Football
BOA now ally of BFF
Sports Reporter
B. League committee chairman and BFF senior vice-president Abdus Salam Murshedi (2nd from right) conducts the draw for the Federation Cup qualifying rounds at the BFF Bhaban yesterday. Photo: STAR
Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) has promised to support Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) future programmes, high officials of the two organisations confirmed yesterday.

BOA secretary Kutubuddin Ahmed, who accepted BFF's invitation along with his colleagues, said after the meeting at BFF Bhaban that he has assured to extend BOA's helping hands towards the football governing body and continue it.

"We have now learned about the BFF's future programmes and we will do everything possible to help them implement these," Kutub told reporters.

The first mission of the two sporting bodies would be bridge the gap between DSAs (District Sports Associations) and the newly formed FAs (Football Associations) and BFF president Kazi Salahuddin hoped that the problem would be solved within a month.

"We hope to work together and put an end to the distance that has been created the district sports organisations in a bid to start football in the districts," said Salahuddin.

"The BOA and BFF will sit to discuss the issue and solve it soon so we can start football in the districts by October. It is also essential for the organisers' existence. The new leadership in the districts now must work together. We want to act as the mediator," commented Kutub adding that a few solutions were suggested in yesterday's meeting.

Although the BFF president Salahuddin and BOA's chief operating officer Col (retd) Wali Ullah had been engaged in a verbal war before the BFF polls, Kutub said that they have already put behind the bitterness.

"Past is past and one has to take sides during elections if he is concerned. But there is no hard feelings now," said the BOA secretary general adding that he would like Bangladesh to regain the SA Games gold medal in football.

"Football will be the centre of attraction during the Games next year and we will give all our support but I demand that as hosts, we win the football gold."

The BOA chief executive also informed that he prefers handing over the total fund that will come from the government for the Games, for football to the BFF so it can arrange the preparation.

Salahuddin said that he would like to start camp from November under foreign coach and trainer but Kutub said they would try to start all remaining camps from October.

Bangladesh won their only gold medal of the regional sporting extravaganza during the 1999 SAF Games in Kathmandu. It was also the last time that national teams took part in the football competition. After the under-23 teams were introduced, Bangladesh have failed to make the semifinals twice, in Islamabad in 2004 and in Colombo in 2006.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Related Stories

Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Tuesday took the rare step of opting out of India's Test tour of Sri Lanka due to fatigue, while Sachin Tendulkar returned to the squad after recovering from a groin strain. Dashing wicketkeeper-batsman Dhoni had asked the national selectors not to consider him for the three-Test series starting in Colombo on July 23 as he needed a break after virtually playing non-stop cricket in recent months. Parthiv Patel, who played his last Test in 2004, and Dinesh Karthik were the wicket-keepers in a 16-man squad that includes newcomers middle-order batsman Rohit Sharma and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha. Veteran leg-spinner Anil Kumble will lead the squad with opener Virender Sehwag stepping up as deputy in Dhoni's absence. Dhoni, however, will be available for the five one-day internationals in Sri Lanka after the Test series. He has scored 1,418 runs in 29 Tests with one hundred and nine half-centuries. The Indian one-day and Twenty20 captain has been playing regularly since leading his side to a memorable triangular series victory in Australia early this year. He then figured in three home Tests against South Africa, followed by a 44-day domestic Twenty20 competition and one-day series in Bangladesh and Pakistan. Dhoni welcomed the Indian cricket board's stand to give players a break from the hectic international schedule. "In India and the sub-continent in general, we have a full year of cricket and there's no off-season," he told reporters. "It's tough for cricketers. When we want rest, we should get it. The Indian board has said we can take a break whenever we want, which I think is a very good policy." Encouraging news for India was the return of Tendulkar, who missed the last two home Tests against South Africa in April and one-day tournaments in Bangladesh and Pakistan due to the groin injury. All eyes will be on the master batsman, who is just 172 short of breaking retired West Indies captain Brian Lara's world record of 11,953 Test runs. India, who lost both the one-day finals in Bangladesh and Pakistan, were bolstered by the return of Test veterans Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Venkatsai Laxman. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh returned after having served a ban for five one-day internationals for slapping India team-mate Shanthakumaran Sreesanth during a domestic Twenty20 match in April. Left-handed opener Gautam Gambhir was rewarded for his consistency in recent one-day and Twenty20 matches with a Test place ahead of Wasim Jaffer. He played the last of his 14 Tests in 2007. Left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan also made a comeback after playing his last Test in Australia in 2007, while left-handed batsman Yuvraj Singh was dropped. India, who lost 2-1 on their last Test tour of Sri Lanka in 2001, will name their one-day squad later. Test squad: Anil Kumble (capt), Virender Sehwag (vice-capt), Gautam Gambhir, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Venkatsai Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Parthiv Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, Rudra Pratap Singh, Munaf Patel, Pragyan Ojha. Coach: Gary Kirsten (RSA).

.Dhoni pulls out of Sri Lanka test seies
Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:30 GMT
MS Dhoni has pulled out of the SL test series due to exhaustion.

Non-stop cricket for the past one year has taken its toll on the Indian ODI skipper who pulled out of the upcoming test series in Sri Lanka starting on the 23rd of July.Dhoni, who turned 27 on Monday, said he was exhausted due to the hectic schedule and wished to take a break after the Asia Cup to recharge his batteries."Dhoni met BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah and expressed his wish to take a break. He wants to opt out of the Test series," BCCI sources told PTI.Dhoni has been playing non-stop for more than an year now. It started with India's 80-day tour of England in July last year followed by the Twenty20 World Championships in South Africa, an ODI series against Australia and a Test and ODI series against Pakistan at home, an acrimonious and arduous tour of Australia which stretched over two months, a Test series against South Africa at home, and then the the Indian Premier League (IPL).And soon after the 44-day IPL ended where the Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings reached the final, India played a tri-series in Bangladesh and then took part in the Asia Cup, both times India were the runners-up.Dhoni had criticised the hectic scheduling of games during the Asia Cup, in which India had to play back-to-back games twice. Virender Sehwag is the latest to join India's long injury list after he sustained a groin injury. The Indian team physion has advised him 10 days rest. todwhether Sehwag will be included though they will have to take his injury under consideration.It is also learned that the selectors won't be considering S Sreesanth for the tour, since he is still on the injured list.

Football
Reds against all odds
Al Musabbir Sadi

Muktijoddha captain Titu (front) leads a warm-up session during the club's opening day's training at the BG Press ground yesterday. Photo: STAR'Muktijoddha Sangsad began their training session for the coming football season'.This would be news to those who had closely followed the football club's struggle in the recent months. However, a few determined players, willing to do something special to honour the country's freedom fighters and their sacrifice, opted to be loyal and fight for the club's survival.Led by Feroz Mahmud Titu, Muktijoddha had taken part in the transfer for the season just one day before the deadline even without getting permission from Muktijoddha Sangsad's Central Command Council.A number of stars like Aminul, Rajani, Hassan Al Mamun, Arman Aziz and finally, Matiur Munna departed due to the uncertainty but those who stuck together have come as far as it can get."We have started training yesterday and considering the situation a few months earlier, it looks like a miracle," Titu told The Daily Star yesterday."Everyday, we used to go door to door seeking permission to build the team but it never came. A few players left, I have no grudge against them as everyone has his right to choose, but I was encouraged to go on by my colleagues who did not bother about money even after two off-seasons. "We felt that the club had given so much to the footballers that it was our duty to pay something back."The permission came a week after we had completed the transfer formalities on our own and with support from Dhaka City Unit Command's Amir Hossain Mollah."Adviser to Sangsad and also to the club, Maj Gen (retd) Amin Chowdhury has now taken steps to remove the financial crisis."He (Amin's) needed the permission of the Central Command to get involved and now he has become active. We hope we will not suffer any financial strains. Even we can become more solvent than other clubs and recruit quality foreign players to make a formidable side like the past."Titu's optimism, however, will only be proved once the game rolls into the field at the end of this month with the Federation Cup. The Reds have lost a score of top stars and it would be hard to fill in the gaps."We finished third in the inaugural B. League and if we can have quality foreign players, we want to retain at least our last year's position," hoped the recent past national fullback, who also worked as a day labourer with his colleagues to repair the uneven BG Press ground, their new practice venue.Instead of a posh life at a decent flat and training facilities at Uttara's Police Lines ground, the Reds players will now make their camp at five ordinary rooms adjacent to the new ground."It will be the residential camp for those who come outside from the city and we have made some adjustments for their comfort," added Titu, one of the few seniors who will work from home.Apart from old guard Charles Ghansah, the Ghanaian centre-back, Nigerian defenders Victor and Michael took part in the opening day's training.Muktijoddha managed to retain midfielder Biddyut, defender Azizi Al Arman, ex-national forward Kanchan and confirmed experienced players like Brothers goalkeeper Nizam (Brothers), Mohammedan defender Biplab, midfielders Asif (Chittagong Mohammedan), Jalaluddin (Brothers), Sentu (Mohammedan) and forwards Amin Rana (Sheikh Russel), Milon (Rahmatganj) and Walid (Mohammedan).Promising players like Himel, Rajib, Rony, Bappi and Masud will provide the steam. At the helm is Asgar Ali Nasir, the man who received high accolades for Khulna Abahani's lively brand of football in the inaugural B. League.The new Muktijoddha coach admitted that the giants have lost much of their strength but his side are stronger than his last year's charges."They failed to retain the top players due to financial crisis but it seems to be over. I hope to make a competitive team out of the squad and my team will play rhythmic football," said Nasir."I did it with Khulna Abahani and feel confident to do it again with the Reds who have the potential to finish among the top four. The Federation Cup is not the target but I think we have enough time to prepare the team for the professional league."We will try hard to prove that we still have the material to play good football and that Muktijoddha are not a spoiled force. It depends a lot on the coach's planning and approach. We will be there to entertain the crowd for sure but for result, we will need a little bit of luck in addition to good foreign collection."
One of several CNG filling stations between Kanchpur Bridge and Jatrabari of the capital which BNP big shots built on the Kutubkhali canal, drastically reducing Dhaka's drainage capability. PHOTO: STAR
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Olympics
30 Days To Go
China confident of success
Afp, Beijing

