The New Nation - Internet Edition

Khulna earn 2nd outright victory beating Chittagong

UNB, Dhaka

Khulna Division earned their 2nd outright victory in the 8th round match on the 3rd day of the four-day Ispahani Mirzapore Tea 10th National Cricket League beating Chittgaong Division by 35 runs at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Motiur Rahman Stadium in Khulna on Wednesday.

Hosts Khulna Division, which declared the first innings at 301 for 9, today resumed the 2nd innings with overnight 40 for 7 and were bundled out cheaply for 54 runs in 34.1 overs with Raihan Anas the only batsman to reach the double figure scoring 12 runs.

Newball bowler Kamrul Islam, who took three wickets for 14 runs on Tuesday, finally claimed five wickets for 21 runs in 10 overs with three maidens while Mohammad Younus and Tareq Aziz Khan grabbed two wickets each conceding 5 and 15 runs respectively.

Chasing a target of 235 runs to win, Chittagong Division (1st innings 121) opened the 2nd innings Wednesday morning, but were dismissed for 199 runs in 51.2 overs to concede a 35-run defeat with a day to spare.

In a batting disaster, national colour batsman of Chittagong Faisal Hossain Dickens contributed 79 runs off 90 balls with 12 boundaries.

Besides, Kamrul Islam (29), Rezaul Karim (17), Rubel Hossain (not out 14), Tareq Aziz Khan (13) and Tariq Ahmed (12) were the other notable scorers for Chittagong. Another 17 runs came from extras.

National pacer Dollar Mahmud picked up four wickets for 57 runs while Ziaur Rahman and Rabiul Islam took two wickets each conceding 35 and 60 runs respectively.

Ziaur Rahman was adjudged man of the match for his all round performance.

Brief score: Khulna Division first innings - 301 for 9 in 100.2 overs; Nahidul Haque 67, Raihan Anas 63, Ziaur Rahman 45, Tareq Aziz 5/69.

2nd innings - 54 all out in 34.1 overs (Overnight score 40 for 7 in 29.2 overs); Raihan Anas 12, Kmarul Islam 5/21, Mohammad Younus 2/5, Tareq Aziz 2/15.

Chittagong Division - 121 all out in 31.4 overs; Rezaul Karim 30, Arman Hossain 17, Faisal Hossain 12, extras 32, Ziaur Rahman 5/36, Rabiul Islam 3/18, Dollar Mahmud 2/54.

2nd innings - 199 all out in 51.2 overs; Faisal Hossain 79, Kmarul Islam 29, Rezaul Karim 17, Rubel Hossain not out 14, extras 17, Dollar Mahmud 4/57, Ziaur Rahman 2/35, Rabiul Islam 2/60.

In another match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka Division, dismissed for 142 runs in the first innings, today resumed the 2nd innings with overnight 12 for 1 and scored 251 for 7 in 96.5 overs at stumps on the third day (Wednesday).

National colour batsman Mahmudullah Riyad contributed 105 runs off 193 balls with 11 boundaries.

Shamsur Rahman scored useful 49 runs with four fours and a six while Arafat Sunny remained unbeaten on 44 with six fours.

Delwar Hossain bagged three wickets for 56 runs while Suhrawardy Shuvo took two for 81 runs.

Brief score: Dhaka Division first innings - 142 all out in 47.4 overs; Mahmudullah Riyad 38, Nadif Chowdhury 24, Javed Omar 21, Delwar Hossain 5/45, Suhrawardy Shuvo 2/13, Safiul Islam 2/31.

2nd innings- 251 for 7 in 96.5 overs (Overnight 12 for 1 in 8.3 overs); Mahmudullah Riyad 105, Shamsur Rahman 49, Arafat Sunny batting 44, Elias Sunny 16, Delwar Hossain 3/56, Suhrawardy Shuvo 2/81.

