The New Nation - Internet Edition

Tendulkar gives India upper hand

AP, Nagpur

Sachin Tendulkar improved his world record with his 40th test century as India took the upper hand over Australia after Thursday's opening day of the series-deciding fourth test.

Tendulkar's 109 from 188 balls was the fulcrum of India's 311-5 stumps score, which put the hosts in a good position to secure the result it needs to maintain or improve its current 1-0 series lead and take the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

He shared a 146-run partnership with V.V.S Laxman for the fourth wicket that steadied the innings after the top order lost three quick wickets shortly before lunch.

"We are not in a brilliant position," Tendulkar said. "Losing five wickets is too much - three was acceptable."

Tendulkar, who holds the world run-scoring record with 12,261, played the Australian attack comfortably until he neared his first century of the series.

"It was important that I got going because we lost a couple of wickets when I came in, then Virender Sehwag got out," Tendulkar said. "Between me and Laxman it was important to put up a good partnership and it was satisfying."

The Australians missed two chances to remove the right-hander when Mitchell Johnson dropped him on 85 and Brett Lee spilled a tough chance on 96. Both chances came when Tendulkar tried to slog debutant offspinner Jason Krejza over mid-off.

Tendulkar then spent 12 balls on 99 before cutting Krejza for four to bring up his 10th hundred against Australia. He reached the milestone from 166 deliveries, with 12 fours, and celebrated by raising his bat to the crowd and hugging Sourav Ganguly. Australian captain Ricky Ponting is second on the list of test century-makers with 36.

After winning the toss at the new Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium, India began strongly as opener Sehwag blasted his way to an aggressive 66 from 69 deliveries, including nine fours and a six.

Sehwag and Murali Vijay - standing in for the suspended Gautam Gambhir - smashed 31 off the opening four overs to kick start a 98-run stand which ended when Shane Watson dug in a short ball and got the edge of Vijay's bat through to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

It prompted a mini-collapse, as Krejza - who conceded 32 runs from his opening three overs - claimed his first test wicket in the next over, dismissing the out-of-form Rahul Dravid for a duck, caught at bat-pad.

Sehwag raced to his 16th test half-century and seemed set for a big score before playing-on to Krejza shortly before lunch.

Laxman, playing his 100th test, provided useful support for Tendulkar and brought up his 37th test half-century on the way to a 114-ball knock of 64.

He became Krejza's third victim when he tried to give himself room to cut, was surprised by the spin and left after Haddin juggled the edge.

Ganguly, who is retiring at the end of the game, and Tendulkar added 41 for the fifth wicket before Tendulkar was lbw to Johnson as Australia took the second new ball.

At stumps, Ganguly was unbeaten on 27 and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was 4 not out.

Krejza had a mixed opening appearance, taking three prized scalps for 138 in 28 overs at a run-rate of just under five.

"It was an enjoyable day for me, my first game, and I got a couple of wickets, which was good, and I'm off to a good start,"

Krejza said. "I couldn't ask for much more from the day's play." Watson and Johnson were the only other wicket-takers on another tough day for Australia's ineffective attack.

Yousuf ICL move shocks former players

AP, Islamabad

Star batsman Mohammad Yousuf's decision to rejoin the non-sanctioned Indian Cricket League, prompting a ban from the national team, has shocked former Pakistan test cricketers.

"I am disappointed because ethically Yousuf has done a wrong thing," ex-test captain Aamir Sohail told The Associated Press on Thursday.

"It's all about money, it's not about integrity, it's not about pride."

Yousuf is expected to make his ICL debut Friday for Lahore Badshahs - a team comprising Pakistan players - after rejoining the Twenty20 league on Wednesday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board reacted to Yousuf's move by banning him from the national team and cutting his name from the 15-man squad for three limited-overs internationals against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi from Nov. 12-16.

The PCB, the International Cricket Council, and other national associations do not recognize the ICL, which runs in competition to the officially recognized Indian Premier League. The IPL Twenty20 is officially sanctioned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Sohail blamed former captains Inzamam-ul-Haq and Moin Khan for luring current Pakistan players toward ICL. Inzamam is captaining Lahore Badhshahs while Khan is manager/coach of the team.

"The PCB should look what the role of these two players is," Sohail said."They are actually enticing these players."

Sohail said there is no harm in retired cricketers like Inzamam playing in the ICL, "but if key current players from all the major test playing nations are lured toward ICL, then it will become very difficult."

Sohail urged the ICC to intervene.

