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Almost all the Bangladeshi players are losing the opportunity to get maximum coverage as they failed to shine in the Test match against England. The team suffered a huge defeat in the first Test and nobody managed to score a fifty in their first ever Test series against England.
   The British media has a stronghold to give publicity in the cricketing world and complements of their cricket pundits give the certificate of merit of a player.
   But after the bad first Test match, Bangladeshi batsmen failed to shine in the first session of the second Test as the English bowlers were firing from both the ends of the Riverside Stadium.
   Interestingly, Mushfiqur Rahim, the teenage wicketkeeper-cum-batsman of Bangladesh team alone managed to seize the attention of the British media.
   The kid won the captaincy of Under-19 team's tour to Australia in March this year. He is unlucky to have sustained an ankle injury on Thursday and is expected to return to Bangladesh later on Friday.
   However, he fulfilled his initial objective. No matter who scored a century two years ago or set a record, British media and the cricket lovers believe Mushfiqur is the best batsman of the Bangladesh team. Even some people believe he is like the 'Sachin Tendulkar' of Bangladesh. A century in the practice match and a fighting instinct in the first Test made him the exception in the Bangladesh squad. His young age astonished all Everyone were astonished to see that at this tender age how he managed to face the English quick bowlers.
   And when the other Bangladeshi batsmen are being out cheaply, that makes Mushfiqur more bright and popular to the spectators. Before the series Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore encouraged his young side, saying that the England tour will be a good opportunity to explore themselves. But perhaps no one paid attention to Whatmore.
   And in the first session of the second Test Bangladesh proved that they have to learn how to be calm. It was a lovely sunny weather on Friday. The weather plays a vital role on the surface here and Bangladesh got the best possible weather in the morning but they failed again.
   Captain Habibul Bashar, Mohammad Ashraful, Nafees Iqbal are perhaps played some wonderful innings in their career. But the English supporters had little respect for them. And Bangladeshi batsmen should know that time is running out to have some publicity and prove their merit.

Former England cricket captain David Gower was on the panel of judges at a curry competition at the Riverside Stadium on Friday. The competition was aimed at selection of a chef for the visiting Bangladesh cricket team. Gower, one of the finest left-handed batsmen the game has ever produced, tasted each and every dish in the competition before passing his judgement. As much as he is an aficionado of Bangladeshi cuisine, Gower was disappointed with the performance of the Bangladesh cricket team.
   The curry competition over, he talked about the game, his association with it and a wide range of other issues in an interview with New Age. Excerpts:
   ***
   New Age: How are you spending your time as a commentator?
   David Gower: I am doing my commentary most of the time for Sky Sports and apart from this I give some advises on cricket here and there. Then I look after my family, my eleven and nine-year-old daughters, Alex and Sammy.
   NA: What is your hobby?
   DG: I like skiing in winter and playing tennis. I also like to visit interesting places with my video camera.
   NA: What did you want to be in life?
   DG: As a kid, I used to change my ambition in every three months, sometime, I wanted to be a footballer and other time, wanted to be an animal in Africa. Eventually, it seems my best talent was hiding in the cricket field so, I applied the instinct.
   NA: How did you enjoy the Bangladeshi food?
   DG: Yes, very much. Bangladeshi food is very tasty and I think they work on food like magic.
   NA: What about Bangladesh cricket. Did you like it the way you liked the food?
   DG: Honestly, I didn't. The history of Bangladeshi food is much older than Bangladesh playing Test cricket. Obviously, Bangladeshi food is better than Bangladesh cricket.
   NA: Why Bangladesh cricket failed to win your heart?
   DG: You need to find a right sort of progress. In a word, Bangladesh need patience and in two words you need patience with concentration.
   NA: What is their problem with Test cricket?
   DG: Five days is a very long time. When I started my Test career, one thing everyone advised me then was that five days were a long time. You can be gifted player but to prosper you have to work hard and learn how to bat for a long time.
   Sometimes, Bangladeshi players are played lovely shots and then they got out in the very next delivery. It reminds me of when I was 18 or 19. I had to learn how to stay at the wicket and play lovely shots hours later. So, patience and concentration is the key to success.
   NA: Did you find any fault with the technique of the players?
   DG: They have to be in the right position while batting. And at the same time, you need to have some courage because you are facing an express bowler like Harmison or someone in the mould of him.
   So to be successful, you should leave some balls. Work out on which ball is going to hit the stump and which one you are going to hit.
   NA: So, Who has the technique and who is your favourite Bangladeshi player?
   DG: The guy Rahim is a fine batsman and he has got a lot of time to learn. Apart from him, Aftab played some lovely shots. And wicketkeeper Mashud has got good technique.
   NA: What about Habibul Bashar?
   DG: Certainly, Bashar had a bad Test. He did not bat well, dropped catches. As a captain, he should have set an example and when you fail it's very frustrating.
   NA: What about the Durham Test, will the surface be worrying for Bangladesh?
   DG: The surface is all right but it depends on the weather condition. I hope, Bangladesh will do better in this Test.
   NA: How do you judge Bangladeshi bowlers?
   DG: Mashrafee bin Mortaza bowled well but he did not get support from the others. Shahadat is young and still learning.
   If you are slightly offline against very good players it will become very expensive.
   NA: What is your opinion about the Test status of Bangladesh?
   DG: I think Bangladesh got the Test status a little bit early. So, because they have the status now the ICC must help them and make it work. Bangladesh should play more cricket between first class and Test level.
   You cannot go from the bottom level to top level by a jump.
   Bangladesh should play a lot of cricket with teams which are good or better but not too much better from them, otherwise you will be demoralised.
   NA: However, Bangladesh beat India, Pakistan and Zimbabwe.
   DG: I am sorry to say that Zimbabwe is not a good team as they have lost some of their experienced players.
   I also believe the status of Zimbabwe team should also be questioned.
   Teams like Bangladesh can play more cricket against Zimbabwe and some other team who are weaker than them. It will help the players to gather experience and confidence.

