The New Nation - Internet Edition

Fifty hockey players for primary training camp

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh Hockey Federation announced on Tuesday the names of the fifty hockey players, who will take part in the primary training camp to form the National Hockey team. The team will participate in the upcoming SA Games.

The camp begins on January 10 instead of January 8.

The players, who have been chosen, are : Mahbububullah Chowdhury Shakil, Mehrab Hossain Kiron, Zahid Hossain, Rafiqul Islam, Prabir Ghosh, Shitul, Issa Mia, Mussa Mia, Mashiur Rahman Biplob, Taposh Barman, Hadiuzzaman, Enamul Kabir Turjo, Mustafizur Rahman Dinar, Asaduzzaman Chandan, Imran Haidar Pintoo, Shamsul Alam Sujan, Feroze, Irfanul Haque, Rupom, Shamsuddin Tuhin, Ferdous Goldar, Shahidullah Titu, Russel Mahmud Jimmy, Mamunur Rahman Chayan, Maksudur Rahman Habul, Mahbub Ehsan Rana, Sabbir Hossain, Khondker Hasan Ahmed, Kamruzzaman Rana, Ashiquzzaman, Mosharof Hossain Kuti, Asif A Noor, Abdus Sazzad John, Jamal Khan, Abdus Salam, Riaj, Zahidul Islam Rajon, Rimon Kumar Ghosh, Krishna Kumar, Zahid Bin Talib Shuvo, Iqbal Nadir Prince, Syed Al Masum, Sanwar Hossain, Ajit Kumar Ghosh, Hasan Jubaer Niloy, Pushkar Khisha Mimo, Manik, Shihab, Sheikh Md Nannu and Rana Das.

Selected players have been asked to report to Coach Kawsar Ali on January 10 at 4.30 PM.

South Africa face tough final day

BBC Online

South Africa need 314 runs on the final day of the third Test if they are to complete a clean sweep of the series after reaching 62-1 at stumps. Australia took their overnight 33-0 to 257-4, with Matthew Hayden making 39, his highest Test score of the series. Simon Katich scored 61 and Ricky Ponting 53 before the skipper declared.

The visitors, set 376 to win, lost makeshift opener Morne Morkel without scoring but Neil McKenzie and Hashim Amla saw play through to stumps. South Africa will usurp their opponents at the top of the Test-match rankings if they can clinch victory on what should be a fascinating final day in Sydney.

Australia have an inexperienced attack, while South Africa successfully chased down 414 to win the first Test in Perth.

Nonetheless, it will be a difficult assignment for the visiting team.

Skipper Graeme Smith is unlikely to bat again after injuring his hand in the first innings of the third Test. And the pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground is showing signs of wear, while Australia's 288-2 against the Proteas in the 2005-06 season is the highest fourth innings total to win a Test at the ground.

Practice 3-dayer vs Zimbabwe: BCB-GP Academy on backfoot

Sports Reporter

BCB-GP National Cricket Academy were on backfoot when they were shot out for 59 off 23.4 overs in the first innings in reply to Zimbabwe's first innings total of 89 off 21.3 overs on the first day of the three-dayer at the Bogra Shaheed Chandu Stadium on Tuesday.

Later, Zimbabwe were at the stumps on 133 for the loss of two wickets.

Hamilton Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu and Stuart Matsikenyeri were the three batsmen of Zimbabwe who could reach double-digit figures in their first innings.

Sajidul Islam played the key role in demolishing Zimbabwe innings capturing five wickets giving away 14 runs with a good support of medium pacer Nazmul Hossain, who claimed four wickets in the space of 28 runs.

Marshal Ayub and Kamrul Islam were the two batsmen of the hosts who were able to cross ten runs. Marshal Ayub made 18 while Kamrul Islam scored 12 runs.

Elton Chigumbura and Edward Rainsford grabbed three wickets each giving away seven and 27 runs respectively while Tawanda Mupariwa took two wickets instead of 18 runs.

After ending of Bangladesh innings, Zimbabwe improved their position as opener Hamilton Masakadza remained undefeated with 55 off 101 balls. He cracked eight fours in his unfinished 145-minute innings.

Stuart Matsikenyeri hit 42 playing 66 deliveries. He sent the ball seven times through the fence.

Tatenda Taibu was on 19 before the bails were drawn for the first day.

Nazmul Hossain and Saqlain Sajib plucked one wicket each for 18 and 35 runs respectively.

Ctg Mohammedan beat Rahmatganj MFS 5-2

UNB, Dhaka

Chittagong Mohammedan SC beat Rahmatganj MFS by 5-2 goals in the lone second phase match of the Citycell 2nd B. League at the Banganandhu National Stadium (BNS) here on Tuesday.

With this result, Chittagong Mohammedan secured 20 points from 13 matches while Rahmatganj MFS remained at 14 points playing 12 matches.

In the day's match, Akbar Hossain Ridon, Raphael Sagno, Noor Hossain Daulat, Imtiaz Hossain Jitu and Anthony Pele Doe scored one goal each for the winners while Idris Kasriye and Zakir Hossain for the losers.

Today's match: Dhaka Abahani vs Khulna Abahani (BNS, 4pm).

Dementieva battles to clear first round hurdle

AFP, Auckland

World number four Elena Dementieva had to battle back from a big first set deficit to avoid a shock opening round exit at the hands of Taiwan's Yung-Jan Chan in the ASB Classic women's tournament here Tuesday.

The tournament's top seed fought back from 5-1 down in the first set to take the match 7-5, 6-3 after Chan threw everything at her more favoured opponent.

Second seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark had a much easier passage through to the second round, dispatching Italian qualifier Alberta Brianti 6-1, 6-0.

Spanish eighth seed Carla Suarez Navarro also cruised through her first match, beating Frenchwoman Nathalie Dechy 6-4, 6-0.

Dementieva admitted to struggling to recover her fluency in her first match of the new season.

"It was a tough match," she said afterwards.

"She was on fire at the beginning and put a lot of pressure on me. I didn't expect such a high level and it took me a while to get into the game."

In the second round, Dementieva will face crowd favourite Marina Erakovic of New Zealand, who scored a hard fought 7-5, 6-4 victory over Spaniard Nuria Llagostera Vives.

Two FIFA officials arrive in city

UNB, Dhaka

AFC vice president and FIFA development officer Manilal Fernando and FIFA assistant development officer & Sri Lanka Football Federation CEO FS Chrysantha Perera are due to arrive in the city later (Tuesday) night.

During the short visit, the two FIFA officials will discuss with BFF the installation of an artificial turf adjoining BFF Balur Math under FIFA goal project 2 and build a Football Academy in Barisal under Sunami fund.

FIFA development officer Manilal Fernando will also handover three thousand footballs as gift, on behalf of AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam, to National Sports Council (NSC) chairman Gen Moeen U Ahmed today (Wednesday) morning at the newly built NSC Tower.