The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bangladesh look to fight to the end

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Bangladesh look to fight to the end on home turf against Sri Lanka in the first of the two Tests that begins on Friday at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

"Looking back at the last two home series, we played better against New Zealand and South Africa and this time we hope to offer a good cricket against Sri Lanka," captain Mohammad Ashraful said at a pre-match press briefing in Mirpur on Thursday.

"A few players have no experience of playing against Muttiah Muralitharan, but most of our players can read his doosra though Sri Lanka have good pace and spin attack. We hope we will deal with their bowlers successfully and play good cricket," said Ashraful.

Spin wizard Muralitharan has grabbed 76 wickets in nine Tests against Bangladesh, who lost all, including seven innings defeats, of the 10 Tests they have played against the emerald islanders.

After the frustrating show in South Africa, Bangladesh, aware of the Muralitharan threat, are likely to go for a sporting pitch, though the hosts went close to pushing New Zealand and South Africa in the Tests on spinning wickets at home in the last two series.

"I had a look at the wicket, it seemed harder and a bit greenish and I think it would not turn so much," said Ashraful.

"We actually wanted such a wicket, which both batsmen and bowlers can exploit."

Coach Jamie Siddons believes it was about time his players shored up their performance against the visitors.

"We played the best two teams in the world in three series in the last six months and now we have a team that I think we should be able to compete pretty well.

"There is no excuse. We are still young and developing side, but I think its time for the players to step up," said Siddons.

The Australia-born coach also said it was time for Ashraful, Shakib Al Hasan and Mehrab Hossain to start making big scores and give the bowlers something to bowl at.

Bangladesh's top order miserably failed in South Africa and the bowlers hardly had any point to prove against the hosts.

Siddons is happy with the ways the bowlers had been preparing under the supervision of Sri Lankan bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake.

"(We get) more feedback from Champaka. He helps us a lot in our preparation and he has been working with all the bowlers and captain to come up with a game plan.

"But at the end of the day it's Shahadat (Hossain), Mashrafee (Bin Mortaza) and (Mahbubul Alam) Robin to hit the stumps, using their skills to the best of their abilities and hitting the right areas." said the coach.

It' was uncertain whether Bangladesh will put their faith in three pacers along with only one specialist spinner in Shakib as the team management has picked 12-men squad keeping Rajin Saleh and Sajedul Islam out.

"I think Enamul (Haq Junior) will be the twelfth man, but we are not sure yet," said Siddons.

The management will probably wait until Friday morning to see the conditions before picking the eleven as the stadium area was covered by fog at about 11:00am on Thursday.

Sri Lanka are also yet to decide on their squad though captain Mahela Jayawardene said they have agreed about 90 percent on the team composition.

"We know about the 90 percent of our combination but we wanted to wait and see how the wicket is going to come out and then will make a final decision."

It's almost certain that Sri Lanka will play with two specialist spinners Muralitharan and Rangana Herath, who snared six wickets in the lone warm-up match against the BCB XI.

"I think any wicket if you play on it for five days slows down and you know it will probably take spin and when you have quality spinners you should make use of them. That's something we're going to consider.

"Obviously, Rangana bowled really well in the warm-up game and you have Murali in your side, so I think we will go for what we think is the best combination for this Test," said Jayawardene.

"We don't underestimate the strength of Bangladesh and what they are capable of doing, so we just need to focus on the game plan that we want to play, and try and execute the game plan."

"They have got some quality players. I know they make mistake.

"But at the same time there are guys who scored 100 against us and picked up five wickets against us. They have got the quality, so we got to make sure that we don't give them any advantage," said a cautious Jayawardene.

The Test match will have a one-day break after the third day on Dec. 29 because of the national election.

Dhaka Mohammedan beat Arambagh KS 2-0

UNB, Dhaka

Dhaka Mohammedan beat Arambagh KS by 2-0 goals in the Citycell 2nd B. League in their opening second phase match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) on Thursday.

With this win, Dhaka Mohammedan improved their position with 22 points, along with Brothers Union Club (22-11), while Arambagh KS remained at nine points, both playing 11 matches. Holders Dhaka Abahani dominates the points table with 23 points playing equal matches.

Striker Mohammad Robin and Nasir Hossain scored one goal each for the Dhaka Mohammedan. Both the goals came in the second half.

Robin opened the account for Dhaka Mohammedan in the 60th minute with a shot from inside the danger zone after striker Alamu Bukola Olalekin's shot off Nasir minus fisted by Arambagh custodian Piru came to his way (1-0).