Abahani Limited crushed Dhaka Wanderers by 4-1 goals in the Premier Bank Premier Division Football League at the BNS on Friday. Abahani led 3-1 before the break.
   Wanderers have a number of seasoned players but it was heard that the camp was closed twice as the players revolted for realisation of their promised money. The officials somehow persuaded their players to take the field and they fought hard to resist their counterparts who fielded two foreign recruits in Cameroonian Endem Kiyek and Aidu Ibrahim of Ghana.
   Wanderers drew the first blood as Govinda gave a fine minus picking out an unmarked Milon but Abahani custodian Nizam dived in time to grip the ball. Abahani after a fine start lost some rhythm but quickly regrouped themselves to take the lead in the 19th minute. Farhad back-heeled a Zahed cross to Uzzal who sent a neat through pass to unmarked Ibrahim and the striker blasted the ball home from the middle of the box.
   Wanderers levelled the score in the 27th minute with a brilliant effort of experienced striker Milon who was provided a well-measured chip by Nurul Islam from the midfield as three Abahani defenders’ effort to create an offside trap failed. Milon ran past Nizam to place the ball into the net.
   But the joy lasted just two minutes as defender Jahangir failed to clear a Lazuk cross and placed the ball in front of Farhad who had no problem to prod it home. In the last minute of the first half Mostafiz brought down Farhad inside the area and skipper Joy converted the penalty for the third goal of his team.
   Milon could have reduced the margin in the 58th minute but shot well over the bar as Nizam stood hapless under the woodwork.
   Winger Zahed added the fourth beating the Wanderers defence with a one-two with substitute striker Tipu and placing the ball into the net from a close range. Zahed wasted another chance earlier shooting direct to custodian Sohel.

Sexual harassment by a coach has forced at least two of the eight female shooters to leave the Bangladesh Krira Shiksha Pratisthan, alleged sources close to the national sports academy.
   The academy conducted an inquiry into the allegations, said Brigadier General Mohammad Ali Mondal, who was the director general of the academy when the issue came to light, on Friday.
   ‘We received a complaint and conducted an inquiry,’ said Ali, whose term as the director general expired last week. ‘We talked to a number of students and arrived at the conclusion that the allegation had no basis.’
   Ali suspects that the allegation could have been part of a ‘conspiracy’ by people who are interested in the post of the shooting coach.
   It is not, however, the first time a female shooter has left the academy amid allegation of sexual harassment by the coach.
   In 2004 another female shooter refused to rejoin the academy after she had taken leave. The incident also touched off a round of allegation against the coach.

Fancy dress competition
   The cricket party is on for the people of Chester-le-Street during the second Test between Bangladesh and England. The official sponsor of the series, npower, arranged many cultural activities and competitions for the spectators.
   On the second day of the Test, there will be a fancy dress competition for the spectators at the stadium. Some girls, appointed by npower, will roam around the stadium and will select the winners wearing extraordinary fancy dresses.
   The winners will get a trophy at the lunchtime. In addition, they will be shown on the television.
   
   Durham dwellers happy
   The people of Chester-le-Street become happy whenever there is a big match in the Riverside stadium because that benefits them in many ways. It boosts their economy and gives opportunity to meet many people and most of all they get the chance to see a big match as bonus. ‘It’s fine to have some people like you here. The little town turns into a noisy place suddenly and we struggle to manage our customers,’ said an employee of a fast-food shop near the stadium.
   ‘Naturally our sales are high in the morning when people arrive to see the match from various places and it’s good for our business,’ the busy cashier told New Age. The local government must be happy for the occasion. The District council arranges to welcome the spectators with a cup of curd at the gates of the Riverside stadium on the Chester-le-Street.

