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DHAKA TRIBUNE Wednesday, January 7, 2015
13 Proteas seal
win to keep top ranking in Tests
14 Australia top
four punish India
14 Barcelona sack
sports director, Puyol quits
Sport
(L) A determined Soumya Sarkar lifts weights while a cheerful Anamul Haque arrives at the home of cricket, the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, yesterday
Tale of the overlooked Tigers BCB releases South n Mazhar Uddin Even a year ago, he was one of the most important names in the Tigers’ bowling lineup and spearheaded the spin department. But, things have changed drastically for the most experienced cricketer of the country, Abdur Razzak. The 32-year old veteran cricketer suffered a heartache when he was overlooked in Bangladesh’s 15-man squad for the 2015 ICC World Cup in Australia-New Zealand. Ever since the West Indies series in the Caribbean islands last year, Razzak’s performances came into question. Following a horrible outing in the West Indies, the left-arm spinner was under the scanner having conceded 76 runs for a solitary wicket from his quota of 10 overs. That proved to be the final straw for Razzak as he was axed for the bilateral series at home against Zimbabwe last month. And following the announcement of his omission, Razzak, a 153-ODI campaigner, was visibly disappointed. “Every cricketer dreams of playing the World Cup for his country, so do I. Obviously, I am a bit disappointed as I bowled well in the Dhaka [Premier Division Cricket] League and I thought of getting the opportunity. But, this is not in my hands as the selectors are there to decide and they have done what they thought better,” said Razzak. Two other cricketers who will curse their luck are openers Imrul Kayes and Shamsur Rahman. With Tamim Iqbal and Anamul Haque virtually guaran-
Maradona backs Neuer for Ballon D’Or n
AFP, Havana
Argentina legend Diego Maradona said on Monday that he believes Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer should pip Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to the Ballon D’Or. “Neither Messi, nor Ronaldo, my favourite is Neuer, he’s the one who deserves it the most,” said the outspoken former star player and coach during a visit to Cuba. Maradona arrived in the island nation on Monday to take part in some sports programmes with Venezuelan television station Telesur. But before that, speaking to Radio Habana Cuba, he said “Ronaldo and Messi were resting” during the last year while Neuer was winning the World Cup with Germany. Ballon D’Or will be presented during an awards ceremony on January 12.l
teed a place in the playing XI, let alone the 15-man squad, all that was left to be decided was the selection of the backup opener. In came seamer-allrounder Soumya Sarkar who has played just one ODI, against Zimbabwe last month. While Shamsur had a terrific start to his career, Imrul was an integral part of the Tigers’ setup in the 2011 ICC World Cup, including a brilliant knock against
RAZZAK
KAYES
England in Chittagong. Like Razzak, Imrul also expressed his dejection after missing out on the final squad. “I was playing well recently which made me hopeful of getting into the World Cup squad. But, I was disappointed at not being selected,” said Imrul. Imrul added that if he had played for Abahani or any other big club in the just-concluded DPL, he would have received more opportunities to prove his worth. Imrul featured for Kalabagan Krira Chakra, who were ousted before the Super League phase got underway.
Shamsur on the other hand had no complaints with the final squad and informed that if he was a selector, he would have picked the same 15. “According to me this is a very good squad and I would have done the same thing which the selectors did. I think this team will do well in the World Cup. I have no complaints and the selectors have done the right thing,” said Shamsur.
NAEEM
SHAMSUR
Last but not the least, Naeem Islam is perhaps the most unlucky of the quartet. The Mohammedan all-rounder had a stellar campaign in the DPL, smashing 634 runs – third-highest from 16 matches at an average of 63.40, including eight half-centuries. While with the leather, the right-arm off-spinner scalped 20 wickets at 17.17. Although Imrul, Shamsur and Naeem will have the opportunity to set the record straight in the 2019 ICC World Cup in England and Wales, Razzak can might as well kiss his World Cup hopes goodbye. l
Africa fixtures n Minhaz Uddin Khan The 2015 ICC World Cup in Australia-New Zealand will be the only occasion when Bangladesh will play away from home this year. With the exception of the global showpiece event Down Under, Bangladesh will host all the bilateral series scheduled for this year, including the South Africa series in July-August. The Bangladesh Cricket Board yesterday announced the itinerary of the month-long bilateral series involving the Tigers and the Proteas. The two sides will face each other in two Twenty20 internationals, two Tests and three one-day internationals. The Springboks are scheduled to reach Dhaka on June 30. The series will begin with a T20 warm-up game in Fatullah on July 3 before the commencement of the T20Is, slated for July 5 and 7 in Mirpur. The two T20Is will be followed by the three-ODI series. The first two ODIs will be played in Mirpur on July 10 and 12 with the third and final match taking place in Chittagong on July 15. The port city will also host the first Test from July 21 while the second Test will be held in Mirpur from July 30. The series, however, might be in jeopardy due to the monsoon season. The cricket season in Bangladesh usually begins in October and ends in May.
