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The Bangladesh Under-19 team wrote another glorious chapter in its dream run on Sunday.
   The unbeaten colts of coach Alister de Winter took sweet revenge for their Afro-Asia Cup defeat to Sri Lanka battering the islanders by 62 runs to post their third successive win in the triangular meet at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan in Savar.
   Sri Lanka had defeated Bangladesh by eight wickets in India last month, which eventually cost them a place in the final of the juvenile meet despite victories over Zimbabwe, Pakistan and South Africa in the latter stages of that competition.
   But this time, the home side did not allow the Sri Lankans a sniff of a chance especially after one-down batsman Raqibul Hasan led Bangladesh’s way with a buccaneering century that ultimately sealed the fate of the visitors.
   The right-handed Raqibul hit 121 off just 112 balls to propel the Under-19s to a healthy 281-7. His knock featured 10 boundaries and a six.
   Along the way he shared 138-run fourth-wicket stand with Mehrab Hossain Jr who notched up an 80-ball 54.
   Faced with such a tall chase, the Lankans never came to terms with the match equation after losing six wickets with only 78 runs on the board.
   They finally managed to reach 219 for seven after exhausting their share of 50 overs thanks to an unbeaten 97 by skipper Angelo Mathews.
   Mathews, who got no assistance from his mates, smote eight fours and four sixes in his 110-ball knock that proved to the only solace for his beaten teammates.
   Unlike the batting, the bowlers produced a team effort for the local U-19s to keep the opponents at bay.
   Dollar Mahmud and Nabil Samad earned two wickets apiece while the others went to Kamrul Islam, Ishraq Sonnet and Sorawardi Shuvo respectively.

Cricket’s six-nation Asia Cup due to take place in Pakistan early next year has been postponed after India complained that their players faced a gruelling schedule, officials said Sunday.
   ‘The tournament will be organised later at a mutually convenient date,’ Indian cricket chief Sharad Pawar told reporters in Mumbai after a meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
   Hosts Pakistan agreed to India’s request to cancel the limited-over tournament to give Indian players respite from their non-stop schedule, officials said.
   Asia’s premier event featuring India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates and Oman was to be organised by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in Pakistan from February 16-28 next year.
   The event was sandwiched between India’s tour of Pakistan in January-February and England’s tour of India starting in the last week of February.
   ‘India play three Tests and five one-dayers in Pakistan and another three Tests and seven one-dayers at home against England, so another one-day series is not a good idea,’ a BCCI source told AFP earlier Sunday..
   The biennial Asia Cup was planned by Asian Cricket Council chief Jagmohan Dalmiya, who stepped down as its president on Saturday following his faction’s defeat in last week’s BCCI elections.
   Pawar is certain to replace Dalmiya as the ACC president since India’s term to head the continental body lasts until June.
   The Indian team has been on the road since August, playing in Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe before returning home for 12 one-dayers against Sri Lanka and South Africa in November.
   Rahul Dravid’s men will complete a three-Test series against Sri Lanka on December 22, tour Pakistan in January-February, play England at home from March 8-April 28 and then tour the West Indies in May-June.
   The postponement of the Asia Cup is a blow for its TV rights holder, ESPN-Star Sports network, which last week lost out on the India-Sri Lanka Test series to rival Zee Network.
   The pan-Asian ESPN-Star Sports, jointly owned by Disney and News Corporation, is involved in a bitter struggle with Zee for control of the lucrative Indian market.
   The BCCI is expected to award by the end of the year satellite TV rights for home matches until 2009.