Defending champions Australia tottered on the brink of elimination before beating India 1-0 on Friday to safeguard their passage into the final of the 14th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
   Needing a victory in their last group match to reach the final after South Korea earlier beat South Africa 3-2, Australia lived dangerously for most of the game before Jamie Dwyer scored the winner with five minutes left.
   The Olympic champions survived some tense moments in the last few moments, especially when India’s Sandeep Michael pushed narrowly wide in the 68th minute.
   But Barry Dancers men held on grimly to record their fourth win and ensure their place among the top two of the seven-team event.
   ‘Its a big relief,’ Dancer said afterwards. ‘We could have taken more of our opportunities earlier and released some of the pressure.
   ‘But I’m pleased with our composure towards the end. We got the win, which is what we wanted, although I am concerned about the process and disappointed that we gave them some chances to equalise in the last few minutes.’
   ‘The main thing is that we are in the final and we will be better on Sunday.’
   Pakistan was to face hosts Malaysia in the last group game of the tournament later on Friday, needing a draw to reach the final. A Malaysian victory would put South Korea into the final.
   India, whose only victory came against winless South Africa, frustrated Australia with a controlled defensive display.
   Bimal Lakra and Ignace Tirkey handled Australia’s attacks with aplomb and their midfield also had the better of the Aussies for most of the match.
   Australia misfired with a number of penalty corner attempts and with the minutes ticking down, the Kookaburras seemed devoid of ideas.
   But Dwyer emerged as the hero with five minutes left when he latched on to a loose ball in the circle and reverse-sticked past Indian goalkeeper Davesh Chuahan.
   Earlier, an under-strength South Korea edged winless South Africa, briefly lifting them to the top of the standings—until Australia beat India.
   South Korea sent out a squad minus several first-team players but they still proved too strong for the battling South Africans, who finished bottom of the standings without a single win.
   The South Africans briefly held a 1-0 lead in the first half as South Korea performed the second-half fightback that has been their trademark throughout this tournament.
   Steve Philips gave South Africa a seventh-minute lead but South Korea levelled 13 minutes later through Jang Jong-hyun’s penalty corner.
   A penalty stroke from Kim Kyung-seok in the 48th minute put South Korea 2-1 ahead although Philips renewed South African hopes with a field goal with 13 minutes left.
   However, South Korea’s superior fitness proved decisive as Seo Jong-ho slammed home the winner with only four minutes remaining.
   Earlier in the lone match on Thursday, South Korea beat New Zealand 6-4 in an entertaining match to make sure of a top-four finish.

The home fans, who once considered her American when she lost and French when she won, all love Mary Pierce now that she has capped her remarkable comeback by reaching the French Open final.
   Born in Canada to an American father and a French mother, Pierce had for years a difficult relationship with the French crowd, who perceived her as slightly arrogant and struggled to understand what she said.
   She was still a teenager when she reached her first final at Roland Garros in 1994.
   ‘I was so nervous,’ she said on Thursday, remembering that moment.
   ‘I couldn’t sleep the night before. I’m like, ‘Oh, my gosh, my French isn’t that great and I have to do a speech in French. What am I going to say?’
   The polite cheers from 1994, when she was beaten by Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, became roars of approval six years later. In 2000, she became the first Frenchwoman to win the tournament since Francoise Durr in 1967.
   In the meantime her French had improved and she had also helped France lift the Fed Cup in 1997.
   Pierce, who is the first to admit that she was ‘a bit difficult’ in her early years on the circuit, has definitely changed.
   More mature and more relaxed, she is also a lot more cheerful and happy to chat away, in French or English. The times when she made headlines because of the brushes of her father Jim, who coached her then, with the sport’s officials are over.
   After fighting a string of injuries the 30-year-old is clearly enjoying herself on and off the court.
   ‘I believe in myself and the few people who believe in me, that I have in my life, have really helped me a lot to get where I am,’ said Pierce, who is now coached by her brother and number one fan David.
   ‘That’s why I’m here today. It’s because I had something inside of me when I had my injuries that was telling me, ‘You know, you’re not done. There’s still something for you do in tennis, still some things for you to accomplish’.’
   ‘I don’t think I’ve beaten Justine before,’ said Pierce, who indeed has not.
   ‘It’s going to be a really exciting match. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I almost really couldn’t ask for anything better, to be playing against Justine in the final.’