"Cricket is no more a gentleman's game which it used to be in the '60s and '70s," Sohail said."Now the onus is on the ICC how it tackles with this storm of money which is luring players and will definitely affect test and one-day cricket."

Last year, former PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf convinced Yousuf to cancel his ICL contract and play for Pakistan.

"The PCB even compensated him financially," Sohail said. "But now he rejoined the ICL which clearly means that big sums of money is luring players."Ex-test leg-spinner Abdul Qadir said act firmly against Yousuf to set an example for other cricketers.

"Our cricket has been badly damaged with discipline problems, like players involvement in doping scandals," Qadir said, referring to fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif's positive drug tests over the last two years.

"We are already lacking in discipline and the PCB should now start taking strict actions.

"Whatever name Yousuf has earned in international cricket is because of Pakistan and he has let down millions of his supporters by joining the ICL," Qadir said.

The bearded Yousuf has played 79 tests and 269 limited-overs internationals for Pakistan. Until converting from Christianity to Islam in 2005, he was known as Yousuf Youhana.

He has scored 6,770 runs at an average of 55.5 in test cricket, and in one-dayers he has accumulated 9,242 runs at an average of 43 with a strike rate of 75 runs per 100 balls.

Amal Roy clinches men's singles title: Sathi Sarker women's singles champion

UNB, Dhaka

Amal Roy (NTC) emerged champion in the men's singles of NCC Bank Open Tennis Competition beating Dipu Lal of Nordic Club by 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 points at the Cox's Bazar Officers Club on Thursday.

Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Manjoor Alam Bhuiyan was the chief guest on the occasion and distributed the prizes among the winners.

In the women's singles, Sathi Sarkar (NTC) emerged champion beating team mate Sharada by 7-5, 6-4 points.

In the men's doubles, Dipu Lal and Alamgir Hossain pair emerged champions defeating Amal Roy and Raju Ram pair by 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 points.

In the boys' singles U-14 group, Rustam Ali (NTC) emerged champion beating teammate Biplob Ram 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

Police AC crush Bachelors SC 7-2

UNB, Dhaka

Police AC crushed Bachelors SC by 7-2 goals in a match of the Green Delta Metropolis First Division Hockey League at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium on Thursday.

The winners led the first half 3-0.

Rana Das scored five goals, while Ramjan Ali and Riazuddin netted one goal each for the winners. Mohammad Suman and KS Naser scored for the losers.

In the day's other match at the same venue, Mukta Bihanga Tarun Sangha beat Victoria SC by 2-1 goals after leading the first half 2-0.

Rubel scored both the goals for Mukta Bihanga Tarun Sangha, while KH Tushar scored for Victoria SC.

First Senior Fencing Championship begins tomorrow

Sports Reporter

The Best La Vinci Hotel First Senior Fencing Championship begins tomorrow at the gymnasium of National Sports Council. Bangladsh Fencing Association (BFA )will arrange the fencing meet.

Secretary General of Bangladesh Olympic Association Kutubuddin Ahmed will formally open the two-day long fencing competition as the chief guest while Director and CEO of Bangladesh Olympic Association Colonel (Retd) Md Waliullah will be along with him as the special guest.

Director General of Bangladesh Ansar & VDP Major General ATM Amin will be the chief guest on the concluding day (November 9).

Marking the forthcoming fencing meet a press conference was held at the conference room of National Sports Council on Thursday.

Acting President of Bangladesh Fencing Association Lieutenant Colonel (Retd ) Harunur Rashid Chowdhury and General Secretary of the association Major (Retd) Qanrul Islamdisclosed all the matters related to the upcoming competition. Vice-President of Bangladesh Fencing Association Saidul Alam Titu, Joint-Secretary of the BFA Monwar Hossain, Vice-President of BFA Mamun, Chairman of the Media Committee Rezaur Rahman Sinha and Chairman of the Technical Committee Saiful Azam were present , among others.

A number of 70 participants are likely take part in the two-day long fencing competition. The meet will be held in three categories. They are : Epee, Foil and Sabre.

Pepsi-DRU Cricket tournament begins tomorrow

Sports Reporter

Pepsi-DRU Inter-House Cricket Tournament begins tomorrow at the Moalana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium.

Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU ) will arrange the cricket meet under auspices of Transcom Beverages Limited.

A total of 32 media including five electronic media will take part in the upcoming cricket competition for the journalists. The tournament will be held on knock-out basis.