It is therefore no surprise that only three international series – the 2000 Asia Cup, the tri-nation Kitply Cup in 2008 and the three ODIs against India last year in June - have been played during this period in the history of Bangladesh cricket. Explaining the situation, BCB CEO
SOUTH AFRICA TOUR OF BANGLADESH 1st T20I 2nd T20I 1st ODI 2nd ODI 3rd ODI 1st Test 2nd Test
July 5, Dhaka July 7, Dhaka July 10, Dhaka July 12, Dhaka July 15, Chittagong July 21-25, Chittagong July 30-August 3, Dhaka
Nizamuddin Chowdhury said, “This tour was set four or five years ago in the FTP (Future Tours Programme). We tried to change the schedule but we had to match the timing with South Africa.” BCB media committee chairman Jalal Younus on the other hand informed that Pakistan will tour the country before South Africa. 1992 World Cup champions Pakistan are expected to visit the country in April for three ODIs, two Tests and a T20I. India and Australia are also scheduled to tour Bangladesh this year. l
Did you know? Rogers & Warner’s stand of 200 marked the first time since Jan 2012 that Australia have produced a 200+ opening partnership
MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK
Football transfer window extended n Shishir Hoque The inter-club local players’ transfer window for the upcoming football season has been deferred for the second time as the time frame is extended till January 30 following requests from six premier league clubs yesterday. The already altered deadline day was suppose to end today, but the professional football league committee of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) pushed back the window for another three weeks. This is the second time BFF has deferred the transfer window that opened on November 11, 2014 and was scheduled to close on December 11, 2014. Mohammedan Sporting Club and Brothers Union were the first, on Monday, to send BFF letters requesting to extend the date, a night before four other clubs – Muktijoddha SKC, BJMC, Farashganj and Feni Soccer Club – walked the path. Bangladesh Premier League champions Sheikh Jamal DC and four-time professional league winners Abahani Limited officials showed a bit of frustration over the postponement of the window as the top two finishers from last season were the first clubs to begin their preparation for the new season. BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag, however, said the deferment of the transfer window will not affect the kick-off of the season’s opening tournament Federation Cup which is scheduled to be held in February after the Bangabandhu Gold Cup.l
Bashundhara boost for Sheikh Russel KC
Shakib out to change Renegades’ fortune
n Raihan Mahmood
n Minhaz Uddin Khan
Bangladesh Premier Football League outfit Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra received a major boost with Bashundhara Group arriving as their main sponsor. In a recent amendment the club made Sayem Sobhan Anvir, the managing
As a result Russel now have their own ground at the Bashundhara Residential Area director of Bashundhara Group, the chairman of Sheikh Russel KC. Long serving president of the club, Nurul Alam Chowdhury, admitted the development and said, “We did not have any post of club chairman. Sayem Sobhan was willing to help the team
and I would like to mention that not only football, but Bashundhara Group will be assisting Sheikh Russel in all the sports disciplines they participate in. The club decided to create a new post and we unanimously selected Sayem Sobhan as the chairman.” As a result Russel now have their own ground at the Bashundhara Residential Area. Bashundhara Group provided the ground for intensive practise while the players and the coaching staff will also reside within the area. The club are also planning to buy their own team-bus for convenient movement. Russel have already appointed Montenegrin Dragan Djukanovic as the coach of the team while the search for quality foreign booters are also underway. Last year Russel finished sixth among 10 teams in the Bangladesh Premier Football League.l
The world number 1 international Twenty20 allrounder Shakib al Hasan joined his Big Bash League 2014 side Melbourne Renegades yesterday and the premier Bangladeshi is all set to make his debut for the side today afternoon in their away game against Hobart Hurricanes. Shakib, who featured for Adelaide Strikers in the previous edition, is thrilled to join the Renegades and in a video published by the franchise, Shakib said, “I had the opportunity to play for the Strikers and that was a very good experience for me. I hopefully will put the experience together and put some performance for renegades.” “I hope to contribute for the team (Renegades) it doesn’t matter even if it is scoring one run or taking one wicket or even save one run in the field. As
long as I am contributing for the team and the team is doing well, I am happy,” said Shakib. Renegades are lurking at the bottom of the table with a single win in four matches, but Shakib was optimistic of is side bouncing back through the game today. “Well, the momentum is very important. Starting well in a game is very crucial and you need to carry that throughout the game because the game is very short. You need to be on your feet all the time,” said the Bangladesh one-day international vice-captain. “I hope all of you (the fans) will support us. Though the fact that we didn’t have good results earlier, I hope we will be able to bounce back and win the game (today),” said Shakib. Melbourne Renegades and Hobart Hurricanes will face off at 2.30pm BST and will be telecast on Star Sports 4.l