The Australian cricket team leaves Saturday in the quest for an unprecedented nine Ashes series wins but consensus gives England its best chance of wresting back the urn in 18 years.
   Many commentators rate Ricky Ponting’s Aussies the best cricket team of all time—even England captain Michael Vaughan concedes Australia’s greatness—but there’s a certain respect that perhaps England might just give them a run for their money.
   England have a last-start decision over Australia, winning the dead fifth Sydney Test by 225 runs but only after the Aussies, under Steve Waugh, had the series wrapped up 4-0 in under 11 days’ playing time.
   In 306 Tests between cricket’s two traditional great rivals, Australia has won 125 to England’s 95, with 86 drawn.
   But such is Australia’s dominance that since regaining the Ashes on the 1989 tour of England, the Aussies have won 28 of the 43 Tests with England claiming seven.
   The Australian team Friday wound up a week’s training camp in Brisbane, and Ponting is enthused about the challenges ahead in the July-September Test series.
   ‘There’s been a really exciting feeling around the group having been away from each other for a while and having not played cricket for seven weeks, and everyone’s really fresh and keen and raring to go,’ Ponting said.
   Ponting said a resurgent England would ensure a close Ashes contest this northern summer.
   ‘We’ve said that about the Ashes before and it hasn’t been,’ Ponting told reporters. ‘But I think this England side have a different feel to them.’
   ‘If you watch the way they play and how they’ve gone about their cricket, they have a bit of a winning habit and winning culture which they haven’t had for a while.’
   England have been making progress during the past 12 months, winning four straight Test series as well as setting a new national record of eight successive wins.
   Australia have most of the biggest names in contemporary Test cricket: Ponting, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Jason Gillespie and Justin Langer.
   Four of the batsmen—Ponting (56.50), Gilchrist (55.65), Hayden (53.46) and Martyn (51.25) — average above 50 per innings and the top three in the batting order, Hayden (20), Langer (21) and Ponting (22), have a combined total of 63 Test match hundreds.
   Australia possess two of the greatest all-time bowlers with leg-spinner Warne the record holder with 583 wickets in 123 Tests and paceman McGrath fourth all-time with 499 wickets in 109 Tests.
   McGrath’s wife Jane, children and his parents are all planning to be at Lord’s for the first Test of the series (July 21-25) when he vies to become the fourth Test bowler to 500 wickets behind Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan and Courtney Walsh.
   ‘To be involved in three Ashes tours in England is something pretty special and to have the opportunity to take my 500th Test wicket at Lord’s you couldn’t ask anymore than that,’ McGrath said.
   Jason Gillespie, who shares the new ball with McGrath, is no slouch either with 248 wickets in 66 Tests, while Warne’s wrist-spin understudy Stuart MacGill weighs in with 160 wickets in just 33 Tests.
   Gilchrist, who many claim is cricket’s greatest all-rounder with 15 centuries and 287 dismissals as wicketkeeper in 68 Tests, is the danger lurking for England’s bowlers, coming in at No.7.
   There are three newcomers in Australia’s 16-man Ashes squad with reserve batsman Brad Hodge, young fast-bowling firebrand Shaun Tait and wicketkeeper back-up Brad Haddin.
   Hodge, who averaged 63.64 for Victoria last summer, has English county experience currently with Lancashire, while selectors are investing in the potential of 21-year-old tearaway Tait.
   Tait has been rewarded for a competition-topping 65 wickets for South Australia in Sheffield Shield last summer, an all-time state first-class season record, at an average of 20.16.
   Haddin, who led NSW to this year’s Shield title with two centuries at an average of 57.25, is the back-up to Gilchrist.
   Australia’s opening tour game is a one-dayer against Leicestershire at Grace Road on June 11.

Justine Henin-Hardenne has got it all figured out.
   ‘Yesterday was my 23rd birthday, today I won my 23rd straight match and on Saturday hopefully I’ll win my 23rd title,’ she smiled after beating Nadia Petrova 6-2, 6-3 in the semi-final of the French Open on Thursday.
   ‘Let’s hope number 23 will bring me luck.’ Judging by Thursday’s scorching performance the Belgian is unlikely to need luck in the final against Mary Pierce — who is ranked 23rd in the world.
   She needed a bit of it against Spaniard Conchita Martinez in the first round when she was stretched to three sets and even more when saving two match points in the fourth round against US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.
   ‘I have very good feeling on this surface, it’s pretty amazing,’ she said. ‘The crowd is very special, too. I love this place. If I win only one more grand slam tournament I wish it would be Roland Garros.
   ‘I’m very happy the way I played in the last two matches, and I hope I can keep going for my last match on a clay court.’
   Barring injury or tiredness, the former world number one will start as clear favourite to clinch a second French Open title in three years against home favourite Pierce today.
   ‘She won it a few years ago, so she has great motivation to win this tournament,’ said Henin-Hardenne, who was struck by an energy-sapping viral infection last year and has also been troubled by a back problem over the past few weeks.
   ‘It will be a great atmosphere in the stadium, and I’m sure it’s going to be another great day.
   ‘My legs are feeling a little bit heavy, and my injury is not getting better but it’s not getting worse either. I will give my best one more time and then rest.
   ‘To find myself again in the finals here is certainly a fantastic feeling because I had very bad moments of fear and problems.’