Chittagong Division are poised for a big total in the first innings of the Ispahani Mirzapore Tea National Cricket League third round four-day match, after finishing the opening day on 334 for six riding on the three half-centuries at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
   At the Khulna Divisional Stadium, all-rounder Manjarul Islam Rana hit the sixth century of the league to give the home side a commanding position with 308 for eight against the lowly Barisal.
   But no such individual brilliance was seen in the other match at the Bogra Shaheed Chandu Stadium, where Rajshahi gathered a moderate 236 for eight against Sylhet after the end of first day’s action.
   Dhaka-Chittagong
   Chittagong may have lost the one-day match to the hosts on the previous day, but their batting gave enough indication there will not be any let up on the league leaders in the four-dayer.
   It became evident when the visitors dominated the proceeding all through the opening day to finish with 334 that saw their three batsmen scoring a half-century each.
   One of the most pleasing things for Chittagong is that two of the half-centuries came from the bats of Masumuddowla and Nazim Udiin, who had been struggling to get runs previously.
   Nazim scored highest 86 off 151 balls while Masum added 73. The other half-century for the Chittagong team, who are without their two key batsmen Aftab Ahmed and Wassal Uddin, came from in-form Faisal Hossain, who remained unbeaten on 77.
   Mohammad Rafique, who returned with three for 59 off 24 overs, is the only Dhaka bowler to have earned some respect from the visiting side.
   Khulna-Barisal
   Khulna lost their first three wickets in the space of 28 runs but it caused a little problem to them as in-form Manjarul Islam came out with one more brilliant effort.
   The left-handed middle-order batsman first repaired the early damage with a 70-run stand with Tushar Imran (34) and then steered the home side to a big total with a patient 108 off 224 balls. His unwavering innings contained 11 fours and two sixes.
   Manjarul, who made an unbeaten 76 in the one-day match, got invaluable assistances from wicket-keeper Sagir Hossain and left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, both of whom departed adding 56 each.
   Rajshahi-Sylhet
   At Bogra, where Rajshahi are being treated as the visitors and Sylhet as the hosts, runs were very hard to come by as Rajshahi collected only 236 for eight in the 90 overs of the day.
   Opener Forhad Hossain fended off 142 balls to score only 48 while Naeem Islam managed to get 58 runs playing 108 balls. At close, Mushfiqur Rahman was unbeaten with 15 off 60 balls.
   Hasibul Hossain and Enamul Hossain grabbed three wickets each for Sylhet giving away 43 and 53 runs respectively.

Pakistan’s remarkable Test series win over England has given the nation something to cheer about following the killer quake two months ago.
   Former cricketing greats and local media on Sunday lauded Inzamam-ul-Haq’s men after they humbled the tourists by an innings and 100 runs in the third and final Test here on Saturday to clinch the series 2-0.
   ‘It is a great occasion for the whole nation and has given every Pakistani a moment of joy,’ said 1992 World Cup-winning Pakistani captain Imran Khan.
   Pakistan suffered their worst ever natural disaster on October 8 when an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale killed around 80,000 people and left millions homeless.
   ‘With the nation still recovering from the quake, our cricketers have given us something to cheer about by convincingly beating England,’ said an editorial in country’s premier daily the Dawn.
   The Pakistani team donated 10 per cent of their series earnings to the quake relief fund, with match-winning fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar saying he dedicated his 17 wickets in the series to those who lost their lives in the disaster.
   ‘My heart goes out for all those who died in the quake and I dedicate all my wickets to the quake victims,’ Akhtar said.
   All the newspapers carried front-page pictures of the triumphant Pakistani team with captain Inzamam holding the trophy.
   ‘Pak make Poms eat humble pie,’ said a front-page headline in The Nation.
   ‘Akhtar and Danish Kaneria stamp all over Ashes heroes to carve out a great win for Pakistan,’ the newspaper added, referring to Akhtar’s 5-71 and leg-spinner Kaneria’s 4-52 which triggered a dramatic England collapse.
   England, well-placed at lunch on 201-2, lost their last eight wickets in the space of 47 runs on the fifth and final day on Saturday to hand Pakistan their first series win in two years.
   Khan said Inzamam and Akhtar were the heroes of the win.
   ‘Inzamam was magnificent and he not only scored big but also led from the front. The other architect was Akhar who silenced his critics and without him Pakistan would not have been able to force wins,’ said Khan.
   ‘Akhtar’s speed and controlled variations decimated England’s batting. England could never recover from the loss of their captain in the first Test at Multan and lost the series then and there.’
   Former Pakistani captain and TV commentator Ramiz Raja said the victory was the beginning of a new ear in Pakistan cricket.
   ‘What a win!’ said Raja in his column in the Times newspaper.
   ‘Inzamam as a captain has not put a foot wrong this year. His calmness and sobriety in tense situations helped his team and the victory over England will usher a new beginning for this young team.
   ‘It is a win the team can dedicate to all those who died in the calamity. It is something which can bring more laurels to the country in near future.’