Channel i, BSS, Inqilab, Jai Jai Din are in Group A, The New Nation, Khabarpatra, Banglabazar Patrika are in Group B, Bangla Vision, Manabzamin, Financial Express, Karatowa are in Group C, Deshbangla, Jugantor, Naya Diganta, Bhorer Kagoj are in Group D, Diganta Television, Destiny, Independent, Amader Samay are in Group E, Amar Desh, INB, New Age, Samakal are in Group F, Daily Star, UNB, The Daily Ittefaq, RTV are in Group G, BTV, Jonopod, Sangram, Amader Aurthonity are in Group H.

To mark the ensuing cricket competition a press conference was held at the auditorium of DRU on Thursday.

Sports Secretary of DRU AKM Kamruzzaman Hiru, Director and Chief Executive of the Transcom Beverages Limited Golam Quddus Chowdhury Babu, General Secretary of Bangladesh Handball Federation Asaduzzaman Kohinoor, Chairman of the Tournament Committee and former sports secretary of DRU Monwar Haque, Secretary of the Tournament Committee and former sports secretary of DRU Rafiqul Islam spoke at the conference in front of a good number of journalists.

Handball Federation accord reception to its youth and women's team

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Handball Federation accorded reception on Wednesday to its National youth and women's teams for their feat in two international handball tournaments.

Bangladesh Youth team finished runners-up in the First South Asian Youth (Under-17) Handball Championship in Islamabad in May 2007 and Bangladesh Women's team also finished runners-up in the 3rd South Asian Women's Handball Championship held in the Indian city of Lucknow in May this year.

Former President and founder Chairman of National Sports Council Lt Gen (retd) Hussain Mohammad Ershad was the chief guest at the reception and distributed blazers to the players and officials of the two teams.

Patron of Bangladesh Handball Federation and Director of Exim Bank Nurul Fazal Bulbul was present as special guest.

Handball Federation general secretary Asaduzzaman Kohinoor and assistant general secretary M Nurul Islam presented the federation blazer and crest to the chief guest, HM Ershad.

India-Australia fourth test scoreboard

AP, Nagpur

Scoreboard at stumps Thursday on the first day of the fourth cricket test between India and Australia at the Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium:

India won the toss

India, 1st Innings

Virender Sehwag b Krejza 66

Murali Vijay c Haddin b Watson 33

Rahul Dravid c Katich b Krejza 0

Sachin Tendulkar lbw Johnson 109

V.V.S Laxman c Haddin b Krejza 64

Sourav Ganguly not out 27

Mahendra Singh Dhoni not out 4

Extras: (2lb, 4b, 1w, 1nb) 8

TOTAL: (for five wickets) 311.

Overs: 87. Batting time: 390 minutes.

Fall of wicket: 1-98, 2-99, 3-116, 4-262, 5-303.

Bowling: Brett Lee 12-1-46-0 (1nb, 1w), Mitchell Johnson 21-8-54-1, Shane Watson 13-2-35-1, Jason Krejza 28-1-138-3, Cameron White 10-1-24-0, Simon Katich 3-0-8-0.

Series: India leads 1-0.

Udiyoman CA register 8-wicket win over Taltola SC

UNB, Dhaka

Udiyoman Cricket Academy registered an emphatic eight-wicket win over Taltola SC in a match of the 3rd Division qualifying Cricket League at the Dhaka University ground on Thursday.

Batting first after wining the toss, Taltola SC were all out for 66 in 33.2 overs with Zahidul making not out 13. Enamul grabbed five wickets for 15 runs.

In reply, Udiyoman Cricket Academy cantered to their target scoring 69 runs in 9.3 overs for the loss of two wickets with Sarwar contributing unbeaten 36 runs.

Result of the day's other matches: Indira Road Cricket Academy (150/4) beat Battalion Boys Club (148/10) by six wickets; Lutfar Rahman Krira Sangha (254/10) defeated Kingdom Cricket Academy (201/10) by 53 runs, Smart Coaching Academy (174/9) outclassed Basabo Tarun Sangha (168/10) by six runs.

Farashganj SC play goalless draw with Arambagh KS

UNB, Dhaka

Farashganj Sporting Club played to a goalless draw with Arambagh Krira Sangha in the only match of the Citycell 2nd B. League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Thursday.

With this draw, Farsashganj SC secured nine points from seven matches, while Arambagh KS collected six points playing six matches.

Saturday's match: Rahmatganj MFS vs Muktijoddha SKC (BNS 5pm).