International cricket is so crammed full of firsts these days that the lasts rarely get a look in. Old players tend to fade away (or take coaching jobs in Sydney) rather than retire. But the second Test between West Indies and Pakistan at Sabina Park will feature a notable farewell: it’s the last Test match for the umpire David Shepherd.
   The Kingston game will be Shepherd’s 92nd Test - only Jamaica’s own Steve Bucknor (102) has officiated in more. And even Bucknor can’t match Shep’s current total of 167 one-day internationals (there will be a couple more in England before he finally hangs up that wide-fit white coat).
   Shepherd, who turns 65 in December, has been a fixture as long as most people can remember.
   He started as a ruddy-faced batsman for Gloucestershire - he hit 108 on his first-class debut, against Oxford University in 1965 - and continued, seamlessly, as a ruddy-faced umpire who soon floated to the top.
   He played for Gloucestershire for 15 years, with modest success - he crept past 10,000 runs, at an average of 24, collected 11 more centuries to go with that debut one, and he didn’t really bowl. But his ample waistline soon marked him out as one of county cricket’s characters: I can recall an amusing batting partnership between Shepherd, red-faced and blowing hard, and the whippet-like Jim Foat, with Shep in some danger of being lapped. He was nonetheless a handy one-day performer, and played in both Gloucestershire’s Lord’s final wins in the 1970s - the Gillette in 1973 and the Benson & Hedges in 1977.
   Popularity as a player soon translated into popularity as an umpire. He told Cricinfo recently: ‘I’d like to think I had a good relationship with most of the players I umpired. I think it helped that I played first-class cricket, it helps you to know what the players are thinking and going through if they are having a bad trot.’ In the white coat his size somehow added to his authority - he looked like an umpire, which always helps. Shepherd stood in his first ODI in 1983, and made his Test debut against Australia two years later. Soon he was part of the Test-match furniture, calm and confident, authoritative without being authoritarian.
   He made mistakes - who doesn’t? - and was particularly upset a couple of years ago when the all-seeing TV eye showed that he’d missed a number of no-balls, some of which took wickets. Square-on cameras and Hawk-Eye are great innovations for the armchair viewer, but they make the umpire’s job a sight more stressful. And for the elite official, there’s another problem: ‘The travelling has been the major change, not being able to umpire Test matches in your own country. Now umpires are expected to spend large amounts of time away from their families and this has put some people off taking up the role.’
   What really cemented Shepherd’s name in the public consciousness, though, was not a super career but a superstition: those fey little skips when the score reaches Nelson - 111 - or a multiple. It all started back in the county dressing-room, with a belief that things would somehow work out better if no part of you was touching the floor, and carried on from there. The commentators were tipped off, and the cameras have zeroed in at the vital moment ever since: ‘I’ve always done it, I’ve always been superstitious,’ he told us. ‘When I went into umpiring people said I should carry on doing the
   hop, but I thought I would look an idiot. But I decided to go with it ...’
   The bottom line is that you could have all the hop-skip-jump gimmicks in the world, but if you’re not a damn good umpire you won’t survive very long in county cricket, let alone the international cauldron. Dickie Bird showed that, and David Shepherd followed suit.

Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad has slammed the country’s cricket authorities for paying no heed to the suggestions of former players and held the attitude responsible for the dwindling fortunes of the national team.
   ‘Players like me, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, along with others, have given a lot to Pakistan cricket and gained a lot from it. We still remain passionate about the performances of the team, but if we say something it’s automatically looked at in a negative manner by the Board officials, the team management and some players who don’t like to hear or read the truth,’ Miandad said.
   The former batsman also lamented that the performance in India had brought about a sense of complacency into the team as the Pakistan Cricket Board, team management and some players had started gloating over their victory.
   ‘What is sad is that a certain amount of complacency was visible among some of the players and the same mistakes are being repeated again and again. There is no clear selection policy and yet the expectations are there that the team will win all the time,’ he was quoted as saying in ‘The News’.
   Miandad said though Pakistan had developed as a good one-day team, it was yet to establish itself as a Test side.
   ‘There is no doubt that we’ve developed a good combination for one-day cricket which also still needs some fine tuning but as far as Tests are concerned nothing has been done to improve things.
   ‘For example the coach and captain have yet to settle upon a opening pair for Test matches. It made no sense in Barbados to have different opening combinations in both innings,’ he noted.

Merv Hughes, one of the characters of Australian cricket, Friday filled Allan Border’s vacancy on the Australian selection panel, Cricket Australia said.
   The 43-year-old mustachioed former Test fast bowler joins chairman Trevor Hohns, David Boon and Andrew Hilditch on the panel and was endorsed by the CA board at its meeting here Friday.
   Former Australian captain Border, who joined the selection panel in February 1998, resigned as a selector last April citing growing commitments away from the selection table.
   ‘I always wanted to stay involved in cricket at the highest level when I left the game—either through coaching or as a selector—it has certainly been one of my ambitions,’ Hughes said in a CA statement.
   ‘I am excited to be joining the panel as we try and keep Australian cricket at the top.’
   Hughes, named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1994, has maintained a close connection to the game following his retirement.
   ‘Big Merv’, a whole-hearted pace bowler, took 212 wickets in 53 Tests for Australia in a career cut short by injury.
   He made two tours of England, including the watershed visit in 1989 when Australia regained the Ashes.
   His last Test for Australia was against South Africa in Cape Town in March 1994.
   Hughes is the current Under-19 selector for Cricket Victoria, as well the fast-bowling coach for the Under-19 Victorian team and the Victorian Institute of Sport.
   CA chairman Bob Merriman said Hughes would bring valuable knowledge and skill to the selection panel.