Cheerleaders dance during a training session in suburban Beijing as part of China's preparation for the biggest show on earth, the Summer Olympics that commence on August 8. These cheerleaders will entertain the spectators during breaks in games like basketball, beach volleyball and some of the other sports during the 17-day extravaganza. Photo: AFPChina voiced confidence on Tuesday that the Olympics would be a success, although it warned exactly one month ahead of the Games that hostile forces were still intent on derailing the historic event.Chinese officials also dismissed pollution concerns that were highlighted by another smoggy day in Beijing, and rejected accusations that the government had not honoured its commitments to improve human rights and press freedoms."The development of China cannot be held back by any force. We have full confidence that we will hold a high level Olympic Games," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said as he spoke out against a broad range of China critics.Preparations for the Games appeared to be running smoothly, with all the stadiums already built and China opening the main press centre on Tuesday to cater for the roughly 6,000 journalists who will descend on Beijing.However some of the main organs of China's state-run press also marked the one-month Olympic countdown by focusing on the nation's critics that it said were trying to use the Games to hurt the country."The single obvious threat to the impending Games appears to be politicisation," the English-language China Daily said in an editorial."It is no secret that various anti-China forces have been colluding to hijack the Games for political ends... We should not tolerate any plot to derail the event."China has also repeatedly warned of a range of security threats to the Games, particularly from its western region of Xinjiang that has a large Muslim population, as well as from groups critical of Chinese rule in Tibet."As the Beijing Olympics get nearer, every kind of anti-China and hostile force will seek a thousand ways to intensify efforts to engage in sabotage activities," China's vice chief of police Yang Huanning said last week.Critics have accused Beijing of exaggerating or fabricating the security threats to provide an excuse to stifle any dissent that could embarrass the communist rulers during the Olympics.Amnesty International was among a range of critics to use the one-month countdown to again hit out at China for not honouring pledges to improve human rights and press freedoms that it made to win the Olympics in 2001.But foreign ministry spokesman Qin responded that China had committed to bettering human rights regardless of the sporting event."Since the founding of the Communist Party of China, it has been trying its utmost to improve human rights, and it will be our goal and purpose in the future," he said.One other major concern for China has been pollution, and the city's environmental woes showed no signs of abating on Tuesday despite having already implemented some measures designed to improve air quality for the Games.On July 1, 300,000 highly polluting vehicles were banned from the capital, while some work at construction sites and factories has been suspended.International Olympic Committee chief Jacques Rogge this year warned that some endurance events, such as the marathon, may be postponed if the pollution is too severe.But with more than one million cars -- or about a third of those in Beijing -- due to be taken off the road from July 20, environmental officials remained upbeat about the prospects of clear air for the Olympics.In Qingdao -- site of the sailing competition 550 kilometres (340 miles) southeast of Beijing -- a pollution-triggered algae bloom has left parts of the harbour covered in a foul smelling green sludge.
One of several CNG filling stations between Kanchpur Bridge and Jatrabari of the capital which BNP big shots built on the Kutubkhali canal, drastically reducing Dhaka's drainage capability. PHOTO: STAR
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Sports
On the bank of river

As the dust begins to settle in the Sidr-hit south, the young ones -- most of whom have lost a father, a brother or a sister and more than they have ever had -- make an effort to escape from the everyday struggle on the bank of River Baleshwar. The venue is called Joar-bhata (high and low tides) stadium, where they find their source of entertainment, an exciting game of football only when a piece of land is available during a low tide. The picture was taken last Sunday at Rayenda in Bagerhat district, more than seven months after Cyclone Sidr ripped through the southern part of Bangladesh, killing nearly 10,000 people and making millions homeless. Photo: Anisur Rahman

Football
Barclays English Premier League
'Lamps wants to stay'
fAp, London

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari (L) addresses a press conference at the Hilton Cobham hotel in Kent on Tuesday. Photo: AFPLuiz Felipe Scolari revealed Tuesday that Frank Lampard has told him he wants to stay at Chelsea but the London club's new boss was unable to offer fans similar reassurance about the future of Didier Drogba.Inter Milan have made a formal approach for England midfielder Lampard, who has only a year left on his current contract and has reportedly been considering a move to link up with former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who is now in charge of the Italian champions.Chelsea have insisted they have no intention of selling and, speaking at his first press conference since taking up his new job, Scolari said Lampard had assured him he wants to stay."I met Frank Lampard yesterday and I spoke to him," Scolari said. "I like him too much as a player and as a person."I asked him if he wants to stay at Chelsea, not only this season but for more time, and he said to me that he wants to stay and play for Chelsea for many years."I was at that time very happy because I think Chelsea need Lampard and Lampard likes Chelsea. Now there are some minimal questions to solve and I think Lampard will be with us for more than one year."Scolari could not offer evidence of a similar commitment from Drogba, although he insisted the Ivory Coast striker was "200 per cent" part of his plans."I spoke to him yesterday because he arrived in our base with a little problem in the knee. I saw him happy," Scolari said.The Brazilian said he would need more time to assess whether he would have to make changes to the squad he has inherited from Avram Grant, who was dismissed after Chelsea finished second to Manchester United in last season's Premier League and runners-up to them in the Champions League.But he revealed he has already decided that John Terry will continue as captain."I like him as a captain, I like him as a player and as a leader," Scolari said. "The captain is John Terry, the second captain is Lampard but we want more captains on the pitch."
One of several CNG filling stations between Kanchpur Bridge and Jatrabari of the capital which BNP big shots built on the Kutubkhali canal, drastically reducing Dhaka's drainage capability. PHOTO: STAR
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Football
LFP
Media speculate on C'Ron at Real
Afp, Madrid

Spain's sports media on Tuesday continued to speculate about the arrival of Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid, one day after the Portuguese winger was operated on his ankle."Just in time for La Liga," sports daily Marca said on its front page in an article that said the 23-year-old would regain his fitness before the Spanish league starts on August 31.Rival sports daily As meanwhile wrote in its front page story that Real Madrid expects Ronaldo will announce his move before July 17, the date when he is supposed to return to work with the English side.Manchester announced Monday that Ronaldo's operation was successful but the player could miss the start of the new season as he recovers from the surgery. The English Premiership gets underway on August 16.Marca reported that Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has told the club's board that Ronaldo had agreed to join the Spanish side.But on Sunday Calderon told reporters at Wimbledon that the most probable outcome "as of today" is that "Ronaldo will continue to play for Manchester United next year"."Manchester has to want it. Once they decide to sell him and communicate this, we can say we are talking about a possible transfer. But as of today that is not happening," he said.Over the past several weeks Spain's sports press has published daily stories over Ronaldo's alleged impending transfer to Real Madrid.The player has said he would like to play in Spain and Real is reportedly ready to pay up to 85 million euros (133 million dollars) to sign him on a five year contract and pay the striker an annual salary of nine million euros.But Ronaldo is under contract with United until 2011 and the club refuses

Cricket
'Crank up the pace'
Afp, London

South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel has promised to 'crank up' his pace during the upcoming Test series with England.The Proteas play the first of a four-match series starting at Lord's on Thursday with the 6ft 6in Morkel set to feature after sharp spells in warm-up matches against both Somerset and Middlesex.In last weekend's match, the 23-year-old needed just six balls to dismiss Andrew Strauss and afterwards the Middlesex and England opener compared Morkel's pace and bounce to that of former Test spearhead Stephen Harmison.And Morkel was adamant there was more to come once the serious business of the tour got underway."When everything is feeling 100 per cent and my rhythm is nice, I'll definitely be trying to crank it up," he said.Morkel, fit after a hamstring injury cut short his stay with English county Yorkshire feels he is mentally and physically close to his best after returning to the international stage during South Africa's drawn series in India earlier this year."The break has helped me," he said. "India was a stressful time, my comeback series after I got injured in Pakistan (last year)."I was mentally a bit drained -- but I'm a different man now."The ball is coming out quite nicely and it's nice to see the batsmen jumping around a bit. Come Thursday, it will be the England batsmen who are in my sights. I can't wait."Harmison may have been dropped from England's Test side following a loss of form but he remains an inspiration for Morkel who, in common with the Durham quick, does not believe in giving opposing batsmen too many 'verbals'."When I was growing up I used to idolise guys like Glenn McGrath, and later on when Steve came on the scene, I also saw myself as bowling like Steve," he said. "I see myself as similar and have watched a lot of tapes of him."Whereas South African quick Andre Nel is never short of a word for his opponents, Morkel takes the opposite approach. "I use my energy behind the ball rather than to verbally abuse the batsman."Morkel's methods have impressed experienced wicketkeeper Mark Boucher who has been behind the stumps when South Africa fast bowling greats Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock have been leading the attack."I was standing with the slips, bowling with the wind, and the ball is taking off from a length," Boucher said. "I turned around to Graeme (Smith, the South Africa captain) and said 'thank goodness he's in my side, and I don't have to face him'."
One of several CNG filling stations between Kanchpur Bridge and Jatrabari of the capital which BNP big shots built on the Kutubkhali canal, drastically reducing Dhaka's drainage capability. PHOTO: STAR
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Football
There's no magic: Guus
Afp, Seoul

