by Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation will begin in the city next month.

The competition, sponsored by the Standard Chartered Bank, will begin in the last week of December, a Federation press release said Wednesday.

The schools, interested to take part in the competition, have been requested to send their entries to General Secretary of the Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation on letterhead pads of their respective institution by November 20.

It said the Federation will bear cost of food, accommodation and conveyance of the participants, both boys and girls.

Chittagong-Barisal match ends in draw

UNB, Dhaka

As expected, the 4th round match of the four-day Ispahani Mirzapore Tea 10th National Cricket League between Chittagong Division and Barisal Division ended in draw on the final day at Narayanganj Osmani Stadium in Fatullah on Wednesday.

Replying to Barisal Division's huge first innings total of 385 runs, Chittagong Division resumed their first innings today with overnight 370 for 8 and finally declared the innings at 392 for 9 in 131 overs with a meager seven-run first innings lead.

Night watch batsman Rezaul Karim (16) contributed 32 runs off 46 balls with six fours while another 29 runs came from extras, apart from Faisal Hossain's entertaining innings of 127 runs of 212 balls with 12 fours two sixes on Tuesday.

Later, Faisal was adjudged man of the match.

Barisal Division, which posted 385 runs in the first innings riding on a superb 176 runs by Ronny Talukder, opened the 2nd innings today and made 182 for 4 in 72.3 overs before they declared the innings at 4:38 pm.

Nasiruddin Faruk scored not out 100 runs off 220 balls with eight fours and a six while opener Uttam Sarkar and one down Abul Bashar scored 26 and 25 runs respectively.

Moktar Ali took two wickets for 20 runs while Tareq Aziz Khan and Rezaul Karim took one wicket apiece.

Brief score: Barisal Division - 385 & 182 for 4 (declared)in 72.3 overs, Nasiruddin Faruk not out 100, Uttam Sarkar 26, Abul Bashar 25, extras 18, Moktar Ali 2/20, Tareq Aziz 1/28 and Rezaul Karim 1/41.

Chittgong Division first innings- 392 for 9 (declared) in 131 overs. Foysal Hossain 127, Gazi Salauddin 51, Nadimuddin 42, Tariq Ahmed 37, Kamrul Islam 33, Rezaul Karim 32, extras 29, Nasir Hossain 3/61, Sajedul Islam 2/64 and Tariqul Islam 2/104.

Div I Hockey: Big win for Farashganj, Barnak Samaj

Sports Reporter

Farashganj SC and Barnak Samaj registered big wins in the Green Delta Insurance First Division Hockey League on Wednesday.

In the day's first match, Farashganj SC blanked Shishu Kishore Sangha 7-0 at the Moulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium.

After a barren first half Nadim of Farashganj hit a hat-trick while his teammate Rubel scored three goals and shagor netted one.

In the day's second match, Barnak Samaj drubbed Uttara Hockey Club by four goals to nil aftercompleting the first session 1-0 at the same venue.

Ivan scored two goals and his teammates Kawsar, Alamgir struck one time each on the board.

Div II Football: Karwan Bazar defeat Euro Famous

Sports Reporter

Karwan Bazar Progoti Sangha defeated Euro Famous Club by three goals to one in the day's lone match of the Second Division Football League at the Kamalapur Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium on Wednesday.

The first half was locked 1-1.

Sanzid of Karwanbazar scored two goals and his teammate Ashiqur netted one while Rubel scored one goal for the losers.

Today Uttar Baridhara Club will meet BG Press S&RC at the same venue.

Hockey Federation names a 20-member final squad for Nehru Cup Hockey

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Hockey Federation Wednesday named a 20-member final squad for the 45th Jawaharlal Nehru Cup Hockey to be held in India on November 14-25.

Bangladesh hockey team, which is due to leave for India by road on Nov 12, will play their first match on Nov 18.

Bangladesh squad: Mahbubullah Shakil, Zahid Hossain, Asaduzzaman Chandan, Moshiur Rahman Biplob, Ferdous Goldar, Tapash Barman, Imran Hasan Pintu, Shahidullah Tito, Quamruzaman Rana, Ashiquzzaman, Jamal Hosain Khan, Sheikh Mohammad Nannu, Krishna Kumar, Zahid Bin Talib and Rimon Kumar Ghosh.

Standbys: Mehrab Hossain Kiron, Hadiuzzaman, Abdus Sajjad John and Syed Al Mamun.