Main Page «
Front Page «
Metro «
Business «
International «
National «
Editorial «
Op-Ed «
Home «
Timeout «
Letters «

Archive «
Launch Supplement «
Special Supplements «

The second innings in Durham was a terrific result for Bangladesh compared to the rest of the series.
   And we really needed that, just to reassure ourselves - and a few other people - that we are not as bad as we had made ourselves look.
   Looking back over the two Tests, it’s fair to say that the prevailing conditions at Lord’s and in the first dig of the second Test were against us.
   They were just so different to anything we have seen before.
   Bangladeshi cricketers just aren’t used to balls darting off greenish pitches and they were in no shape to do themselves justice on their first tour of England.
   But we showed what we can do when the sting is out of the surface, putting up a score of 300-plus and playing some great shots along the way.
   If three of our top four hadn’t failed, it would have been even greater.
   And it was pleasing to hear the TV commentators speak positively about us. There’s been a lot of negative stuff said over the past two weeks - most of which we have deserved - but this made a nice change.
   I was pleased to see Habibul Bashar stand up and show what he is capable of. It’s always important that the captain performs and shows the way to the other players.
   He had been very disappointed with his form and was down about it, but he really hit the ball well for his half-century and that had a knock-on effect.
   It showed younger guys like Aftab Ahmed that scoring runs against fine opposition is possible.
   If Aftab had received better support from some of his batting partners he would have made a hundred, and deservedly so.
   I was not the least bit surprised he scored as many runs as he did. He looks in control at the crease, has a good temperament and I think he is a potential match-winner for Bangladesh.
   He’s got a long way to go and a lot of cricket to play. There will be some frustrations watching this 19-year-old mature because his talent is so raw and natural.
   But I knew he had a big score in him and there is plenty more to come when he learns about things like shot selection.
   He’ll be one player to watch in the NatWest Series, which is a competition we can look forward to with a bit of optimism.
   We might be the underdogs against two very strong sides, but I’m looking at us to pinch a win or two.
   A one-day game is a two-horse race, so I always tell my players to get in there and play to win.
   All it takes is for a couple of batsman to have a really good day out and that can break it open for you.
   The most important thing for us, whether we bat first or last, is to start our innings well.
   We didn’t do too well in the Champions Trophy last year because we lost too many early wickets and that tends to be a recurring theme with our set-up.
   But we’re working on that, and with our confidence levels back up a bit I’m hoping we can cause the odd upset in the NatWest Series.
   — BBC Online

The recalled middle-order batsman, Tushar Imran, is eager to use the opportunity to have a permanent place in the team when Bangladesh are
   struggling for runs on the England tour.
   The 21-year-old, who scored 403 runs in 24 matches, can be a solution to the Tigers’ middle-order problem as he takes very little time to adapt to any condition.
   However, he was out of the team for years since his last ODI against Pakistan in Karachi in 2003 and came back again aiming to seal a permanent place in the team.
   ‘I know during my absence a lot of promising players
   emerged and they are
   also very talented. But I believe I deserve a regular place in the one-day squad but I need to prove myself,’ said Imran to New Age during the practice session at the Riverside stadium on Tuesday.
   ‘I know it’s a great opportunity for me when a couple of players in the middle-order are really struggling to get some runs and that’s the plus point for me to have a chance in the team,’ said a hopeful Imran.
   When asked why he was absent from the team for a long time, Imran said he had expected an early call-up but he was unfortunate.
   ‘I think I scored some runs for the other teams including the ‘A’ team.
   ‘However, it is the decision of the BCB and it is part of cricket because others also deserve a chance,’ added a sporting Imran.
   The middle-order informed he expects to bat at number four and five. ‘This is my first tour to England and I will try my best to help my team by scoring runs.’