Nasir scored the second goal for Dhaka Mohammedan in the 67th minute with an angular box shot taking a Faisal Mahmood's close pass (2-9).

Dhaka Mohammedan dominated the entire proceeding and notched their deserving victory, while Arambagh KS was totally off-colored.

Earlier, Dhaka Mohammedan came close to score in the very 5th minute, but Robin's header from inside the danger zone off Bukola's cross sailed over the cross bar.

Robin again missed another scoring chance in the 10th minute when he narrowly failed to take a header to send the ball home, despite standing at the vantage position.

Dhaka Mohammedan again deprived from a goal when custodian Piru gripped a powerful shot of Hazem.

Arambagh custodian Piru did a superb job under the bar and foiled some scoring chances by the opponents that created a bit of frustration among the Dhaka Mohammedan's fans in the big bowl.

Arambagh KS got only a real scoring chance in the 25th minute as Mustafa Kaba's powerful shot off Nayan corner returned to play after hitting the cross bar.

Yellow cards: Tutul (Arambagh)

Teams:

Dhaka Mohammedan -- Aminul, Rojani, (Saikat), Kamal, Ripon, Arman, Nasir, Dami, Hazem, Fisal, Bukola, (Komol) and Robin.

Arambagh KS -- Piru, Tutul, Ratan (Nadir), Kaba, Shahajada, Moudud, Molay, Nayan, Awwal, Nicodemus, and Akram.

Referee - Tayeb Hasan

Wild celebrations after Vietnam triumph in Thailand

Reuters, Bangkok

Surprise qualifiers Vietnam dented Thailand's hopes of a fourth Southeast Asian championship title with a stunning 2-1 away win in the first leg of the final on Wednesday.

The victory sparked wild celebrations in Hanoi, with the streets gridlocked as cheering fans waved national flags and motorcyclists sounded their horns.

In their first final in a decade, Vietnam soaked up a torrent of early attacks before scoring twice in three minutes to grab the advantage ahead of Sunday's home return.

Le Tan Tai caught the Thai defence napping in the 40th minute when he crossed to the unmarked Nguyen Vu Phong, who delivered a perfect header into the bottom corner of the net from six metres.

Peter Reid's misfiring side then conceded a second goal when Nguyen Viet Thang set up Le Cong Vinh.

Thailand pulled one back in the 75th minute when substitute Ronnachai Rangsiyo's header struck the post before going in off the leg of goalkeeper Duong Hong Son.

GOAL DISALLOWED

Arthit Sunthornphit twice went close to an equaliser, having a goal disallowed for offside and forcing a good save from Hong Son.

"We're only halfway there but I believe with heart that the weak team can beat the stronger team," Vietnam coach Henrique Calisto told reporters.

"I'm very proud of these players, they believe in themselves, they're proud to play for this team and their country."

It was the first competitive defeat for Reid since he took over as coach four months ago.

"We were a little bit naive and paid the penalty," said the former England midfielder. "We've now got to fight hard but it's far from over."

Amol Roy, Ayami earn double crowns in V-Day Tennis

UNB,Dhaka

Amol Roy of National Tennis Complex (NTC) and Ayami of BKSP earned double crowns in the Popular Pharmaceuticals Victory Day Tennis Tournament winning the singles and respective men's and women's doubles at the Ramna National Tennis Complex on Thursday.

President of Bangladesh Tennis Federation (BTF) AMM Nasiruddin was the chief guest at the day's closing function and distributed trophies and prize money to the winners.

Managing Director of the meet's sponsor Popular Pharmaceuticals Dr. Mustafizur Rahman was present as special guest. Tennis Federation general secretary Sanaul Haque was also present on the occasion.

In the men's singles, Amol Roy clinched the title beating his doubles partner Ranjan Ram by 6-3, 6-3 in the final this afternoon.

On Wednesday, Amol Roy pairing with Ranjan Ram won the doubles title defeating Dipu Lal and Alamgir Hossain partner 6-4, 6-1.

Ayami of BKSP lifted the women's singles title beating her doubles partner Eco 6-0, 6-1 while she took the doubles title pairing with Eco beating Sarda and Sathi pair of NTC 6-1, 6-1 on Wednesday.

Earlier, Omar Faruk Sunny of BKSP clinched the title of boys' singles 16 years age group beating Arvind Fernando of International Club 6-3, 6-4 while Rustam Ali of NTC won the boys' singles 14 years are group title beating his compatriot Jamil Bhuiyan 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 in the finals.

