The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh President XI leaves the city for Hariana today to take part in the upcoming 45th Jawaharlal Nehru Cup scheduled to be held in Hariana of India from November 14 to November 25. The first round of the hockey meet is now in underway. Bangladesh President XI will straightly participate in the second round of the hockey competition. Pakistan and other six teams of India will compete in the second round of the hockey tournament.

Dhaka Bank Limited will sponsor the hockey team. The expenditure for the participation to the hockey meet has been estimated at Tk 11 lakh 68 thousand while Dhaka Bank Limited, the sponsor of the team has been agreed to give Tk 10 lakh to Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF).

General Secretary of BHF Khondker Jamil Uddin disclosed all the matters related to the participation of the hockey meet. He spoke at a press briefing held at the conference room of BHF on Saturday.

Khondker Jamil Uddin said, "Our target is to reach the semi-finals. Our team will play without our seven key players."

He added that the team took part in a month-long practice session for the preparation to participate in the prestigious hockey meet.The fixture is yet to be finalised. Bangladesh wil play their first match on November 18.

He said after taking over the posts of the new executive committee of BHF, this is for the first time a team of Bangladesh are going to take part in a hockey competition.

The players, who have been selected, are : Zahid, Chandan, Biplob, Shamsuddin, Taposh, Shakil, Ferdous, Pintoo, Titu, Rana, Ashiquzzaman, Jamal, Nannu, Bin Talib, Krishna, Rimon.

The officials are : Air Commodore (Retd) Shahjahan Sarkar (Manager), Suvash Chandra Das (Assistant Manager), Azizullah Haidar Jamal (Coach), Abdullah Piru (Assistant Coach).