Argentina could clinch a place at the World Cup while Peru and Chile’s new coaches make their debuts as the scramble continues lower down the table in the South American qualifiers at the weekend.
   Argentina, who lead the 10-nation group with 28 points, will guarantee a top four finish and qualify for Germany 2006 today if they beat Ecuador in Quito and Uruguay fail to win in Venezuela.
   Remarkably, all 10 nations are still in with a chance of qualifying with five rounds of matches still to play. The top four go straight to Germany and the fifth plays off against the winners of the Oceania region.
   The weekend’s games could go some way to sorting out the tangle in the bottom half the table where three points separate Uruguay (16 points) from Bolivia (13), with Chile, Colombia, Venezuela and Peru in between, all on 14.
   Chile host Bolivia in Santiago, Peru visit Colombia in Barranquilla and Uruguay will try to avenge last year’s humiliating 3-0 home defeat by Venezuela when they visit steamy Maracaibo.
   The remaining game is on Sunday in Porto Alegre where Brazil, second with 24 points and missing their holidaying striker Ronaldo, host Paraguay, who are fourth with 19 but are still in danger of being swallowed up by the pack below.
   Argentina coach Jose Pekerman, with a wealth of riches at his disposal, has pondered fielding an alternative team in high altitude Quito and resting the top players for Wednesday’s clash at home to Brazil.
   Ecuador, who are well-placed in third with 20 points, have suffered two blows with key striker Franklin Salas and midfielder Edison Mendez pulling out through injury.
   Chile, who are missing injured Sporting Lisbon striker Mauricio Pinilla, play their first match under new coach Nelson Acosta, who returns for a second stint to replace Juvenal Olmos—a decision publicly criticised by striker Marcelo Salas.
   Curiously, Acosta began the campaign in charge of Bolivia and resigned after they lost 2-0 at home to Chile last year.
   Ovidio Messa, Bolivia’s third coach of the campaign, has criticised the rules of the tournament, which allow coaches to change teams.
   Bolivia, who have yet to pick up an away point, are expected to field an ultra-defensive lineup against opponents who are without a win in their last seven qualifiers.
   Peru are hoping coach Freddy Ternero can install some new self-belief into their side as they attempt to qualify for the first time since 1982.
   Ternero, whose techniques when he was in charge of provincial club Cienciano included making his players karate chop blocks of wood with their bare hands, replaces Paulo Autuori, who resigned over political interference in the team.
   Ternero has brought in several younger faces and dropped stalwarts such as Jorge Soto, Carlos Zegarra and goalkeeper Oscar Ibanez.
   Striker Juan Pablo Angel returns after injury for Colombia, who have scored only twice in their last six qualifiers.
   Uruguay will try to continue their impressive recovery under coach Jorge Fossati as they visit Maracaibo where Venezuela, who have never qualified for a World Cup, will be keen to revive their flagging campaign.
   ‘The most important thing is that we have gone back to our roots—good defence and midfield and strikers who take their chances,’ said Uruguay captain Paolo Montero, who was not in the side that capitulated in Montevideo.
   Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira is expected to field Inter Milan striker Adriano and Santos’s Robinho in attack after deciding to rest Ronaldo.
   The Real Madrid forward asked to be excused from the Confederations Cup but Parreira decided instead that he could miss the rest of the season.
   Brazil are also without captain Cafu, who is suspended.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has reveleaed his transfer policy for this summer will be a three-in, three-out strategy.
   And the Portuguese manager has revealed that one of those coming in is almost certain to be Atletico Madrid left-back Asier Del Horno rather than Milan full-back Kakha Kaladze.
   Mourinho spoke to Portuguese newspaper O Bola to confirm three players will be leaving, news that almost certainly signals the end of the Chelsea careers of Scott Parker, Mateja Kezman and Mikael Forssell.
   Both Parker and Forssell have been interesting Everton while Kezman is expected to return to Holland with PSV.
   Mourinho was quoted in A Bola, saying, ‘Three will leave, three will come in, we will look to sign a left-back, a midfielder and an attacker. Our left-back already left in December for Newcastle, that is (Celestine) Babayaro.
   ‘We are in conversations with Del Horno from Bilbao and later we have to sign a midfielder and an attacker. But there will be no Portuguese players coming in.’
   The Premiership champions have already been linked with a move for Internazionale’s star striker Adriano and Lyon midfielder Mickael Essien while Milan’s left-back Kaladze has declared that he could make the move to Stamford Bridge.
   However Mourinho has now confirmed the London side are pursuing a deal for 24-year-old Del Horno to compete with Wayne Bridge next season.
   The charismatic manager also shrugged off the 200,000 pounds (360,000 dollars) fine imposed on him for his part in the Ashley Cole tapping-up affair.
   ‘Since the beginning it seemed to be a serious process, we participated in it calmly, but we are not content. Therefore the legal department of Chelsea will continue to analyse the situation,’ he said.

Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has pledged his future to Manchester United despite growing rumours he is on his way to Spain.
   Some reports have claimed the prolific forward has become disillusioned with life at Old Trafford following a frustrating season riddled by injuries.
   There was even talk of a swap deal involving Barcelona hit-man Samuel Eto’o who is said to be similarly at odds in the Catalan capital.
   But 28-year-old van Nistelrooy has re-iterated his desire to stay at United.
   ‘There is no question I want to stay here, I’m committed to United,’ he told the BBC website.
   ‘It wasn’t my best season, I know that myself, but this is where I want to be, it’s the most important thing for me.’ Van Nistelrooy’s season was ruined by a succession of injuries including an Achilles problem that kept him sidelined for three months.
   He scored just six Premiership goals as he struggled to find his form whenever he came back into the side.
   But van Nistelrooy believes that was because he was rushed back too soon in order to play in the Champions League tie against AC Milan. ‘I was in the best form of my life but I was rushed back too quickly and now I’m struggling and it’s a bit of a disappointment,’ he added.
   ‘For me it has been a season of injuries. I only played 27 games but I scored 16 goals and if you look at it like that, it’s not too bad.
   ‘But at clubs like Manchester United you are pushed to do an impossible number of games and for a player it’s becoming physically impossible without rest.
   ‘The injuries spoilt my season because I couldn’t give what I usually can.’ Van Nistelrooy is still waiting to take a break over the summer as he will first play in the Netherlands’ World Cup qualifier against Finland in Rotterdam on Wednesday.
   But that will not leave him much time to prepare for the new season.

David Beckham said Thursday he hopes to launch an Asian version of the David Beckham Academy by 2007, a sister facility of his first two football schools in London and Los Angeles.
   ‘We are looking at possibly two more (academies) in Asia next year or the year after,’ Beckham said during a news conference in Los Angeles to unveil plans for the California school.
   Beckham did not go into details about his Asia plans but it is clear he has global aspirations for his football academies.
   Asked what Asian countries they are targetting, his publicist Simon Oliveira would only say, ‘We are looking at the usual suspects’ including China.
   The 30-year-old Beckham launched plans for his Los Angeles academy at a standing room only news conference Thursday at the Home Depot Center.
   The 150 million dollar stadium is located just 10 miles southeast of downtown, and with flashbulbs popping, the circus atmosphere was intensified by a swarm of Hollywood paparazzi in attendance.
   Beckham, who played his first professional match in the US on Tuesday in England’s 3-2 win over Colombia, is basking in the glow of his American fans.
   ‘The popularity of me in America has not been as great as it is in other parts of the world but this time it seems to be different,’ Beckham said. ‘The positivity here has been incredible to me.’
   Lapping up the attention of the Hollywood paparazzi doesn’t, however, necessarily mean he has his sights set on breaking into Tinseltown’s movie industry.
   ‘Hollywood, no. I am a soccer player at the moment,’ he said.
   Beckham said he is investing over 500,000 US dollars of his own money into his soccer school here, and is paying for the tution of the first 300 children at 500 dollars each.
   ‘The potential for soccer in the US is huge. It is a challenge for us,’ he said.
   The launching of the Los Angeles academy is a joint venture between Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) and Beckham’s Footwork Productions Ltd.
   The Real Madrid star and England’s poster boy Beckham said has not ruled out playing in the United States.
   ‘Playing in America does interest me a lot. In my career things happen. I never thought I would leave Manchester United. There is an opportunity to come to America, and I am thinking about it,’ Beckham said.
   Asked if he would play for an English club again, he said, ‘I am happy in Real Madrid. I have a long-term contract there. I won’t go to play in England again.’
   Beckham did express disappointment at not winning any trophies in the two years he has been with Real Madrid.
   ‘I haven’t won anything the last two years and that has never happened to me before,’ said Beckham, who signed a 25 million pound deal with Real Madrid in 2003.
   AEG president Tim Leiweke is hoping their long-term marketing deal with Beckham Inc could one day entice England’s favourite son to move Stateside.
   ‘It would be great to have the world’s most popular football player,’ said Leiweke, who is also backing Beckham’s other academy on the Greenwich Peninsula in east London where AEG is building an arena and entertainment district.
   ‘David has a long-term partnership with us and so to leave (Spain) would be up to him. We would love to have him in the future.’

AC Milan midfielder Kaka was forced to turn down a marriage proposal from an admiring fan who swears she has become an evangelist because of the Brazil international, who shares the same faith.
   The admirer, Cristiane Sampaio from Rio, was given the chance to meet her football hero after watching the Brazil team’s training session here on Wednesday ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Paraguay on Sunday.
   And the 20-year-old made sure she made the most of her time with the talented and handsome midfielder by asking him to marry her. However Kaka was forced to reply, ‘I can’t, I’m already engaged.’ The offer of an autographed Brazil training shirt did not seem to appease Sampaio, who loves the player so much she has a tattoo of him.
   ‘I’m Kaka’s angel. I became an evangelist because of him,’ complained Sampaio. Kaka could only reply, ‘It was a funny meeting - she doesn’t even know me and she wants to marry me.’

Dutch international striker Patrick Kluivert has agreed to sign a three-year contract with Valencia, the Primera Liga side said on Friday.
   The 28-year-old, who will arrive on a free transfer from English club Newcastle United, is due to undergo a medical at Valencia next Thursday.

AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko was appointed special advisor to Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko on Thursday. Shevchenko, voted European Footballer of the Year in 2004, joins World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Vitaly Klitschko in a mainly ceremonial role.