Guus Hiddink, christened the "wizard" by grateful Russian media, said Tuesday there was no magic to his giant-killing exploits as a coach in big international tournaments."There's no recipe, there's no secret, there's no magic," he told journalists during a visit to South Korea, the team he took to the 2002 World Cup semifinals against all the odds."What we emphasised was to expose (ourselves), as a team, as players, to play fully committed and fully hard," the 62-year-old said of his latest team Russia, which he led to the Euro 2008 semifinals last month.The country had not advanced to the knockout stage of a major competition in 20 years.The Dutchman -- a hero in South Korea -- also took Australia to the second round of the World Cup two years ago.Hiddink arrived Monday to attend this week's opening of a football pitch named after him for disabled children in the south eastern port city of Pohang."You cannot guarantee 100 per cent winning, but what we guaranteed to the public is that we would play in a very attractive style," he said of Russia's Euro 2008 performance."You must be very realistic," he said, sitting at a lunch next to current South Korean national coach Huh Jung-Moo. "Let's not forget realistically where Russia is, where Korea is."South Korea, seeking their seventh ticket to the World Cup, have made it to the final regional qualifying round starting in September. But their performance has been flawed in recent qualifiers."You must put the aims and targets, so everyone knows what to do within a team," said Hiddink, quoted by Yonhap news agency."(A team) cannot always be top, top, top. But when players play with their heart, there's no big problem."
One of several CNG filling stations between Kanchpur Bridge and Jatrabari of the capital which BNP big shots built on the Kutubkhali canal, drastically reducing Dhaka's drainage capability. PHOTO: STAR
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Football
N Korea target WC
Afp, Hong Kong
It may not please the purists, but North Korea's football team is firmly on course for the 2010 World Cup after reaching the last round of qualifying without losing or even conceding a goal.If they do make it, it will be the isolated communist state's first World Cup in 44 years and despite a lowly world ranking of 94, below such minnows as Gambia and Suriname.The endeavours also come at a time when the country, ruled with an iron fist by Kim Jong-Il, is believed to be suffering acute food shortages, reviving memories of a famine in the 1990s which left up to one million people dead.Better known for its nuclear weapons programme and dubious human rights record, North Korea, who play all in white, have hardly endeared themselves either with their defensive brand of football.Yet it appears to work.In the previous qualifying group North Korea scored only four goals in their three wins and three draws, but they kept a clean sheet every time thanks to a solid rearguard action that would make Italy look adventurous.With Brazil sitting uncomfortably in their qualifying group on the other side of the world and other end of the footballing spectrum, it raises the spectre of a World Cup with North Korea but without the five-time champions.

Football
UEFA Cup to be renamed
Reuters, Switzerland

European soccer's governing body UEFA is considering changing the name of its second tier UEFA Cup competition to the UEFA Europa League.The planned rebranding was revealed by Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the acting chairman of the new European Clubs Association, whose organisation was presented with the proposal on Monday.“The hope is that a refreshment of the name and brand can help achieve better results than we've seen in the UEFA Cup in the past,” Rummenigge later told a media conference at UEFA's Swiss headquarters.“There has been a general impression that it has become a second-class competition and that we should get back to how it was ten or 15 years ago.”A senior UEFA source confirmed to Reuters that UEFA's executive committee would vote on the name change when it meets in Bordeaux in September.He said the new name was meant to better reflect the new group stage system being used in the competition from the 2009-10 season, in a direct copy of UEFA's much more successful Champions League competition.UEFA announced in December that it was revamping the UEFA Cup's format, dropping the unpopular five-team groups in which teams play each opponent just once either home or away in favour of a simpler home and away system.From 2009 UEFA will also be marketing the competition centrally, in another lesson learned from the lucrative Champions League, and hopes that the new name will help distinguish it from the previous UEFA Cup format.
One of several CNG filling stations between Kanchpur Bridge and Jatrabari of the capital which BNP big shots built on the Kutubkhali canal, drastically reducing Dhaka's drainage capability. PHOTO: STAR
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Tennis
Exhausted Nadal takes a break
Agencies, Stuttgart

Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal has pulled out of this week's Stuttgart Cup due to a knee injury."I haven't stopped playing for the past four to five months," said the world number two, who toppled five-time champion Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-7 (8/10), 9-7 on Sunday night."My doctors have said I need a couple of days rest. I will now get examined for an exact diagnosis," the Spaniard said in Stuttgart, adding he had a problem with his knee without providing any details."My plans for the immediate future are very simple - I just want to rest because I'm completely exhausted," added Nadal, who also won the French Open title by defeating the world number one."I only want to return to the court once I am 100 per cent fit," the 22-year-old said.Nadal, a four-time French Open champion, became the first Spaniard in more than four decades to win the Wimbledon men's singles title after defeating Roger Federer."It was amazing for me," said Nadal. "It was a very special victory for me winning against Roger and the most important thing [was] winning Wimbledon."Asked what the victory meant to him, he said: "Right now I only think about the present."Probably when I finish my career, I am going to think about these things."
One of several CNG filling stations between Kanchpur Bridge and Jatrabari of the capital which BNP big shots built on the Kutubkhali canal, drastically reducing Dhaka's drainage capability. PHOTO: STAR
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Sports
Chess
Stanchart School Chess
Mohona makes good start
Sports Reporter

The Standard Chartered 10th School Chess tournament began with 240 participants at the hall room of Bangladesh Chess Federation yesterday.The participants include sixteen boys and girls from India and two from Nepal. They are taking part in the nine-round Swiss League system competition in three groups -- Group A (KG to class V), Group B (Class V1 to X) and Group C (girls group).On the opening day, 27 players earned full points in Group A, 48 in Group B and 13 in the girls section.Mohona of Motijheel Govt High beat Shiny Das of India in the girls' group.Tournament sponsors Standard Chartered Bank provided Tk 6 lakh to run the meet, while Tk 1 lakh will be given in prize money.The competitors of Group B will receive Tk 28,000, Group A Tk 40,000 and Group C Tk 30,000 in prize money apart from trophies.
One of several CNG filling stations between Kanchpur Bridge and Jatrabari of the capital which BNP big shots built on the Kutubkhali canal, drastically reducing Dhaka's drainage capability. PHOTO: STAR
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Sports
Olympics
Ronnie in Olympic team
Afp, Rio De Janeiro

Out of form Ronaldinho has been included in Brazil's squad for the Olympic Games as an overage player.Real Madrid striker Robinho, another player over the 23 age limit, was also named in the squad by coach Dunga, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said on its Web site (www.cbf.com.br) on Monday.Players under the age limit included Liverpool midfielder Lucas, Manchester United midfielder Anderson, Werder Bremen's Diego, AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato and Manchester City's new signing Jo.Brazil, five-times world champions, have never won the Olympic gold in soccer and regard it as the one major title missing from their collection.Ronaldinho, troubled by injury and fitness problems, has not played for Brazil this year and has made only sporadic appearances for Barcelona.Barcelona's new coach Pep Guardiola has already said that Ronaldinho does not figure in his plans for next season and AC Milan are reported to be interested in signing him.Brazil, silver medallists in 1984 and 1988, will face China, Belgium and New Zealand in their first round group.Dunga, who is also in charge of the senior side, is under increasing pressure after recent poor results and his future in the job is seen as hinging on a good performance in China.The Olympic tournament, taken more seriously in South America than in Europe, is restricted to under-23 teams with three overage players allowed per team.The presence of the over-age players depends on the goodwill of their clubs, who are not obliged to release them.Brazil had hoped to include World Player of the Year Kaka in their squad but AC Milan said they would not let him go.SQUADGoalkeepers: Diego (Almeria, ESP), Renan (Internacional)Defenders:Marcelo (Real Madrid, ESP), Ilsinho (Shakhtar Donetsk, UKR), Rafinha (Schalke 04, GER), Thiago Silva (Fluminense), Alex Silva (Sao Paulo), Breno (Bayern Munich, GER).Midfielders: Lucas (Liverpool, ENG), Anderson (Manchester United, ENG), Hernanes (Sao Paulo), Ronaldinho (Barcelona, ESP), Diego (Werder Bremen, GER), Thiago Neves (Fluminense).Strikers: Robinho (Real Madrid, ESP), Alexandre Pato (AC Milan, ITA), Rafael Sobis (Real Betis, ESP), Jo (Manchester City, ENG).
One of several CNG filling stations between Kanchpur Bridge and Jatrabari of the capital which BNP big shots built on the Kutubkhali canal, drastically reducing Dhaka's drainage capability. PHOTO: STAR
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Sports
Cricket
Cricketers to learn English in AIUB
Sports Reporter

In order to bring fluency to their English language, American International University of Bangladesh (AIUB) are all set to help the national cricket players.AIUB have come forward after being requested by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and will not take any payments."You know better how weak the cricketers are in English and it is important for the players to speak fluently," said Ishtiaque Ahmed, a BCB member."We have got a positive response from the AIUB and are now waiting for the BCB approval," he added."It is not a new matter for us as we had earlier taught English to the different government officials without any cost," said Lutfar Rahman, public relations director of the AIUB.Abdul Kader Nazmul, AIUB sports coordinator, said that they would also teach computer literacy to the cricketers.