Pakistan (374 & 309) lead West Indies (404 & 114/6) by 165 runs at stumps, day 4
   Leg spinner Danish Kaneria brought Pakistan close to their first Test win in the West Indies in 17 years on the fourth
   day of the second and final Test in Kingston, Jamaica on Monday.
   He dismissed Ramnaresh Sarwan (8), Brian Lara (0), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (0) and Devon Smith (49) to leave West Indies tottering on 114 for six chasing a target of 280 runs.
   The other two wickets were picked up by pacers Shabbir Ahmed, who provided the initial breakthrough by having Chris Gayle (15) caught in the slips, and Abdul Razzaq who accounted for Wavell Hinds (19) in the same manner just before the close.
   Kaneria’s four for 36 gave his team their best chance of winning a Test match in the West Indies since 1988 and levelling the two-match series.
   Pakistan last won a Test in the Caribbean in April, 1988 in Guyana.
   Kaneria’s bowling also left West Indies staring at the 13th defeat of their last 20 Tests.
   West Indies were left a challenging target shortly after lunch when Pakistan were bowled out for 309 runs with captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who scored his 22nd hundred, undefeated on 117 from 194 balls with 14 fours.
   The target proved a big ask on a deteriorating pitch that offered lot of assistance to the bowlers, particularly Kaneria.
   West Indies’ run chase was not helped by two delays caused by bad light and rain.
   They lost Gayle just before the first delay with the score on 27 and, with only 6.4 overs possible when play resumed after a delay of nearly 90 minutes, Kaneria left them struggling on 56 for four as he picked up Sarwan, Lara and Chanderpaul in nine balls.
   Only opener Devon Smith, who scored 49 from 109 balls with seven fours, batted resolutely but he also eventually fell to Kaneria, caught behind.
   The leg spinner was unlucky to see umpire David Shephard, standing in his last and 92nd match, turn down a confident caught behind appeal against Sarwan.
   But three balls later Kaneria was fortunate to see Sarwan tread back on to the stumps while trying to glide a ball to fine leg, leaving the home side on 48 for two.

Sheikh Russell continued their rollercoaster form by drawing 1-1 with Wanderers after their record 10-0 victory in the previous match of the Premier Bank Premier Division Football League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Tuesday.
   Sheikh Russell started their campaign with a shock defeat to Farashganj but reached the sky with a record 10-0 win over Fakirerpool in the second match. But in the third match they lost their rhythm and finished the match with a draw with Wanderers to taste all the possible results – loss, win and draw. On the other hand, Wanderers earned their first point after suffering two defeats in their previous matches.
   In the match, Sheikh Russell opened up their opponents’ defence several times but failed due to poor finishing and the woodwork also denied them once. Wanderers enjoyed better ball possession at the closing stage but fell short of an efficient scorer.
   Moroccan striker Rashid Bishihi put Sheikh Russell in front in the second minute when his chip off a Yusuf cross beat Wanderers custodian Sabbir who vainly attempted to punch away the ball.
   Rashid found Sabbir alone under the bar in the 7th minute but his grounder flew inches away from the side post.
   In the very next minute, Hanif Pradhan smashed a cracker over the bar from close range after Rashid lobbed the ball in front of him.
   Aminul headed the equaliser for Wanderers in the 27th minute after Milon provided a perfect cross from the right flank.
   Just a minute before the break Tanvir’s free-kick from the left flank slipped out of Sabbir’s gloves but Yusuf tapped the ball back into the custodian’s lap.
   Lady luck was in Sheikh Russell’s side in the 59th minute as Jahangir’s free-kick from top of the box slipped from Biplob’s hand but a clearance from a handshaking distance from Milon saved them.
   Rashid was also cursing his luck in the 63rd minute as his placing shot off a Yigir Mohammed pass ricocheted off the side post.
   Yusuf put a Rashid cross direct into Sabbir’s hand in the 66th minute and the goalie was the rescuer in the 82nd minute as he dived full-stretch to punch away a Rashid header off a Mishu cross.
   Wanderers failed to use the gaps created in the opponents’ defence due to their attacking approach but they looked satisfied with their first point.