Bad weather continued to play havoc with the first cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka as play was cancelled for the third successive day here on Sunday.
   Cyclone Baaz, which had weakened into a depression over the Bay of Bengal, brought more rain to the southeast coast of India and drenched this southern metropolis.
   Umpires Daryl Harper and Mark Benson had one look at the waterlogged Chepauk outfield and abandoned any hopes of play before the scheduled start at 9:00am (0330 GMT).
   ‘I can’t see much play over the remaining two days either unless the sun breaks out soon,’ Harper said. ‘The ground has really taken a pounding from the rain.’

England’s touring cricketers joined former Pakistani players for an exhibition golf match here Sunday to raise funds for earthquake victims. Led by vice-captain Marcus Trescothick, the England cricketers raised three million rupees (US$ 50,000) after playing a ‘golf for life’ contest at the Royal Palm Beach course.
   ‘It was fantastic to play golf for a noble cause and since we arrived here after the tragic event we have tried our best to contribute,’ said Trescothick.
   Pakistan’s massive October 8 earthquake, measured at 7.6 on the Richter scale, left over 80,000 people dead and made over three million people homeless. The England team had donated 10 million rupees (100,000 pounds) after visiting the injured at an Islamabad hospital soon after their arrival.
   Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer and former captains Zaheer Abbas, Aamir Sohail and Salim Malik also featured in the exhibition match. Lahore Club golf director Jeremy Frankel said the shirts signed by England and Pakistan cricketers would be auctioned next week to raise more funds.
   ‘When we invited the England team their manager Phil Neale appreciated the idea and instantly gave his approval,’ said Frankel, an Englishman.

Real Madrid held on to beat an attack-minded Getafe 1-0 despite having England captain David Beckham sent off 11 minutes into the second half of Saturday’s Primera Liga match.
   Ronaldo returned from injury to put Real in front after just 18 minutes but it was their city rivals who dominated in the Bernabeu.
   Real were put under further pressure after the break when Beckham’s rash challenge from behind on striker Riki earned him his fourth dismissal since joining the Spanish club in 2003.
   Getafe coach Bernd Schuster said: ‘The difference between the sides was simply in the accuracy of the shooting. We were certainly not outplayed.
   ‘We are playing very well at present with a lot of confidence and we showed that here today.’
   Real moved up to fourth with 25 points, three behind leaders Barcelona who travel to Villarreal on Sunday when second-placed Osasuna visit mid-table Malaga.
   Earlier on Saturday, Celta Vigo climbed to third on 26 points by beating struggling visitors Real Betis 2-1.
   Uruguayan midfielder Fabian Canobbio put Celta ahead after five minutes, and Brazilian striker Fernando Baiano doubled the lead with a header in the 20th minute.
   Betis pulled a goal back in the last minute with a header from Brazilian forward Edu just before their defender Oscar Lopez was sent off.
   Llorenc Serra Ferrer’s side, who have not won away in the league this season, slipped to the foot of the table on goal difference after Athletic Bilbao equalised in the sixth minute of added time to draw 1-1 at home with Atletico Madrid.
   Schuster had promised an attacking performance in the Bernabeu and the visitors stayed true to their word.
   Riki headed just wide of the post after one minute and grazed the bar soon after with a shot from a narrow angle.
   Although the visitors controlled the game, Real took the lead with their only shot on target in the first half.
   Ronaldo played a one-two with Zinedine Zidane after 18 minutes and burst through the centre before firing in off the post with the outside of his foot.
   However, television replays showed the Brazilian had controlled the ball with his arm on his way through.
   Beckham’s expulsion, for an unnecessary challenge on a player posing no danger, forced Real to defend even deeper in the second half but Getafe could not make the extra man count.
   In spite of the win, the Bernabeu crowd showed their frustration by whistling the Real players off the pitch at the end of the match.