Shannon Rowbury celebrates winning the gold medal in the women's 1,500m final during day eight of the US Track and Field Olympic Trials at Hayward Field on Sunday in Eugene, Oregon. AFP

Rafael Nadal (R) and Roger Federer (L) pose with their trophies after their Wimbledon final at The All England Tennis Club in London on Sunday. AFP

Nadal ends Federer reign at Wimbledon

Rafael Nadal dethroned five-time champion Roger Federer as king of Wimbledon on Sunday with an epic 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-7 (8/10), 9-7 win in one of the greatest Grand Slam finals of all time.The Spaniard, who had squandered two match points in a nerve-shredding fourth set tie-breaker, added a first All England Club title to his four French Opens, shattering Federer's dreams of an historic sixth successive Wimbledon trophy."It's impossible to explain what I felt when I won. I'm just very happy to win this title. I never thought I could win but to do so is a dream," said Nadal who had lost the last two finals to Federer."I had match points but Roger is very tough. I want to congratulate Roger because he is great for tennis, win or lose."He's still the number one, he's still the best. He is a five-time champion and I have just the one."Federer admitted he had been beaten by the better man on the day."I tried everything," he said. "Rafa is a deserving champion-he just played fantastic."It is a pity I did not win but I will be back next year."Victory made the 22-year-old Nadal only the third man to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season, and the first since Bjorn Borg in 1980, while giving Spain its first men's champion here since Manolo Santana in 1966.The win also ended Federer's six-year, 65-match winning streak on grass.At four hours and 48 minutes, it was the longest final in Wimbledon history beating the 4:16 it took Jimmy Connors to beat John McEnroe in 1982 and ended in murky Centre Court darkness at 2116 local time (2016GMT).Nadal shrugged off a rain-enforced 35-minute delay to the start to break first to lead 2-1 with Federer desperately chasing the Spaniard's power-packed forehands.The 22-year-old then fought off a break point in the next game to back up his advantage which stretched to 4-2 as the Spaniard edged the world number one in some brutal exchanges in tricky, gusty conditions on Centre Court.Nadal unleashed a 96mph forehand to claim the opening set, the first set Federer had dropped in the 2008 tournament.The 26-year-old Swiss star shook off his inhibitions to sneak to a 3-0 lead in the second set before Nadal battled back from 1-4 down to open up a two-set lead when Federer netted a simple-looking backhand.Nadal saved a break point in the fourth game of the third set and four more in the sixth as the London skies and Federer's mood darkened.The top seed saved three break points to lead 4-3 and was 5-4 ahead when heavy rain sent the players off court for 80 minutes.On the resumption, a reborn Federer grabbed the third set with an ace in a tense tiebreak before serve dominated the fourth set leading to another tiebreak.Nadal went to 5/2 in the breaker but the champion stormed back to lead 6/5 and claim a set point which Nadal saved.Incredibly, Federer then saved two match points and grabbed another set point at 9/8 before levelling the final when Nadal, stunned by his failing nerve, went long with a forehand.At 2-2 in the final set, more rain caused a 30-minute suspension.On their return, Nadal saved a break point in the eighth game while Federer fought off two in the 11th and three more in the 15th but cracked to give the Spaniard an 8-7 lead.Nadal went to a third match point which was saved with a inch-perfect backhand.An unreturned serve gave him a fourth match which he converted to victory when Federer netted a backhand.

Gay slowed for two weeks but looks to London and Beijing

EugeneWorld champion Tyson Gay suffered a left hamstring strain in his collapse at the US Olympic Track and Field Trials and will not resume top-speed training for two weeks, his manager said Sunday.Mark Wetmore, agent for the US sprint star, also said Gay will run in London on July 25 as planned and indicated that the injury would not keep him from next month's showdown with Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell at the Beijing Olympics."He's making preparations for the call in Beijing. I'm very confident he's going to be in place when they say, 'On your marks,'" said US men's Olympic athletics coach Bubba Thornton.Gay's condition was updated after an MRI late Saturday, hours after Gay's bid for a golden double in the 100 and 200 meters ended in pain when he fell 12 steps into a 200 quarter-final heat with what had been called a cramp.The exam showed Gay has a mild strain in the semitendinosus muscle, one of the hamstrings, and will be forced to slowly work his way back to a full-speed workout regimen ahead of the Beijing Olympics.Gay plans to engage in "active rest" for 12 to 14 days, according to his manager, with increased light physical activity over the next two weeks leading to a resumption of full training.That should put Gay back on his routine five days before his only planned Beijing 100 tuneup in England."Tyson's only confirmed pre-Olympic competition is the 100 meters at the London Grand Prix on July 25 and that is still on the schedule," Wetmore said.Gay turns 26 on August 9, the day after the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics and six days before the opening round of the 100 at Beijing.Jamaica's Bolt set the world record of 9.72 on May 31 at New York, beating Gay and breaking the old mark of 9.74 held by compatriot Powell. Bolt plans to run the 100 and 200 in Beijing while Powell and Gay will only run the 100.A showdown among the three to decide who is the world's fastest man is expected to be among the signature moments of the Beijing Olympics, but the setback for Gay is certain to spark talk of whether he can regain top form."Time is on his side," Thornton said. "He understands where he is at and what he needs to do. He has the respect of everyone. We're going to let time, and how things evolve in the next six weeks, say some things."Gay, who is expected to also run on the US 4x100 relay, booked a Beijing berth last Sunday by winning the 100 in a wind-aided 9.68 seconds, the fastest 100 ever run under any conditions.Jon Drummond, Gay's coach, said that every precaution was taken with his star pupil after the amazing 100 run but noted that unprecedented speed marks put recovery efforts into uncharted territory."All the things that we know to do, we did," Drummond said. "The reality is he ran 9.6 in the 100 and wind-aided or not, the body still produced that type of velocity. We don't really know what that type of running does to the body."We know now and we can go back and study the science after this meet. We've got to accept whatever right now. He seemed very positive. He didn't strike me as broken-hearted, but I'm sure there is disappointment."For several tense minutes after the fall, there were fears of a hamstring pull that would have kept Gay from Beijing altogether."I'm really glad it was a cramp as opposed to what it looked like," said women's 100 Olympic qualifier Lauryn Williams. "My eyes started to well up. I was like, 'Please God, don't take him away from us now. The USA needs him.'"The fall in the 200 doomed Gay's dream of matching his double from the 2007 worlds at Osaka since only the top three in Sunday's final qualify.Asked about making exceptions to the system, Thornton noted how Michael Johnson and Maurice Greene missed out on the 200 in 2000 but won other golds at Sydney.

Australia clinches series sweep against West Indies:

BasseterreMitchell Johnson starred with the ball, following a strong batting performance, as Australia completed a rare ODI series sweep in the Caribbean, when they cruised to a 169-run victory in the fifth and final ODI against West Indies on Sunday.Johnson collected five wickets for 29 runs from 7.5 overs, as Australia successfully defended a formidable target total of 342, when they dismissed West Indies for 172 in 39.5 overs.Johnson formalised the result, when he had Fidel Edwards caught at fine leg fending away a short, rising ball to send another fair-sized, strongly partisan, weekend crowd home disappointed. The victory - Australia's largest against West Indies - meant they became only the third team to sweep an ODI series in the Caribbean. Australia won the opening match by 84 runs in St. Vincent, the rain-affected second ODI by 63 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis Method, and the third ODI last Sunday by seven wickets in Grenada, as well as the fourth ODI last Friday by one run here.Australia, choosing to bat on a hard, easy-paced Warner Park pitch, had amassed 341 for eight from their allocation of 50 overs - a record total against West Indies in an ODI. Shawn Findlay, playing in only his second ODI, was the top scorer for West Indies with 00 and long-standing fellow left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul supported with 38.Andrew Symonds top-scored with 66 from 80 balls, Luke Ronchi made a rapid-fire 64 from 28 balls to earn the Man-of-the-Match award, David Hussey led the late flourish with 52 from 21 balls, and Mike Hussey gathered 51 from 52 balls. Ramnaresh Sarwan took three wickets for 57 runs from nine overs, and Fidel Edwards captured three for 86 from nine overs to be the most successful bowlers for West Indies. The runs Edwards conceded were the most by a West Indies bowler in an ODI, three more than the 83 Corey Collymore gave away from his 10 overs against South Africa four years ago at Johannesburg.Symonds completed a fine all-round game, scalping two for 23 from seven overs, and stand-in Australia captain Michael Clarke snared two for 34 from six overs.Earlier, Symonds, Ronchi, and the two Husseys built on the platform provided by openers Shaun Marsh and Shane Watson.They put on 70 before Watson, later named Man-of-the-Series, was caught at third man for 29 off Dwayne Bravo in the 13th over, and Marsh was caught behind off Edwards for 49 in the 20th over to leave Australia 129 for two. Ronchi, promoted to No.3, showed his enterprise, when he equalled the record for the second fastest 50 in an ODI by an Australian. He drove his 22nd delivery from Edwards "inside-out" through extra cover for his fourth four to reach the milestone in the 20th over. But he was caught behind, when he was caught behind off the first ball from left-arm spin bowler Nikita Miller in the 22nd over before Sarwan also had Clarke caught behind for five in the next over to leave the visitors on 152 for four.Symonds entered and batted with typical aplomb alongside Mike Hussey and they put Australia firmly on course for their massive total, when they added 113 for the fifth wicket. Symonds top-edged a pull to mid-wicket for a single to reach his 50 off Edwards in the 42nd over before he was caught behind off the same bowler in the 44th over.Hussey proceeded to reach his 50 in the next over, when he drove Bravo to long-off for a single, but Edwards got him off the last ball of the following over, when he was caught at long-on.In the closing overs, David Hussey, Mike's younger brother, created a stir with his audacious batting, striking four fours and four sixes to reset the record for the second fastest 50 in an ODI by an Australia which Ronchi had earlier established.He reached his 50, when he lofted Sarwan for the last of his sixes over long-on, but two balls later, he was caught at deep mid-wicket off the same bowler before James Hopes was caught at mid-on off the same bowler off the last ball of the innings.Australia were unchanged, but West Indies made one change to their line-up. They dropped Darren Sammy, and brought in Andre Fletcher.

SCOREBOARD

Toss: Australia.

Australia Innings:S. Marsh c Ramdin b Edwards 49S. Watson c Powell b Bravo 29L. Ronchi c Ramdin b Miller 64M. Clarke c Ramdin b Sarwan 5M. Hussey c Findlay b Edwards 51A. Symonds c Ramdin b Edwards 66D. Hussey c Powell b Sarwan 50J. Hopes c Fletcher b Sarwan 18B. Lee not out 0Extras: (lb3, w1, nb3) 7Total: (8 wkts) 341DNB: M. Johnson, N. Bracken did not bat.Fall of wkts: 1-70 (Watson, 12.5 overs); 2-129 (Marsh, 19.2); 3-150 (Ronchi, 21.1); 4-152 (Clarke, 22.1); 5-265 (Symonds, 43.5); 6-280 (M. Hussey, 45.6); 7-341 (D. Hussey, 49.5); 8-341 (Hopes, 49.6).Bowling: Edwards 9-0-86-3 (nb3); Powell 10-0-50-0; Bravo 10-0-74-1 (w1); Gayle 2-0-33-0; Miller 10-0-38-1; Sarwan 9-1-57-3.Overs: 50

West Indies Innings:C. Gayle c wkpr Ronchi b Johnson 5X. Marshall lbw b Watson 17R. Sarwan c Hopes b Johnson 7S. Chanderpaul c Lee b Clarke 38S. Findlay not out 59D. Bravo c D. Hussey b Symonds 13A. Fletcher st Ronchi b *Clarke 1D.Ramdin c M. Hussey b Symonds 3D. Powell b Johnson 10N. Miller c Watson b Johnson 8F. Edwards c Hopes b Johnson 0Extras: (lb2, w9) 11Total: (all out) 172Fall of wkts: 1-6 (Gayle, 1.3 overs); 2-21 (Sarwan, 5.4); 3-56 (Marshall, 11.6); 4-92 (Chanderpaul, 20.3); 5-129 (Bravo, 27.2); 6-131 (Fletcher, 27.6); 7-138 (Ramdin, 29.4); 8-158 (Powell, 35.6); 9-172 (Miller, 39.4).Bowling: Lee 9-0-42-0 (w4); Johnson 7.5-1-29-5 (w2); Bracken 5-0-19-0; Watson 5-0-23-1; Clarke 6-0-34-2 (w1); Symonds 7-0-23-2 (w2)Result: Australia won by 169 runs.Series: Australia sweep five-match series 5-0.Umpires: S. Bucknor, Asad Rauf, TV Replays: N. Malcolm, Reserve: C. Mack. Match Referee: R. Mahanama.Man-of-the-Match: Luke Ronchi (Australia).Man-of-the-Series: Shane Watson (Australia).

The Sri Lanka cricket team poses with the trophy during the award ceremony after the Asia Cup final between India and Sri Lanka at National Stadium in Karachi on Sunday. Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup final defeating India by 100 runs. AFP

Mendis, Jayasuriya shine as Sri Lanka retains Asia Cup title

KarachiSensational spinner Ajantha Mendis took six wickets for just nine runs to help Sri Lanka beat India by 100 runs in the final here on Sunday to successfully defend the Asia Cup title.As expected the 23-year-old spinner mesmerised the Indian batsmen with career-best figures to cause a slump which saw India lose nine wickets for 97 runs and were bowled out for 173 in 39.3 overs.Sanath Jayasuriya hit a fighting 125 to help Sri Lanka post a decent 273 in their 50 overs on a flat National Stadium pitch.Mendis, playing for the first time against India since making his debut in April this year, bowled eight overs of beguiling spin to beat his previous best of 5-22 against United Arab Emirates in the first round last week.He also bettered the best bowling figures in Asia Cup history, erasing the 5-19 record set by Aaqib Javed for Pakistan against India at Sharjah in 1995.The spinner from Moratuwa finished with 17 wickets in the batsman-dominated tournament.India got off to a rapid start, reaching 36 by the fifth over when Gautum Gambhir (6) was caught in the covers of Chaminda Vaas.Mendis came into bowl the 10th over with Sehwag (60) dealing only in boundaries. Off his second ball, Mendis lured the Indian opener and had him stumped.Sehwag hit 12 boundaries during his 36-ball knock.Two balls later, Mendis beguiled Yuvraj Singh with a straighter delivery to bowl him without scoring and in his third over bowled Suresh Raina (16) with another peach to leave India at 93-4. In his fourth over, Mendis trapped Rohit Sharma (three) with another one that skidded before spinning partner Muttiah Muralitharan ended a resolute 35-run stand between Dhoni and Robin Uthappa (20).Mendis returned for his second spell to remove Irfan Pathan (two) and Rudra Pratap Singh (nought) off successive deliveries before Vaas returned for his third spell to dismiss Dhoni's resistance packed 74-ball deliveries.Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said Mendis played a big part but it was a team effort.Earlier, Jayasuriya hit his 27th one-day hundred to become the second highest century-maker in one-day cricket behind India's Sachin Tendulkar, who has 42.The 39-year-old, recalled for this tournament after being dropped for the West Indies tour in April, added an invaluable 131 runs for the fifth wicket with Tillakaratne Dilshan (56) after paceman Ishant Sharma made early inroads.The 19-year-old Sharma dismissed ayawardene (11), Chamara Kapugedera (5) and Chamara Silva (nought) in an incisive seven over spell after Sri Lanka lost opener Kumar Sangakkara run out for four in only the second over.Jayasuriya took up the fight, with impressive hitting that included nine boundaries and five sixes during his 114-ball knock.He clouted Sharma over mid-wicket boundary to bring up his half-century off 43 balls and then cut loose, hitting paceman Rudra Pratap Singh for three sixes and two boundaries to take 26 in an over.He flicked off-spinner Virendar Sehwag for a single to reach 100 off 79-balls. He was finally dismissed after sweeping Sehwag straight into the hands of the mid-wicket fielder. Dilshan smashed all of his three boundaries in one Irfan Pathan over before the paceman dismissed him in the 39th over.Sharma finished with 3-52 while Singh took 3-67.

SCOREBOARD

Toss: India

Sri Lanka Innings: S. Jayasuriya c Sharma b Sehwag 125K. Sangakkara run out 4M. Jayawardene c Rohit b Sharma 11C. Kapugedera c Raina b Sharma 5C. Silva b Sharma 0T. Dilshan c Dhoni b Pathan 56C. Vaas b Singh 19N. Kulasekera not out 29T. Thushara lbw b Singh 5A. Mendis b Singh 8M. Muralitharan c Dhoni b Pathan 2Extras: (lb8, w1) 9Total: 273Fall of wkts: 1-11 (Sangakkara), 2-34 (Jayawardene), 3-66 (Kapugedera), 4-66 (Silva), 5-197 (Jayasuriya), 6-213 (Dilshan), 7-236 (Vaas), 8-256 (Thushara), 9-264 (Mendis).Bowling: Singh 9-1-67-3 (1w), Sharma 10-1-52-3, Pathan 9.5-0-67-2, Ojha 10-1-38-0, Sehwag 8-0-30-1, Rohit 3-0-11-0.Overs: 49.5

India Innings:G. Gambhir c Dilshan b Vaas 6V. Sehwag st Sangakkara b Mendis 60S. Raina b Mendis 16Y. Singh b Mendis 0M. Dhoni c Sangakkara b Vaas 49R. Sharma lbw b Mendis 3R. Uthappa lbw b Muralitharan 20I. Pathan c Jayawardene b Mendis 2R. Singh b Mendis 0P. Ojha not out 6I. Sharma b Kulasekera 8Extras: (b2, w1) 3Total: 173Fall of wickets: 1-36 (Gambhir), 2-76 (Sehwag), 3-76 (Yuvraj), 4-93 (Raina), 5-97 (Rohit), 6-135 (Uthappa), 7-154 (Pathan), 8-154 (Singh), 9-160 (Dhoni)Bowling: Vaas 9-0-55-2, Kulasekera 6.3-0-26-1, Thushara 8-0-51-0 (1w), Mendis 8-1-13-6, Muralitharan 8-0-26-1Overs: 39.3Result: Sri Lanka won by 100 runsUmpires: Simon Taufel (AUS), Tony Hill (NZL)TV umpire: Zameer Haider (Pak)Match referee: Alan Hurst (Aus).