Sri Lanka are set to become the first international team to play one-day international and Test matches in two new venues – Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium and Chittagong Divisional Stadium – when they tour Bangladesh in February-March next year.
   Bangladesh Cricket Board on Monday announced the itinerary for two Tests and three one-dayers retaining Dhaka and Chittagong as the host cities.
   Although the BCB did not name any specific venues, officials said they have no other alternative but to go for the Sher-e-Bangla and Chittagong Divisional stadiums.
   Of the venues, Chittagong Divisional Stadium has already gotten the approval by the ICC as a Test venue subject to addition of some extra facilities and the BCB is optimistic about getting the nod for Sher-e-Bangla Stadium well before the tourists’ arrival in town.
   ‘The reconstruction work at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, including pitch and outfield development, is going on in full swing.
   ‘We are hopeful of getting the stadium ready for the international fixtures by December this year,’ said an official of the BCB.
   Sri Lanka will play the first two ODIs at the Shere-e-Bangla Stadium on March 3 and 5 before going to Chittagong for the third one and the first Test, to be held on March and March 11-15 respectively.
   The final Test will be held in Dhaka from March19-23.
   However, they have not asked for any practice matches, according to the itinerary released by the BCB.

Thailand’s Paradorn Srichaphan’s woeful run of form continued here on Monday, losing for the fifth time in succession in a first-round contest as he crashed out of the 680,250-euro Queen’s club event.
   The former Top 15 player, now languishing in 36th, has not won a match since late April, when he defeated the 89th-ranked Dutchman Peter Wessels in Munich.
   Paradorn fell to American journeyman Kevin Kim 6-3, 6-4 to compile a dismal 11-16 record this season and to make matters worse it was on his favourite surface.
   The fall from grace was painful after the Thai announced his presence with a Wimbledon upset of Andre Agassi in 2002.
   A year ago, the 25-year-old suffered mixed fortunes, reaching the Nottingham final but failing in the Wimbledon first round.
   Teenaged qualifier Chris Guccione provided a rare bright spot for Australia scoring their lone win from three matches.
   The 19-year-old, ranked, 188 fought through to defeat Belgian Kristof Vliegen 7-6 (7/2), 3-6, 6-4 to move into the second-round.
   His victory provided some compensation for losses by another pair of Aussies at the elite Wimbledon tune-up event.
   Dual-sport standout Scott Draper moved a step closer to resuming his pro golf career as he crashed out at the hands of clay-courting Romanian Victor Hanescu 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-2.
   The 31-year-old Queenslander was unable to advance on the grass of west London where he lifted the 1998 title.
   He is set to go onto the golf tour full-time after Wimbledon.
   Grass powerhouse Wayne Arthurs played at a shadow of his best in a 7-5, 6-4 defeat to 16th seed Karol Beck, the Slovak who hammered Tim Henman in an opening match here a year ago.
   ‘I didn’t play well enough today,’ admitted Arthurs, who earned the first title of his career in March at Scottsdale after a decade and a half in the sport.
   ‘The guy was too good. I made some easy errors on my serve which allowed him to break. He played well.
   ‘I’m disappointed - but maybe grass is not my best surface anymore,’ joked the player who twice reached the Wimbledon fourth round.
   Arthurs will try his luck next week in the Netherlands on the grass as the June 20 Wimbledon start draws nearer.
   ‘It would have been nice to get in a few more matches,’ said Arthurs. ‘Hopefully I can do that next week.
   ‘I won Scottsdale after not playing so great. Who knows’ With Wimbledon, it’s the luck of the draw anyway a little bit.’
   Guccione, who lost the Wimbledon junior final two years ago, was playing in only his fifth ATP-level match this season, improving to 3-2.
   British players delighted a home crowd on a gloomy London day, with the 14th-seeded Greg Rusedski ousting untried Number 324 wild card Joshua Goodall 6-3, 6-4.
   US Open junior champion Andrew Murray, admittedly better on clay than grass due to his full-time training in Spain, earned a 6-1, 6-2 decision over Spaniard Santiago Ventura.
   Rusedski, a first-round 2004 loser, has everything riding on his huge serve over the next month.
   ‘If I could keep it up like I did today, life would be great.’
   Three-time champion and top seed Lleyton Hewitt, will open after a bye against Xavier Malisse, who put out 2004 semi-finalist Hyung-taik Lee 6-2, 6-0.
   Hewitt last played in March, and since then has suffered through toenail surgery and a rib injury sustained as he slipped on stairs at home.
   American Andy Roddick, winner of the last two editions, stands second, with Britain’s Tim Henman, seeded third.