Arsenal slipped 14 points off the Premier League pace when they lost 2-0 at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday while champions Chelsea and second-placed Manchester United won.
   John Terry headed his first league goal for a year after 62 minutes as Chelsea beat Middlesbrough 1-0 to move to 40 points.
   Manchester United ended an emotional week with a win as they easily accounted for Portsmouth 3-0 at Old Trafford on the day of the Belfast funeral of their greatest-ever player, George Best.
   United are second on 30 points, Liverpool are third with 28 after beating Wigan Athletic 3-0 while Tottenham Hotspur have 27 after a 3-2 home win over bottom club Sunderland.
   Arsenal and Bolton have 26 points, first-half goals by Abdoulaye Faye and Stelios Giannakopoulos having given Wanderers their eighth straight home win in all competitions.
   United’s game against Portsmouth was preceded by a minute’s applause for Best, marking the end of a remarkable week of tributes for the Irish winger, who died eight days ago aged 59.
   Manager Alex Ferguson attended Best’s funeral earlier on Saturday before flying back for the match.
   United won it comfortably with a 20th minute header by Paul Scholes, a shot by Wayne Rooney in the 80th and a delightful close-range chip by Ruud van Nistelrooy five minutes from time.
   Chelsea rode their luck for the first hour against a lively Middlesbrough before Terry’s header from a Damien Duff corner secured the points.
   Arsenal have found the Reebok Stadium an inhospitable venue in recent seasons and it was no different on Saturday as they were deservedly beaten.
   Faye headed Bolton ahead after 20 minutes and the second goal came 12 minutes later when Gilberto Silva was caught in possession and Giannakopoulos, who secured Bolton’s 1-0 win in the corresponding fixture last season, took advantage.
   Thierry Henry hit a post two minutes later but Arsenal were below their best and, with less than half the season gone, they can already give up any realistic hope of regaining the title.
   Liverpool’s run of six successive wins, all without conceding a goal, has hoisted them into their highest position since December 2002.
   Peter Crouch, goalless since his seven million pound ($12.11 million) move from Southampton in July, opened the scoring after 19 minutes though his deflected shot was eventually given as an own goal by flapping keeper Mike Pollitt.
   Crouch is claiming the goal but will be less concerned if he loses it having scored the second with a deft finish before midfielder Luis Garcia chested in Livepool’s third 20 minutes from time.
   Tottenham had to work desperately hard to get past Sunderland, who led with a long-range Dean Whitehead shot after 16 minutes.
   Mido and Robbie Keane put Spurs ahead, Anthony Le Tallec equalised on the hour and, after Sunderland keeper Ben Alnwick saved a Keane penalty, Michael Carrick struck the winner 13 minutes from time.
   Everton made it four wins in five games with a 2-0 success at Blackburn Rovers, who had Andy Todd sent off after half an hour.
   Everton won with first half goals by James McFadden and Mikel Arteta — the first time in 19 games this season they have scored more than once.
   Newcastle United drew 1-1 at home to Aston Villa after Gareth Barry missed a late penalty for the visitors, and West Brom drew 0-0 with Fulham at the Hawthorns after the Londoners had Luis Boa Morte sent off at the end of the first half.