Sri Lanka cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya (L) is watched by Indian wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni as he plays a shot during The Asia Cup final between India and Sri Lanka at The National Cricket Stadium in Karachi on Sunday.

Jayasuriya rescues Sri Lanka against India AFP, KarachiSanatah Jayasuriya notched a swashbuckling hundred to lead a Sri Lankan recovery and help them reach 273 against India in the final of the Asia Cup here on Sunday.The dashing left-hander scored 125 after the defending champions had looked in trouble at 66-4, with paceman Ishant Sharma destroying the top order after they were sent in to bat by India at National Stadium.Jayasuriya reached his 27th one-day hundred to become the second highest century-maker in one-day cricket behind India's Sachin Tendulkar, who has 42.The 39-year-old, recalled for this tournament after being dropped for the West Indies tour in April, added an invaluable 131 runs for the fifth wicket with Tillakaratne Dilshan (56) after Sharma threatened a run through.The 19-year-old Sharma dismissed Mahela Jayawardene (11), Chamara Kapugedera (five) and Chamara Silva (nought) in an incisive seven over spell after Sri Lanka lost opener Kumar Sangakkara run out for four in only the second over.Jayasuriya took up the fight, with impressive hitting that included nine boundaries and five sixes during his 114-ball knock.He clouted Sharma over mid-wicket boundary to bring up his half-century off 43 balls and then cut loose, hitting paceman Rudra Pratap Singh for three sixes and two boundaries to take 26 in an over. He flicked off-spinner Virendar Sehwag for a single to reach his 27th one-day hundred off 79-balls. He was finally dismissed after sweeping Sehwag straight into the hands of the mid-wicket fielder.Dilshan smashed all of his three boundaries in one Irfan Pathan over before the paceman dismissed him hooking in the 39th over. Sharma finished with 3-52 while Singh took 3-67.Sri Lanka brought in Chaminda Vaas and spinner Ajantha Mendis who were rested in the Super League match defeat against India on Thursday.India left out paceman Praveen Kumar to include a seventh batsman in Robin Uthappa, leaving them with only four regular bowlers.

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka Innings: Toss: IndiaS. Jayasuriya c Sharma b Sehwag 125K. Sangakkara run out 4M. Jayawardene c Rohit b Sharma 11C. Kapugedera c Raina b Sharma 5C. Silva b Sharma 0T. Dilshan c Dhoni b Pathan 56C. Vaas b Singh 19N. Kulasekera not out 29T. Thushara lbw b Singh 5A. Mendis b Singh 8M. Muralitharan c Dhoni b Pathan 2Extras: (lb8, w1) 9Total: 273Fall of wkts: 1-11 (Sangakkara), 2-34 (Jayawardene), 3-66 (Kapugedera), 4-66 (Silva), 5-197 (Jayasuriya), 6-213 (Dilshan), 7-236 (Vaas), 8-256 (Thushara), 9-264 (Mendis)Bowling : Singh 9-1-67-3 (1w), Sharma 10-1-52-3, Pathan 9.5-0-67-2, Ojha 10-1-38-0, Sehwag 8-0-30-1, Rohit 3-0-11-0Overs: 49.5India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Rudra Singh Singh, Irfan Pathan, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma.

Umpires: Simon Taufel (AUS), Tony Hill (NZL).TV umpire: Zameer Haider (Pak)Match referee: Alan Hurst (Aus).

Olympics
Beijing 2008
Gay out of 200m
Afp, Eugene

World champion Tyson Gay is helped off the track by medical staff after falling in pain during the men's 200-metre quarterfinals at the US Track and Field Olympic Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene on Saturday. Photo: AFPWorld champion Tyson Gay fell in the curve of his 200-metre quarterfinal heat Saturday at the US Olympic Track and Field Trials, ending his bid for a 100-200 double at the Beijing Olympics.Gay, who last weekend ran the fastest 100 under any conditions in a wind-aided 9.68 seconds to win the final, tumbled to the track with a possible hamstring injury that could mean he would miss out on the Olympics altogether.Gay, who won the 100 and 200 at last year's worlds, was in lane seven in the first heat of the 200 quarterfinal. He sped out of the blocks but within a few steps went down to the amazement of more than 20,000 at Hayward Field.He was helped off the track but it was not immediately known how severe the injury that sent him tumbling to the track had been.At the very least, it doomed Gay's dream of a golden sprint double next month at Beijing. Only the three top finishers in Sunday's 200 final will run in the event for the American team at the Olympics.An Olympic dream also died for 1996 Olympic 110 hurdles champion Allen Johnson, who at 37 was bidding for a fourth Olympics but pulled up after the fourth hurdle of his 110 hurdles qualifying heat.Johnson said he injured a tendon in his left leg six weeks ago."I knew this was a possibility," Johnson said. "I hoped that it wouldn't happen, but it just didn't hold up. After the first hurdle, as I kept going, the pain just got progressively worse. This is really disappointing for me."Reigning Olympic 200 champion Shawn Crawford led semi-finalists in the event in 20.33 seconds with Walter Dix, a 100 Olympian, second in 20.56.Wallace Spearmon, Xavier Carter and John Capel were also among 16 to advance after Gay's stunning collapse.Two-time women's world 200 champion Allyson Felix eased up 40 meters from the finish and settled for second in her 200 quarter-final heat in 23.09, matching 100m Olympian Torri Edwards for eighth-fastest of 16 to advance.Felix finished with the 100 final and will not going for a 100-200 sweep at Beijing either, although Edwards, 100 winner Muna Lee and 100 qualifier Lauryn Williams all remain in 200 contention.Shalonda Solomon led semi-finalists in 22.68 with Marshevet Hooker next in 22.74.David Oliver, a May winner at Doha in 12.95, won his heat in 13.24 seconds to lead all 110 hurdles qualifiers.Two-time Olympic runner-up and 2007 world runner-up Terrence Trammell was second in his heat in 13.50 while David Payne, third at last year's worlds, was second in his heat in 13.39.Women's world indoor 60m hurdles champion Lolo Jones had the fastest time in 100 hurdles qualifying, winning her heat in 12.68 with 2004 Olympic champion Joanna Hayes second in the heat and overall in 12.74.Damu Cherry, who missed the 2004 trials while on a two-year doping ban, won her heat in 12.92. The 30-year-old has this year's fastest time in the world this year, a 12.47 run in May.Two-time world champion Michelle Perry, who resumed training six weeks ago after a hamstring injury, advanced in 13.13. Only three runners were eliminated in the round.Quarterfinals in the hurdles and 200 semi-finals were to be staged later Saturday with finals in both set for Sunday. Finals later Saturday include the high jump, where 2004 Olympic champion Dwight Phillips bids for a Beijing trip.