Rajshahi Division first innings - 283 all out in 107.5 overs); Suhrawardy Shuvo 85, Jahurul Islam 83, Sabir Rahaman 37, Khaled Mashud 19, extras 23, Arafat Sunny 2/45, Mohammad Azim 2/61 and Emon Ahmed 2/62.

In the day's other match at the Sylhet Stadium, Barisal Division resumed the first innings with 129 for 2 and scored 270 runs for all in 100.1 overs to trail by 96 runs in the first innings.

Opener Nasiruddin, resumed batting with 54 runs, finally contributed

66 runs off 168 balls that included 11 fours while lower order Arafat Salauddin made not out 49 off 89 balls with nine fours.

Shuvashish Roy claimed three wickets for 67 runs while Nabil Samad took two wickets for 77 runs.

In reply, Sylhet Division, which declared the first innings at 366/9, today opened the 2nd innings and scored 127 runs for 2 wickets in 40 overs with opener Imtiaz Hossain remaining unbeaten on 74 off 100 balls that featured eight fours and three sixes.

Brief score: Sylhet Division first innings - 366 for 9 (declared) in 126.4 overs; Golam Rahman 116, Saikat Ali 111, Taposh Ghosh 38, Tariqul Islam 4/78, Nasir Hossain 3/51.

2nd innings - 127 for 2 in 40 overs; Imtiaz Hossain batting 74, Mohammad Mithun 22, Rajin Saleh batting 15.

Barisal Division first innings - 270 all out in 110.1 overs (overnight 129 for 2 in 54.1 overs); Nasiruddin 66, Hannan Sarker 50, Arafat Salauddin not out 49, Talha Jubear 30, Nasir Hossain 21, extras 23, Shuvashish Roy 3/67, Nabil Samad 2/77.

Grameenphone sponsors home series

Sports Reporter

Grameenphone Limited is the title sponsors of the upcoming two Test matches between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Tri-Nation Tournament and three ODI matches between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in Bangladesh.

For this purpose Grameenphone Limited has given Tk one crore and thirty lakh to Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

The sponsorship is included full Title rights, prize money and rights to branding the two stadiums, as well as the team busses.

To mark the sponsorship deal, a press conference was held at the conference room of the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Wesnesday.

Chairman of the Media and Communication Committee of BCB Md Jalal Younus, Chairman of the Marketing Committee of BCB Aziz AL Kaisar Tito, Senior Vice-President of BCB Mahbubul Anam, CEO of the Grameenphone Limited Oddvar Hesjedal, Director (Marketing) of the Grameenphone Limited Rubaba Dowla were present, among others.

Later, an agreement was signed between Grameenphone and BCB on the same day.

Bangladesh will face Sri Lanka in the first Test match, which begins on December 26 at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Bangladesh will meet Sri Lanka in the second Test, which starts on January 3 at the Chittagong Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium.

Hosts Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe will take part in the Tri-Nation Cricket Tournament, which will be held from January 10 to January 17 at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Bangladesh will face Sri lanka in the inaugural match of the Tri-Nation Cricket Tournament on January 10.

Sri Lanka will take on Zimbabwe on January 12.

Bangladesh will meet Sri Lanka on January 14.

Top two teams will face each other in the final on January 17.

After the Tri-Nation Cricket Tournament, Bangladesh will play against Zimbabwe three ODI matches.

Bangladesh will take on Zimbabwe in the first ODI at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on January 19.

The Tigers will face the Lions in the second ODI on January 21 at the same venue.

Bangladesh will meet Zimbabwe in the third and last ODI on January 23 at the same venue.

Farashganj SC beat Muktijoddha Sangsad KC 2-0

UNB, Dhaka

Farashganj SC beat Muktijoddha Sangsad KC by 2-0 goals in the lone match of the Citycell 2nd B. League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) here Wednesday.

This was the third win for Farashganj SC after three draws and three defeats, while Muktijoddha conceded seven defeats and managed one win and one draw.

With the day's result, Farashganj SC secured 13 points, while Muktijoddha Sangsad KC remained at four points, both playing nine matches.