THE four big loves of George Best’s life united at his funeral on Saturday.
   Ex-wives Angie and Alex, girlfriend Ros Hollidge and former lover Mary Shatila led 100,000 mourners in Belfast.
   But the Manchester Utd was buried wearing a gold and diamond ring given to him by Ros.
   Before the funeral Ros, Best’s lover for two years, told how he had proposed to her on his deathbed. In an exclusive interview to the News of the World, she said: ‘George wanted me to know how much I meant to him and I have no doubt he would have married me if he could. In the last conversation I had with him I joked, ‘I’ll leave you now and go and book the church!’ ‘
   Brunette Ros—who went blonde for the funeral—added: ‘George asked me to marry him lots and bought me a pink diamond ring which I’ll wear at his funeral. We were soulmates and he will be buried wearing a gold and diamond ring I gave him.’
   Ros, 38, said she was pleased Best’s ex-wives Alex and Angie would be at the funeral. She said: ‘We will all miss him dearly.’
   Also there was Mary Shatila, the brunette beauty who shared eight years of Best’s life in the 80s. Ros and Alex teamed up to welcome more than 200 mourners to a pre-funeral breakfast at the luxury La Mon House Hotel on the outskirts of Belfast. They included Bestie’s soccer pal Denis Law, snooker’s Alex Higgins and Dennis Taylor, ex-Celtic boss Martin O’Neill and former sports minister Kate Hoey.
   Close family gathered for a private service at Best’s father Dickie’s home in east Belfast, where the star grew up.
   Mourners there included ex-wife Angie, trying to comfort her inconsolable son Calum, Best’s friend and agent Phil Hughes and Professor Roger Williams, the consultant who treated the star at London’s Cromwell Hospital.
   A downpour erupted as the coffin, draped in a Northern Ireland flag, began Bestie’s last journey.
   Weeping Calum kissed his fingers and pressed them on to the coffin as it passed him to be loaded into the hearse.
   A giant red wreath from Dickie, 87, read simply: ‘George, fond memories from Dad x.’
   The crowd fell silent as the family made their way to their cars then burst into applause as the cortege moved off for the four-mile journey to Stormont, the Ulster parliament building.
   So many flowers and football scarves were thrown, the hearse had to stop to clear the windscreen in scenes reminiscent of Princess Diana’s funeral.
   Ros sat three rows from the front with extended family on the left. Alex, Best’s wife for nine years, sat four rows from the front on the left. First wife Angie sat on the right, six rows back.
   During the service, in which TV presenter Eamonn Holmes was Master of Ceremonies, Corry sang Beatles hit The Long And Winding Road in recognition of George’s nickname ‘the fifth Beatle.’
   Referring to Ireland’s Troubles, Eamonn said: ‘The lasting tribute to George Best is how he transcended politics, transcended religion, transcended our own petty bickering and differences.’
   Calum broke down as he read poems in memory of his father.

Former world number one Martina Hingis warned the imposing superwomen of the modern game that she will not be muscled out of contention when she returns to the tour in January.
   The 25-year-old Hingis, who left the tour three years ago because of a crippling ankle injury, will stage her comeback in January with the Australian Open her first target.
   ‘I have to work on my strength,’ said the player who won 76 career singles titles and was the world’s youngest world number one.
   She also won the Australian Open in 1997, 1998 and 1999 as well as the 1997 Wimbledon and US Open titles.
   ‘The game has changed, it has become more physical but not necessarily at the technical level.
   ‘I will be playing the same girls against whom I played when I was at my peak.’
   Hingis made a brief comeback this year when she lost a one-off appearance in Thailand, but she insists she still has the ability to make an impact at the highest level.
   To that end, she will use Mary Pierce as her inspiration after the French veteran reached the finals of the French and US Opens this year despite passing her 30th birthday.
   ‘The fact that Pierce has had such a good year is a good example,’ said Hingis.
   ‘My objective is to play in Australia, I am going to try and play there. My goal is to stay healthy and stay in shape. That is probably the biggest task.
   ‘I still love the game,’ said Hingis who added she is prepared for failure should her hopes be shattered.
   ‘There are worse things out there in the world than losing a tennis match.’