Brazilian forward Robinho, who has been the subject of non-stop speculation over a move from Santos to Real Madrid since the end of last year, gave nothing away when he was asked about it yet again on Thursday.
   Real Madrid and Brazil full back Roberto Carlos fuelled the rumour mill on Wednesday when he said that Robinho would fit in well with the Spanish club.
   Although Robinho was at a Brazil training session, questions were focused firmly on his club future as he spoke to reporters.
   ‘Maybe yes, maybe no,’ said Robinho when asked if Wednesday night’s Libertadores Cup quarter-final first leg tie away to Atletico Paranaense had been his last game for Santos.
   ‘I hope that Santos can still get to the (Libertadores) final and that I can have a chance of winning the title.’ Asked if he was prepared for a move, he replied, ‘Of course, I’m prepared. With each game I play, I’m preparing myself to fulfil my dream of playing in European football.’

Jean-Marc Bosman, the former Belgian footballer who paved the way for players to switch clubs for free when their contracts expired, has offered to support Ashley Cole’s bid to clear his name. Cole was fined 100,000 pounds by a Premier League independent commission on Wednesday.
   England midfielder Cole, who is still at Arsenal, is set to take his case of restraint of trade to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and beyond as he appeals against his guilty verdict for approaching Chelsea.
   However Belgian Bosman, who won a ground-breaking legal battle 10 years ago, told The Sun newspaper, ‘It’s outrageous.
   ‘If Ashley wanted me to come to London to support him publicly, I would be happy to do that. ‘This is a restraint of trade and I am fully behind Ashley.
   ‘If I worked in a bank and wanted to change to another bank I would be allowed to go and speak to them.
   ‘It’s crazy that footballers in England cannot do that.’

Conflicting reports have come out of Brazil regarding a Chelsea bid for Inter Milan striker Adriano.
   According to London Evening Standard, reports in the Rio de Janeiro press on Thursday morning linked Chelsea with a record-breaking 65 million pounds (118 million dollars) bid for the Brazilian striker.
   But the BBC claims Adriano, who scored 16 goals in Serie A last season, has no interest in joining the Blues this summer.
   The BBC website claims Adriano told Jornal do Brazil, 'Throughout the season Chelsea have been there with a multi-million pound offer but appear to have become more determined.
   'I'm happy to know that but am happy in Milan where I'm treated like a king. I hope to complete one more year there at least and I don't think about leaving.'
   That contrasts sharply with claims made by the Standard's website that talks are already under way between the player and the London club with Chelsea offering Argentine pair Juan Sebastian Veron and Hernan Crespo as bait to lure the samba star to Stamford Bridge.

Rahmatganj on top
Rahmatganj bounced back to the winning track of the Premier Bank First Division Football League with a 1-0 win over Victoria at the Kamalapur stadium on Friday. Jakir scored the match winner in the 69th minute. Rahmatganj is on the top of the points table with 13 points while Victoria have eight from their five outings.
— New Age

Mohiuddin emerges champion
Major Mohiuddin Chowdhury emerged champion and Albab Masud became runner-up in the two-day Moinamati Farid Group Golf Tournament that concluded on Friday. Area Commander of Comilla and senior vice president of Moinamati Golf and Country Club Major General Masud Uddin Chowdhury and Director of Farid Group M Yusuf Liton were present at the prize-giving ceremony as special guests. Golf players from across the country took part in the tournament organised by Farid Group.
— UNB

City United draw with Mirpur Eleven
City United Club and Mirpur Eleven played a goalless draw in the day’s only match of the Metropolis Third Division Football League at the Bir Shrestha Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium in Kamalapur on Friday. The day’s other two scheduled matches were not held at the Banani Army Stadium. These will be held today.
— UNB

Four teams move to quarterfinals
Comilla, Rajshahi, Chuadanga and Dinajpur DSAs advanced to the quarterfinals of the The City Bank National Youth Volleyball Championship winning their respective matches at the Mirpur Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium on Friday. In the day’s matches, Dinajpur beat Sherpur 25-13, 25-21, 25-14, Chuadanga defeated Naogaon 25-22, 25-22, 20-25, 13-25, 15-09, Khulna overpowered Narail 25-22, 22-25, 25-16, 25-21 and Tangail DSA outplayed Comilla 26-24, 20-25, 25-20, 16-15, 15-12 points.
— UNB

Baghaichhari oust Brothers Sporting
The Baghaichhari Upazila team knocked out Brothers Sporting Club by 4-1 goals in tiebreakers in the Zila Parishad Junior (U-14) Gold Cup Football tournament as the match ended goalless in the stipulated time at the local stadium on Friday. Aryadev Loyal Club will take on Lion Sporting club today. P
— New Age

Child killed during cricket match in Khulna
A child was killed at Terkhada upazila as one of his friends hit him with a brick during a cricket match in the district, police said on Friday. The deceased was identified as Rubel (7). Police said that Rubel, son of Salam Farazi of Mallikpur village under Terkhada upazila, altercated with his friends following a dispute in a cricket match Wednesday. At one stage one of his friends hit him with a brick leaving him seriously injured. Later he succumbed to injuries at Khulna Medical Hospital.
— BD News