Formula 1
Hamilton wins British GP
Afp, Silverstone

Lewis Hamilton of Britain drives his McLaren Mercedes during the Formula One British Grand Prix at the Silverstone racetrack on Sunday. Photo: AFPLewis Hamilton streaked to British Grand Prix victory on Sunday, delivering a masterful drive in wet conditions to delight a vociferous home crowd and reignite his world title challenge.Consistent rain saw nearly all the drivers spin at some stage of the race and though BMW's Nick Heidfeld produced a good drive to finish second and Rubens Barrichello was third, no one could come close to Hamilton who won his home race by a staggering 68.5 seconds.The British McLaren driver produced an excellent start and a superbly aggressive opening stint to take the lead early on, before going on to close the race out maturely.The victory brings 23-year-old Hamilton his first points since winning at Monaco back in May and moves him up into a three-way tie at the top of the world championship.Hamilton now shares top spot with the Ferraris of Kimi Raikkonen who finished fourth at Silverstone and Felipe Massa who took no points from a nightmare race.Heikki Kovalainen was fifth in the other McLaren, Fernando Alonso took sixth and Jarno Trulli and Kazuki Nakajima were the others to pick up points.After solid rain throughout the morning, conditions brightened up somewhat for the race but a wet track and gusting winds still made for troublesome start conditions.Hamilton made the best start of all, shooting around the outside to squeeze into second from fourth on the grid and briefly touching wheels with pole-sitter Kovalainen.Mark Webber, his Red Bull starting from second, suffered an early spin and ended up right at the back of the field.Kovalainen led his teammate and Raikkonen after the first lap but Hamilton immediately began to apply serious pressure on the leader, forcing him to defend desperately over the next four laps.Such a sustained attack proved impossible to repel and Hamilton slipped past Kovalainen to take the lead on lap five.As the home crowd cheered their hero another Brit, David Coulthard, collided with Sebastien Vettel's Toro Rosso and both drivers ended up in the gravel and out of the race.It was an unfortunate way for Coulthard to finish his final British Grand Prix - the Red Bull veteran having announced his retirement earlier this week.Kovalainen slid into a spin on his tenth lap and allowed Raikkonen through into second where he would steadily cut the gap to Hamilton until the first round of pit stops.On lap 21 of the 60 lap race Hamilton and Raikkonen entered the pits together with the Briton emerging, by a whisker, with his lead intact.Raikkonen's pit crew controversially decided not to change tyres, a decision that saw the world champion lose significant time to the leader and also to those behind.As Raikkonen's tyres continued to deteriorate he fell further and further off the pace and after finally cutting his losses and taking new tyres he had fallen to 11th place.The rain began to fall solidly just after the halfway point of the race and Hamilton, Raikkonen and Renault's Nelson Piquet each aquaplaned off the track - the first two temporarily and Piquet for good.As havoc reigned, BMW's Robert Kubica span off and out of the race and was soon joined by Jenson Button.Honda's Barrichello was now fitted with the extreme wet tyres and lapping way faster than anyone else, he worked his way up into third place behind Hamilton and Heidfeld who had steadily manoeuvred into second.The leader stopped for a second time on lap 37 but, with the rain beginning to clear, prudently not opted for extreme wet tyres.With 10 laps to go Hamilton had opened up a lead of over a minute and he went on to lap everyone behind third placed Barrichello in a supreme display of dominance.Raikkonen staged a late charge to take fourth while Heidfeld and Barrichello cruised to welcome podium finishes.

Cricket
Zim pullout one-off
CricInfo, undated

Zimbabwe's decision to pull out of the ICC World Twenty20 in England next year is just a one-off decision, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has said. The decision cleared the roadblock for the competition to be staged in England, but Zimbabwe retained its Full Member status in the ICC, a compromise outgoing ICC president Ray Mali termed as a "win-win solution".The ICC statement read: "The Zimbabwe delegation have agreed to take this decision in the greater interest of world cricket and the ICC. This recommendation should be viewed as a one-off and will not be taken as a precedent."The boards of England and South Africa had raised the issue of Zimbabwe's Full Member status going into the ICC board meeting in Dubai, but India is believed to have played a major role in brokering the compromise. Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, said Norman Arendse, the Cricket South Africa president, highlighted Nelson Mandela's recent comments, in which he mentioned "the tragic failure of leadership in our neighbouring Zimbabwe"."This statement was quoted during the board meeting by Norman Arendse, the chairman of Cricket South Africa and had a significant impact," Clarke told the Independent. "Nelson Mandela is a legendary figure and, as Mr Arendse said, he is a modern-day saint. His pronouncements carry weight." But it was Sharad Pawar, the BCCI president, who managed to persuade the Zimbabwe delegation, led by Peter Chingoka, to pull out."We have reached a conclusion that is undoubtedly the right one for cricket," Clarke told the Times. "Norman [Arendse] was very strong and when Sharad [Pawar] determined what he thought was the right course of action, there was no doubt what would happen. He made a very, very significant decision."I am very pleased with the agreement. We made our position absolutely clear all along, that Zimbabwe would not be coming, and that was the right position," Clarke said. "I was determined that it would be settled by us in the boardroom and that our players would never again be put in the situation where they had to make decisions." David Morgan, the new ICC president, had said the issue of Zimbabwe's membership was never discussed at the board meeting.Meanwhile, Haroon Lorgat, the new ICC chief executive, praised Chingoka's role in effecting a resolution, and said politics must be kept out of cricket. "We cannot as a sports governing body be mixing the issues of politics with sport," Lorgat told the Gulf News. "I was very encouraged by the robustness of the debate around the executive board table but at the end of the day the issues of politics and sport should be kept separate."The Zimbabwe Cricket Board president Peter Chingoka helped broker the solution. It would have been extremely difficult if Chingoka was not in favour of the recommendation," he said. "I'm now confident that with the goodwill that has come through in the process of our deliberations, everybody will look at the big picture."Zimbabwe Cricket will have to ratify the decision made by their delegation. An ICC sub-committee will oversee Zimbabwe's reintegration into mainstream cricket, and possibly the Future Tours Programme. The committee will be headed by Julian Hunte, the president of the West Indies Cricket Board, and will include Arjuna Ranatunga, the president of Sri Lanka Cricket, and an ICC official yet to be confirmed.

Cricket
Zim pullout one-off
CricInfo, undated

Zimbabwe's decision to pull out of the ICC World Twenty20 in England next year is just a one-off decision, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has said. The decision cleared the roadblock for the competition to be staged in England, but Zimbabwe retained its Full Member status in the ICC, a compromise outgoing ICC president Ray Mali termed as a "win-win solution".The ICC statement read: "The Zimbabwe delegation have agreed to take this decision in the greater interest of world cricket and the ICC. This recommendation should be viewed as a one-off and will not be taken as a precedent."The boards of England and South Africa had raised the issue of Zimbabwe's Full Member status going into the ICC board meeting in Dubai, but India is believed to have played a major role in brokering the compromise. Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, said Norman Arendse, the Cricket South Africa president, highlighted Nelson Mandela's recent comments, in which he mentioned "the tragic failure of leadership in our neighbouring Zimbabwe"."This statement was quoted during the board meeting by Norman Arendse, the chairman of Cricket South Africa and had a significant impact," Clarke told the Independent. "Nelson Mandela is a legendary figure and, as Mr Arendse said, he is a modern-day saint. His pronouncements carry weight." But it was Sharad Pawar, the BCCI president, who managed to persuade the Zimbabwe delegation, led by Peter Chingoka, to pull out."We have reached a conclusion that is undoubtedly the right one for cricket," Clarke told the Times. "Norman [Arendse] was very strong and when Sharad [Pawar] determined what he thought was the right course of action, there was no doubt what would happen. He made a very, very significant decision."I am very pleased with the agreement. We made our position absolutely clear all along, that Zimbabwe would not be coming, and that was the right position," Clarke said. "I was determined that it would be settled by us in the boardroom and that our players would never again be put in the situation where they had to make decisions." David Morgan, the new ICC president, had said the issue of Zimbabwe's membership was never discussed at the board meeting.Meanwhile, Haroon Lorgat, the new ICC chief executive, praised Chingoka's role in effecting a resolution, and said politics must be kept out of cricket. "We cannot as a sports governing body be mixing the issues of politics with sport," Lorgat told the Gulf News. "I was very encouraged by the robustness of the debate around the executive board table but at the end of the day the issues of politics and sport should be kept separate."The Zimbabwe Cricket Board president Peter Chingoka helped broker the solution. It would have been extremely difficult if Chingoka was not in favour of the recommendation," he said. "I'm now confident that with the goodwill that has come through in the process of our deliberations, everybody will look at the big picture."Zimbabwe Cricket will have to ratify the decision made by their delegation. An ICC sub-committee will oversee Zimbabwe's reintegration into mainstream cricket, and possibly the Future Tours Programme. The committee will be headed by Julian Hunte, the president of the West Indies Cricket Board, and will include Arjuna Ranatunga, the president of Sri Lanka Cricket, and an ICC official yet to be confirmed.

Cricket
ACC awards Akram
Sachin best Asian batsman
Sports Reporter

AKRAM KHAN Former national skipper Akram Khan received the Asian Cricket Legend Award-Bangladesh on the inaugural Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Awards night held at Mahata Palace in Karachi on Saturday evening.Regarded as one of the best and most influential batsmen in the country, Akram played eight Test matches and struck five half-centuries in 44 one-day internationals before retiring from international cricket in May 2003. Akram's greatest legacy in Bangladesh cricket remains his match-winning 68 against Holland in an ICC Trophy match in 1997 when all seemed lost. Chasing 141 from 33 overs, Bangladesh lost their top-order for just 13 runs when Akram, the then skipper, played diligently in the successful chase. That win took Bangladesh into the semifinals of the competition and the eventual ICC Trophy triumph ensured that they obtained the ODI and Test status.Akram began his career in the early 1980s playing for Bangladesh Railways before moving on to giants Abahani and then ended his club career with Old DOHS in the 2006-07 season.He was touring Pakistan as a national selector with the Bangladesh team when he received the award.Former India and Pakistan captains Sunil Gavaskar and Imran Khan were also honoured with special awards in the same category for both their respective countries.But the night belonged mainly to Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, who was named the best Asian one-day batsman, and three Sri Lankans. Tendulkar, who is recovering from a groin injury, could not make it to the ceremony and India ODI captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni collected the award on his behalf.The three Lankans who walked away with top awards were wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara (Best Asian Test batsman), spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan and Farveez Maharoof who were named the best Asian Test and ODI bowlers respectively.The ACC also gave away a special award of 'best administrator' to Colonel (retd) Nur Khan, former president of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), who played a significant role in forming the ACC.The septuagenarian Nur Khan who took his award from former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga got a standing ovation from the gathering at the ceremony.Khan, who had also remained president of Pakistan Hockey and Squash Federations, is credited of playing a big role in promoting Pakistan and Indian cricket at the world level and also producing a lineage of great sportsmen.ACC CEO Syed Ashraful Huq, who was also the former general secretary of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), was awarded for lifetime achievement in cricket administration.PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf, who took over as ACC president, said the awards were meant to honour and recognise the outstanding performers of the continent."Our sportsmen need to be recognised and rewarded for their achievements specially when Asia has now become a powerhouse in world cricket," he said.