Coach Bob Woolmer Sunday praised his England-conquering Pakistani team, saying skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq was a ‘giant’ and fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar an ‘asset’.
   ‘Inzamam has been a giant, literally, in this series,’ Woolmer said a day after Pakistan thrashed England by an innings and 100 runs in the third and final Test here to clinch the series 2-0.
   ‘Inzamam played like a champion and our batting revolved around him in the series,’ he said of Pakistan’s first Test series win during his stint as coach.
   Inzamam was named man of the series for scoring 431 with two hundreds and three half-centuries. He also completed 8,000 Test runs and set a new Pakistani record of 24 hundreds.
   ‘The most important thing I have learned as a cricket coach is that the captain has to lead from the front,’ said Woolmer.
   ‘The coach acts as a right-hand man. The way Inzamam led the team with his batting has been phenomenal. He has a very wise head and is growing as a captain as well now. He is very important to Pakistan at the moment.’
   This was Pakistan’s first Test series victory under Inzamam’s captaincy since beating New Zealand in January 2004.
   Woolmer said he was also pleased with Akhtar, who had promised before the series he would give his best against England.
   The fast bowler did not let his coach and team down, claiming 17 wickets to three Tests.
   ‘Shoaib is an asset when he is fit and playing. He had some issues to resolve when he arrived and he has resolved them. He is now delivering,’ said Woolmer, who had a love-hate relationship with the ace paceman.
   ‘This is exactly what Pakistan need. It was wonderful to see Shoaib firing on all cylinders. I am really pleased.’
   Woolmer said the victory was a huge boost to the team ahead of a busy international schedule.
   ‘It is a huge milestone for us,’ said Woolmer, a former England batsman who took over as Pakistan’s coach in 2004.
   ‘We needed to play better cricket against England and this was precisely what we did. The boys worked really hard. It is a big boost to beat England who had just won the Ashes.’
   Pakistan now take on England in five one-dayers before hosting India early next year for three Tests and five one-day internationals.
   The first one-dayer against England begins here on December 10.

New Zealand cricket authorities have taken the unprecedented move of placing a buffer between players and fans for the remaining matches in the current series against Australia following unruly crowd behaviour at Saturday’s opening match at Auckland’s Eden Park.
   In a bid to avoid a repeat of the ground invasions and projectile throwing that marred the opening match in the Chappell-Hadlee series, the front three rows of seats will be empty for the matches at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium on Wednesday and Christchurch’s Jade Stadium on Saturday.
   The dramatic step was taken following a meeting Sunday involving New Zealand cricket officials, the police and security staff which reviewed the disorderly conduct that angered the Australians in Auckland.
   New Zealand Cricket marketing manager Peter Dwan said there was a firm commitment from all parties to make safety the No 1 priority for the remainder of the series.
   ‘It is disappointing to have to move to this level,’ Dwan said. ‘But first and foremost, the well-being of the players and the officials is paramount to New Zealand Cricket.’
   It is hoped the buffer and the introduction of a security officer assigned to all boundary fielders will alleviate the problem.
   Dwan said erecting high fences as is done at major soccer venues worldwide, was not yet an option.
   Australian captain Ricky Ponting voiced his concern over the safety of teammates Brett Lee and Brad Hogg after both had fruit and plastic bottles thrown at them.
   ‘It spoils the game, ruins the game of cricket. Brett was missed by quite a few pieces. We put Hoggy down there and it didn’t end up much better,’ Ponting said.
   There were four ground invasions at Eden Park where Australia crushed New Zealand by 147 runs.

Edgar Davids and Robbie Keane traded punches in a vicious brawl at Spurs’ training ground on Friday.
   Shocked team-mates had to pull the warring stars apart as tempers boiled over.
   Witnesses say Keane was left with a reddened face, while Davids stormed off.
   Tottenham have tried desperately to hush up the fight and both men were in the team that beat Sunderland 3-2 at White Hart Lane.
   But one eye witness revealed: ‘This was a serious bust-up. This wasn’t handbags — it was a full-blown fight.
   ‘They were throwing punches and it only ended when the other lads dived in to separate them.’
   Violence erupted after the pair clashed in a tackle.
   Tottenham spokeswoman Donna Cullen confirmed: ‘There was an incident but it’s all over and forgotten now.
   ‘We see it as a sign of the players’ passion and commitment to do well for the club.’
   Davids’ career is peppered with angry clashes with managers and team-mates.
   He was kicked out of Ajax and once fought with fellow Dutch international Mark van Bommel.
   Davids also served a drugs ban after testing positive for nandrolone.