In the day's match, Enamul Haque scored both the goals for Farashganj in the first half.

Enamul scored the first goal in the 30th minute with a right footer from inside the D-box off a Kabir Hossain lob (1-0) and the second goal in the 45th minute with a placing shot from inside the danger zone after taking a pass from Rintu (2-0).

Farashganj SC dominated the entire proceedings to notch their deserving victory, while Muktijoddha SKC was totally off-color.

Farashganj SC came close to score in the 10th minute, but Kaiser Ahmed's powerful angular shot from the danger zone sailed harmlessly kissing the cross bar. They were deprived of another goal in the 15th minute as Enamul's lofted shot off Kalu Johnson's left wing cross from four yards sailed over the cross bar despite an open net.

Substitute Mamun spoiled another chance for Farashganj as he failed to push the ball home from goal line off a Rajib minus in the 55th minute.

Muktijoddha got only a scoring chance in the 60th minute, but Tajul Khan's powerful shot from the top of the D-box sailed over the cross bar.

Ajmal Hossain Bidyut of Muktijoddha Sangsad received the marching order in the 86th minute when he hit Farashganj player Arafat Ronny with his elbow.

Red card: Bidyut (Muktijoddha)

Today's match: Dhaka Mohammedan vs Chittagong Mohammedan (BNS, 4:30 pm).

India's Commonwealth Games not in doubt

AP, New Delhi

The Commonwealth Games Federation reaffirmed New Delhi as the venue for the next Commonwealth Games, saying Wednesday it will work with Indian authorities to ensure a secure and successful event.

Michael Fennell, CGF president, rejected various media reports that the 2010 games may be shifted to another country due to security concerns after last week's terrorist attacks in the western Indian city of Mumbai that killed at least 171 people.

"At no stage has there been discussion about us moving the games from Delhi, and nor has any other city been approached to be on standby as has been intimated in some recent media reports," Fennell said in a statement.

New Delhi was chosen to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games after several previous failed bids, becoming only the second Asian city to be allocated the games that bring together athletes from the former British Empire.

Fennell said the CGF always worked with the games organizers on security matters, and would do so with New Delhi.

"The CGF will continue to work with appropriate authorities to ensure that appropriate security arrangements are in place so that the Commonwealth's athletes can compete in a safe and secure environment," he said.

Fennell's comments follow those of the Indian organizers who asserted that Mumbai's terror attacks would have no impact on New Delhi staging the Commonwealth Games, for which high-level security had been planned.

"The CGF constantly monitors security arrangements for the games and we will continue to do that," Fennell said.

"This ongoing work with the authorities in India will continue throughout the preparations and delivery of the games, with security arrangements modified from time to time as may prove necessary," he said.

Fennell's assurance come as Indian sporting officials are working ensure that the terrorist attacks do not reduce the country's chances of staging major events.

The World Squash Federation on Wednesday said it has postponed the World Doubles Championship scheduled for Chennai later this month after Australia pulled out of the event citing security concerns.

"Australia withdrew their players. More withdrawals would clearly reduce the value of the event to less than proper world championship status," George Mieras, WSF championship panel director said in a letter to the organizers.

India's cricket board is currently trying to persuade the England team to return and complete its tour with a two-test series at new venues a week after it went home midway through the limited-overs series in the wake of the Mumbai attacks.

An England and Wales Cricket Board security expert is assessing the venues at Chennai and Mohali.

India's cricket officials have denied any possibility the 2011 World Cup could be moved out of the subcontinent due to security concerns. The cricket World Cup is to be jointly hosted by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The International Cricket Council is expected to discuss the World Cup during next week's Chief Executives Committee meeting at Cape Town.

The terrorist attacks on Mumbai have, however, raised political tension between India and Pakistan after claims the terrorists originated came from Pakistan.

India's cricket officials have not yet received the mandatory government approval to tour Pakistan in January-February. The Indian government recently stopped its junior national field hockey team from playing a series in Pakistan due to security reasons.