Brazil boss Dunga to call up Italy hopeful Amauri

Reuters, Rome

Brazil coach Dunga has said he intends to call up Amauri and avoid the risk of losing the Juventus striker to Italy.

Amauri is applying for an Italian passport and, as things stand, he would be eligible to play for the world champions when it comes through because he has never represented his homeland.

The 28-year-old has said he would like to play for Italy, where he has spent almost all of his senior career, if he continues to be overlooked by Brazil.

Azzurri boss Marcello Lippi has said he will consider him when he becomes eligible for selection. "I'm ready to call up Amauri as long as he does not demand a (regular) starting place," Dunga told Wednesday's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"It would be better for him if he enters on tip-toes. Everyone wants Amauri in Brazil but if the lad gets his first match wrong, he'd be destroyed the day after."

Amauri has been in impressive form since joining Juve from Palermo in the close season, scoring 11 goals in Serie A this term.

If Dunga is good to his word, he could play his first international match against Italy, as fate has it. Brazil will play the world champions in a friendly at London's Emirates Stadium on Feb. 10.

Dunga said he has been irritated by statements made by Amauri's agent to the Brazilian press demanding he be given a regular place.

"Not even Pele demanded a starting place in the Selecao," he said. "Amauri should ask Kaka and Ronaldinho, two Ballon d'Or winners, if they have ever demanded a starting place."

Pakistan try to save tour after S.Lanka changes

Reuters, Karachi

Pakistan officials will meet Sri Lankan counterparts this week in a bid to save next month's tour after the sacking of Sri Lanka's interim cricket board. Pakistan hope to convince Sri Lanka in talks at the Asian Cricket Council meeting in Kuala Lumpur to proceed with the tour amid concerns it will be scrapped by the new administrators.

The chairman of Sri Lankan cricket's interim committee, former captain Arjuna Ranatunga, confirmed the tour to Pakistan last week but he and his team were fired by the country's sports minister Gamini Lokuge on Tuesday.

The sports minister said on Wednesday the tour was one of several recent decisions by Ranatunga's administration that would be urgently reviewed.

"Everything has been handed over to sports secretary S. Liyanagama and he'll be looking into security before a final decision is taken with regard to the tour," Lokuge told reporters. Sri Lanka had agreed to step in as replacements when India cancelled their tour due to security concerns.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief operating officer Saleem Altaf told Reuters: "We badly need to have an international series at home. We are keen on hosting Sri Lanka even though we will not make much money.

"Right now it is their internal matter so we don't want to panic but we want to ensure the tour goes on."

Pakistan have not played a home or away test in more than a year, with opponents declining invitations or pulling out due to security fears after a series of suicide bombings in the country.

School students to get free entry for 1st test

UNB, Dhaka

School students will get free entry into the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium (SBNS) to watch the first match (Dec 26-31) of the Grameenphone Test Series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka that begins today.

Students in school uniforms and carrying school ID cards will be allowed entry to the stadium through gate No. 13 only, said a BCB release.

England fined for slow over rate in Chennai test

Reuters, Mumbai

Captain Kevin Pietersen has been fined 10 percent of his match fee and his England team mates docked five percent for their slow over-rate in the first test against India in Chennai.

An International Cricket Council (ICC) statement on Wednesday said England were one over shy of their target when they lost by six wickets earlier this month.

India took the series 1-0 when this week's second and final test in Mohali ended in a draw.

Former Serbia midfielder Veljko Paunovic retires

Reuters, Belgrade

Former Serbia and Atletico Madrid midfielder Veljko Paunovic announced his retirement on Wednesday after being hampered by a string of injuries.

"I have decided to hang up my boots because I suffered with injuries in the first half of the season and there is no point in carrying on," the Partizan Belgrade player told B92 website (www.b92.net).

"I was not happy with my performances at all and this is the right time to quit because I can neither improve nor play at top level any more."

Paunovic scored one goal in two appearances for his country but has not played international football since 2004.

Apart from Atletico, the 31-year-old had played for other Spanish clubs and reached the now defunct Cup Winners' Cup final with Mallorca in 1999.

He joined Partizan, where he had started his career in 1994, on a two-year deal in July but failed to win a regular first team place with the Serbian league leaders.

"Retirement kept crossing my mind in the first half of the season and I have no regrets because the atmosphere in the dressing room is great and these lads have plenty to look forward to," Paunovic said.

Partizan are three points ahead of closest rivals Vojvodina Novi Sad at the winter break.