Tennis
The Championships Wimbledon
Sister versus sister
Afp, London

US star Serena Williams celebrates after winning her Wimbledon semifinal against China's Zheng Jie in London on Thursday. Photo: AFPVenus and Serena Williams, who boast six Wimbledon titles between them, will clash for the third time in an All England Club final on Saturday.Venus, the four-time winner and defending champion, booked her place with a 6-1, 7-6 (7/3) win over Russian fifth seed Elena Dementieva to reach her seventh singles final.Serena, the younger of the two sisters, then ended wildcard Zheng Jie's hopes of becoming the first Chinese player to reach a Grand Slam final with a battling 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) win.The 26-year-old Serena will be looking to complete a hat-trick of Wimbledon wins over her sister having come out on top in the 2002 and 2003 finals.Venus inists the final will be fully competitive despite scepticism in the past over whether the two perform to the maximum of their ability when they share the same court."I find the question pretty offensive because I'm extremely professional in everything that I do on and off the court," said Venus, the holder of six Grand Slam titles."I contribute my best in my sport, and I also have a ton of respect for myself and my family. So any mention of that is extremely disrespectful for who I am and my family."Serena, 11 kilos heavier and more than 11cm taller than Zheng, had too much brawn for the world 133, who had made her mark by knocking out top seed Ana Ivanovic in the third round."She pushed me and really played a great match," said Serena of an opponent she had comfortably defeated in the first round here four years ago.Zheng was left to regret a great opportunity to take the semifinal to a decider when she held set point in the 10th game of the second set but Williams was able to call on her powerful smash to rescue herself."She played like she had nothing to lose. I was able to hit a smash on that set point. I didn't really want to go into a third set," added the American sixth seed who will be facing her sister in a seventh Grand Slam final."I'm looking forward to playing Venus in the final. She'll be the toughest opponent I have faced."We haven't played each other in a Grand Slam final for five years but that's because our rankings fell or we were in the same side of the draw. I guess this is a new start for both of us."Serena's last Wimbledon final appearance was in 2004, when she lost to a teenage Maria Sharapova.

Symonds, Hussey boost Australia
Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:50 GMT

Andrew Symonds hit the top score ofp 87 and David Hussey supported with 50 to help Australia set West Indies 283 to win the fourth One-day International on Friday. Symonds struck 10 fours and a pair of sixes from 78 balls, and Hussey smote one four and two sixes from 51 balls, as Australia, sent in to bat, reached 282 for eight from their allocation of 00 overs on a hard, true Warner Park pitch. Dreadlocked Symonds and ODI newcomer Hussey put Australia back on a track, after the visitors wobbled to 129 for four in the 29th over. When Symonds was caught at mid-off off Fidel Edwards in the 47th over, they had added 127 for the fifth wicket. Australia lost James Hopes caught at mid-wicket for a first-ball duck off Edwards next ball, and as they chased quick runs late, Hussey was caught inside the deep mid-wicket boundary off West Indies captain Chris Gayle in the 48th over before Luke Ronchi was caught inside the long-off boundary for 12 in the final over. Australia had started steadily before Shane Watson was caught behind off Daren Powell for 20 in the eighth over, and Shaun Marsh was also caught behind off the same bowler for 16 to leave the visitors on 56 for two in the 12th over. Michael Clarke, leading Australia for the first time in an ODI, joined Mike Hussey, David's elder brother, and they stabilised the innings with a stand of 60 for third wicket before they both fell within in the space of five overs. Hussey was caught on the deep mid-wicket boundary for 11 mistiming a pull at a short ball from Dwayne Bravo in the 24th over, and Clarke was adjudged lbw for 36 to become left-arm spin bowler Nikita Miller's first wicket in ODIs. West Indies made two changes to their line-up. They dropped Andre Fletcher and Sulieman Benn, and brought in Shawn Findlay and Miller in to make their ODI debuts. Australia are making just one change, bringing David Hussey in for his ODI debut for their injured captain Ricky Ponting, whose stiff left wrist has sidelined him for the match, so that Clarke will lead Australia for the first time in an ODI. Australia have an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, after winning the opening match by 84 runs in St. Vincent, the rain-affected second ODI last Friday by 63 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis Method, and the third ODI last Sunday by seven wickets.

Pakistan crush hapless Bangladesh
Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:05 GMT


Pakistan crushed a hapless Bangladesh by ten wickets in the inconsequential last Super League match in the Asia Cup after paceman Abdur Rauf took a career-best 3-24 at National Stadium here on Friday. The 29-year-old rattled Bangladesh's top order to help Pakistan bowl out the visitors for just 115 in 38.2 overs after the tourists won the toss and elected to bat in overcast conditions. Pakistan openers Nasir Jamshed scored 52 not out and Salman Butt made an unbeaten 56 to see the home team through at a canter. The paltry target proved no obstacle whatsoever for the home team as Jamshed and Butt thrashed an innocuous looking Bangladesh attack to all corners of the park. Butt hit ten boundaries during his 62-ball knock, while Jamshed notched five boundaries and two sixes during his 56 balls. With nothing to play for except pride since titleholders Sri Lanka and India have already qualified for the July 6 final, Bangladesh's batsmen never looked at ease against disciplined Pakistan bowling. Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik said it was the "complete" performance by his team. "It's disappointing that we could not reach the final but we still gave a complete performance against Bangladesh and ended the tournament on a high. Our bowlers were very good, especially Rauf," said Malik. Rauf, whose previous best of 3-45 came in his debut match against Zimbabwe earlier this year, had opener Nazimuddin (three), captain Mohammad Ashraful (14) and Tamim Iqbal (26) out in his incisive seven-over spell. Iqbal and Ashraful had the only productive stand of 41 for the second wicket. Ashraful hit Rauf for a six before edging the next ball straight to slip. In contrast to Malik, Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons admitted his team had rarely performed so badly. "I think the boys were already thinking of the flight back home and so gave one of their worst performances. We simply couldn't bat and never seemed on course for a good, respectable total," said Siddons, a former Australian player. "Our batting was miserable and never gave us any chance in the match." Alok Kapali (17) and Mushfiqur Rahim (15) offered little resistance and once Rahim was run out, paceman Rao Iftikhar struck twice with the wickets of Kapali and Mashrafe Mortaza (one) to finish with 2-20. Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal took 2-19. Pakistan dropped out-of-form allrounder Shahid Afridi from the line-up which beat India on Wednesday. Malik, who missed the last match due to dehydration, returned after regaining full fitness. Bangladesh remained unchanged from the line-up which lost to Sri Lanka on Monday but that consistency of selection counting for nothing.

Scoreboard:

Bangladesh:
Tamim
Iqbal c Younus b Rauf
26
Nazimuddin
c Malik b Rauf
3
Mohammad Ashraful
c Misbah b Rauf
14
Raqibul Hasan
c Iftikhar b Tanveer
0
Mushfiqur Rahim
run out
15
Alok Kapali
c Younus b Iftikhar
17
Mahmudullah Riyad
c Misbah b Malik
11
Farhad Reza
st Sarfraz b Ajmal
3
Mashrafe Mortaza
lbw b Iftikhar
1
Abdur Razzak
b Ajmal
9
Shahadat Hossain
not out
0
Extras:
(lb4, nb1, w11)
16
Total:
115
Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Nazimuddin), 2-47 (Ashraful), 3-48 (Hasan), 4-49 (Iqbal), 5-73 (Kapali), 6-92 (Rahim), 7-99 (Mahmudullah), 8-100 (Mortaza), 9-113 (Razzak) Bowling:
Tanveer
7-0-31-1 (1nb)
Rauf
8-1-24-3 (3w)
Iftikhar
10-6-20-2 (2w)
Ajmal
8.2-0-19-2 (5w)
Malik
5-0-17-1 (1w)
Overs:
38.2

Pakistan:

Salman Butt not out 56 Nasir Jamshed not out 52 Extras: (b1, lb4, w3) 8 Total: (for no loss) 116 Did not bat: Younus Khan, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul Haq, Rao Iftikhar, Sarfraz Ahmed, Sohail Tanveer, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rauf Bowling: Mashrafe 3-0-9-0,(1w) Hossain 7-0-40-0 (1w), Razzak 7-0-42-0 (1w), Mahmudullah 2-0-15-0, Reza 0.4-0-5-0 Overs: 19.4 Result: Pakistan won by ten wickets

Toss: Bangladesh

Umpires: Tony Hill (NZL), Ian Gould (ENG) TV umpire: Gamini Silva (SRI) Match referee: Alan Hurst (AUS)