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted his side fully deserved their shock 2-1 defeat at Chievo on Saturday which put a massive dent in their Serie A title hopes.
   Kakha Kaladze put the visitors in front but goals from Sergio Pellissier and Simone Tiribocchi consigned Milan to their third defeat of the season and could leave them eight points off the pace if leaders Juventus win at Fiorentina on Sunday.
   Pellissier shot into the side-netting before Milan took the lead in the 22nd minute.
   In first-half stoppage time, Federico Giunti’s chip was flicked on by Davide Mandelli and Pellissier nipped in ahead of Kaladze to bury a shot past Nelson Dida.
   Tiribocchi, the 27-year-old substitute, opened up the Milan defence after playing a quick one-two with Nigerian Victor Obinna before curling a right-footed shot past Dida.
   In Saturday’s late match, Inter scraped a 1-0 win over Ascoli at the San Siro where Brazilian striker Adriano scored the only goal with a curling free-kick.

The West Indies board (WICB) has lodged an official complaint with the ICC about the standard of umpiring in the recent series in Australia.
   The board has asked for the results of the video assessment of each of the decisions to be reported back to them as soon as possible. Australia won the series 3-0 and was officiated onfield by Ian Howell, Rudi Koertzen, Aleem Dar and Billy Bowden.
   In a statement, the board made it clear that they were not criticizing the standards of umpiring in general, just those of this particular series.

Ivan Ljubicic is one victory away from clinching a first Davis Cup for Croatia after he and Mario Ancic teamed up to beat Slovakian duo Dominik Hrbaty and Michal Mertinak 7-6, 6-3, 7-6 on Saturday.
   After being pushed hard early on, the Croatians took control to put their team 2-1 ahead in the best-of-five final. They will be crowned champions if either Ljubicic or Ancic win their reverse singles on Sunday in the Sibamac Arena.

JFA Cup from Dec 21
The second JFA Cup U-16 Football tournament, organised by Bangladesh Football Federation and sponsored by Japan Football Association, begins December 21 at eight venues across the country. A total of 56 teams, split into eight zones, will take part in the knockout basis preliminary round matches.
— BDNews

3 selected for SAARC and Asian Carrom
Bangladesh Carrom Federation on Sunday selected three players for the 9th SAARC and First Asian Carrom Championship. The nine-day championship is scheduled to be held in the capital Malay of the Maldives from December 14 to 22. The federation conducted a five-day training camp before picking up three players - KG Humayun Kabir, Mohammad Ali Robin and Mehedi Hasan.
— BDNews

Mariner hockey secretary
passes away
Mohammad Alim, the hockey secretary of the Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club, died of a heart attack on Friday. He was 34. Mariner Youngs expressed deep shock over the premature death of Alim and prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul. The club has arranged a doa mahfil at its Motijheel premises tomorrow.
— New Age

Japanese wrestler coming Dec 9
Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki will arrive in Bangladesh on December 9. During his four-day stay he will visit the Bangabandhu Stadium and Army Stadium to see the suitability for arranging his wrestling debut. He will also meet the state minister for youth and sports, Fazlur Rahman.
— New Age

India to host third SL Test in Ahmedabad
The third Test of the ongoing series between India and Sri Lanka has been shifted from Kanpur to Ahmedabad, a top cricket official announced here on Sunday. ‘The third and final Test will be held in Ahmedabad from December 18 to 22,’ India’s new cricket board chief Sharad Pawar said after ruling out Kanpur’s Green Park stadium, which was not available for the match.
— AFP

Pakistan jump to fourth in Test rankings
Pakistan have jumped three places to occupy the fourth position in the latest International Cricket Council’s Test rankings following their series triumph over England. Pakistan, who won a three-Test series 2-0 against England on Saturday, are now behind Australia, England and India. They were seventh before the series. The Test and one-day rankings were introduced in 2001.
— AFP

Injured Vaughan returns home
England captain Michael Vaughan returned home early Sunday to get an expert opinion on a knee injury ahead of a one-day series against Pakistan. ‘I will see a specialist on Monday and get an opinion on my right knee,’ Vaughan said after his Ashes-winning side lost a three-Test series 2-0 against Pakistan on Saturday. Vaughan, 31, suffered the injury during a warm-up match which forced him to skip the first Test.
— AFP