Newly-crowned French Open champion Rafael Nadal switches surfaces to grass at the 680,250-euro ATP tournament here on Tuesday as he begins his Wimbledon build-up.
   The 19-year-old, who stormed to the French Open title on Sunday with a 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 6-1, 7-5 win over Argentina’s Mariano Puerta, has only played Wimbledon once, winning two matches before a third round defeat in 2003.
   Third seed Nadal, who plays wild card Alexander Waske in the first round, admitted he had some acclimatising to do. ‘I like grass court tennis but it’s a little bit too fast for me at the moment,’ he said.
   Meanwhile Australian Open champion Marat Safin of Russia beat Germany’s Alexander Popp 6-3, 6-2 to move into the second round.
   Second seed Safin, who is also not considered a grass-court specialist, was pleased with his performance. ‘It’s a good start,’ he said afterwards.
   Meanwhile world number one and top seed Roger Federer, who starts his tournament on Tuesday against Sweden’s Robin Soderling, said he was hoping to boost his Wimbledon chances this week.

Indian cricket chiefs say they have offered ‘each and every thing’ to new coach Greg Chappell, including an annual basic salary of between 175,000 and 185,000 US dollars on top of a pile of perks.
   The former Australian Test captain, who last month replaced New Zealander John Wright as India’s coach for two years, will be given a daily allowance equal to that of a player during matches, the Times of India reported Tuesday.
   ‘The contract details are all worked out and board secretary Karunakaran Nair will hand it over to Chappell when he comes to India,’ Indian board president Ranbir Singh Mahendra told the paper.
   Chappell is scheduled to arrive in India this month to prepare the team for a triangular one-day series in Sri Lanka in August.
   Wright was preferred to Chappell in 2000 reportedly because the Indian board felt the Australian was too expensive, but Mahendra said the new coach would be getting ‘the same package which we had for Wright’.
   Chappell will receive an annual travel allowance not exceeding 860,000 rupees (20,000 US dollars), a share in logo money, communication expenses when with the team, a flat and 70 days annual leave.
   ‘We are already looking for a well-furnished flat (in Bangalore) for Chappell and his wife,’ Nair said. The former Australian batting great will be also be allowed to express his views through a newspaper column or a news channel.
   ‘But he is not permitted to leak out any team secret,’ the Times said.
   Chappell, who scored 7,110 runs in 87 Tests with 24 centuries, has already requested the Indian board to have Australian psychologist Charles Krebs and sports scientist Ian Frazer in his support staff.
   ‘From our side, we will provide each and every thing to him according to the needs of the team,’ said Mahendra.

Promising wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni would be seeking advice from former stumper Nayan Mongia ahead of the Sri Lanka series.
   Dhoni, who is here to play in a local tournament P Sen Trophy, told reporter here that he was looking forward to interacting with some past glovesmen ahead of the coming international ‘battles’.
   When asked to name some of those he wished to meet, Dhoni said ‘Nayan Mongia’.
   The Ranchi-based cricketer also said that he wished to seek tips from Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar to fine tune his batting skills.
   On the frequent comparisons drawn between him and Virender Sehwag for their swashbuckling batting, Dhoni said ‘please don’t compare me with Veeru (Sehwag). He is miles ahead of me. He has already proved himself in top flight tournaments. His consistent good showing in international cricket is amazing’.
   Meanwhile, Dhoni on Sunday said he felt greatly motivated after being praised by new coach Greg Chappell.
   ‘When a cricketing legend like him says good things about me, that definitely increases my motivation. I feel enthused, I now have to score more runs both in domestic and international cricket to justify his comments,’ Dhoni told reporters after a practice session here.
   Chappell during his presentation to the BCCI on Indian cricketers had praised Dhoni’s aggressive batting and described him as a future potential.
   When asked to comment on reports that his name was being considered as a probable opener in the absence of the injured Sachin Tendulkar and the banned skipper Sourav Ganguly, Dhoni said ‘I have heard about it. If I do get such an opportunity it will be great. It will be a new experience’.

A man named Silver has likely ended any hope that Olympians will compete for gold in New York in 2012.
   Sheldon Silver, one of three members of the New York state Public Authorities Control Board, said Monday that he will vote against 300 million dollars in state funding for a proposed 2.2 billion-dollar Olympic Stadium.
   ‘This plan is at best premature,’ Silver said in Albany, the state capital.
   A unanimous vote is needed to approve the stadium resolution, and with the NY2012 bid group adamant about having no backup plans or alternate sites for the central venue, the assembly speaker’s veto probably dooms New York’s bid.
   ‘You can’t have a glaring weakness with your most important venue and expect to triumph,’ Dan Doctoroff, New York City’s deputy mayor and the driving force behind the 2012 Olympic bid, said earlier Monday.
   ‘If we don’t have it, we have got a significant issue.’
   The state panel includes state governor George Pataki, assembly speaker Silver and Senate majority leader Joe Bruno, who also indicated he would not support the project.
   The control board, which postponed a vote three prior times, was set to vote later Monday.
   While the panel could reconsider the matter before July 6, Silver said he would not back the stadium project even if New York was awarded the 2012 Games by the IOC, leaving little doubt about the project’s fate.
   Silver was concerned the shops and offices that would be part of the project would hinder redevelopment efforts at the site of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks, an area Silver represents.
   Bruno has said he has serious doubts about the need for a timely vote from the board, saying he backs the plan only if New York wins the Games.
   The news came hours after the International Olympic Committee issued a generally favorable evaluation of New York’s chances to win the 2012 Games as part of a report on all the candidates.
   The IOC gathers July 6 at Singapore to choose among finalists Paris, London, Moscow, Madrid and New York.
   Doctoroff would not say he would skip the Singapore trip without stadium backing but admitted that a veto ‘will have a negative impact on the bid.’
   Pataki and New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg spent the weekend trying to rally support from Silver for the renovation project above Manhattan’s west-side railyards.
   The stadium would have housed American football’s New York Jets, whose winning bid for the property included 440 million dollars from six developers and a vow by the National Football League to stage the 2010 Super Bowl there.

Australia’s cricketers paid their respects to the 10,000 Australian troops who died in France in World War I on Monday.
   The 16 members of the one-day squad and support staff spent the day in the Somme, repeating a similar trip to Gallipoli by the 2001 Ashes team.
   ‘They really enjoyed it and found it very moving,’ a spokesperson for the team told AFP.
   The Australians spent time at Australian National Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux and took a guided tour of the Franco-Australian Museum, which celebrates in part the special link between the two nations.
   The Australian soldiers earned the respect of the town’s inhabitants because they tried to retake the town in 1918.
   The team, whose visit coincides with the 61st anniversary of the Allied D-Day landings in France during World War II, hope to start a tradition by visiting areas of national significance at the start of every Ashes tour.
   Australian coach John Buchanan said Monday’s visit would help the players forge a closer team spirit as they witnessed what a sacrifice their compatriots had made.
   ‘It’s more a life experience rather than a cricket experience, (and) almost irrelevant to the tour to some degree,’ Buchanan said.

David Trezeguet scored twice as Italian champions Juventus beat FC Tokyo 4-1 on Tuesday in the second of two close-season games in Japan.
   The J-League club outplayed Juventus in the first half and went in front after just 10 minutes when striker Mitsuhiro Toda superbly glanced home a Masashi Miyazawa cross.
   Toda almost scored a carbon copy goal moments later and forward Yusuke Kondo was unlucky not to double the home side’s lead when he hit the post just before halftime.
   Juventus equalised seven minutes into the second half when France striker Trezeguet pounced after Pavel Nedved’s shot was spilled by goalkeeper Hitoshi Shiota.
   The Turin team went ahead after 74 minutes through substitute Giuseppe Sculli and captain Alessandro Del Piero volleyed home a third two minutes later.
   Trezeguet blasted home his second of the game in the 82nd minute to give the scoreline a flattering look.

The 2006 World Cup will add around 10 billion euros to Germany’s economy over the coming years and could help create 40,000 jobs, according to a study by Postbank.
   The figure of 10 billion euros ($12.3 billion) is equivalent to 0.5 percent of Germany’s gross domestic product (GDP), the study said, adding that around three tenths of a percentage point of predicted GDP growth of 2.0 percent in 2006 would be due to the month-long tournament.
   A quarter of the new jobs, most of them in the construction sector, could be permanent.
   Germany was awarded the rights to stage the World Cup tournament in July 2000.
   The government is spending 3.4 billion euros on roads and 802 million euros on local rail transport improvements. Around 1.5 billion euros has been spent on building or renovating the 12 stadiums to be used in the tournament, which runs from June 9 to July 9 next year.

England wicket-keeper Geraint Jones has been found not guilty of breaching the International Cricket Council (ICC) code of conduct following a controversial incident during the recently concluded second Test against Bangladesh.
   On Saturday at Durham’s Riverside ground, Bangladesh Nafees Iqbal, on 15, gloved a ball from all-rounder Andrew Flintoff through to Jones and started to walk off.
   However, replays suggested the ball may have bounced in front of the Kent keeper.
   Iqbal twice turned back towards the crease in what seemed like an attempt to resume his innings.
   An uncertain episode eventually saw him given out after the on-field umpires decided not to refer the matter to the replay official and so ended a fifty stand, then Bangladesh’s best of the series.
   The tourists were incensed and Bangladesh manager Latif Khan brought the charge against Jones, 28, who was born in Papua New Guinea but grew up in Australia.
   However match referee Alan Hurst, the former Australia fast bowler, found Jones not guilty of conduct that brings the game into disrepute at a post-match hearing on Sunday following England’s innings and 27-run win
   that gave them the two match series 2-0.
   ‘On the evidence presented, the actions of the player did not breach the ICC Code of Conduct. Video evidence of the incident was inconclusive, and the player’s intent was not proven,’ said Hurst.
   The charge against Jones, whose Welsh parents helped ensure his England qualification, was a Level One offence on the ICC scale.
   All Level One breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee.
   Hurst reached his conclusion after a hearing attended by Latif Khan, Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore, Iqbal, England coach Duncan Fletcher and Jones.
   England and Bangladesh meet again in the opening match of the triangular one-day series, also featuring Australia, at The Oval on June 16.

World Cup champions Brazil face arch-rivals Argentina today in a winner-takes-all clash with the victors earning a berth for next year’s 32-nation World Cup finals.
   Huge prestige awaits the winners such is the interest surrounding the fixture.
   Fans spent the night of Sunday to Monday outside River Plate’s Monumental stadium hoping to buy tickets with a queue that extended two kilometres and that was eight-people wide.
   Riot police with batons and shields at one point intervened to control the thousands of people as scuffles broke out.
   Argentina, in the shadow of Brazil, who have won two out of three World Cup finals during the last decade, have a point to prove but this fixture is always treated with huge respect by both sides.
   Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira told the Brazilian press, ‘It’s not something that you can put into words. Let’s be clear though, it’s a rivalry that is limited to football and doesn’t extend to politics or culture.
   ‘Argentinians don’t hate Brazilians or vice-versa.’
   The Uruguayan referee of the fixture, Gustavo Mendez, hoped the clash would inspire a party spirit rather than a warlike attitude. He told Clarin.com, ‘The term war does not correspond to a wonderful sport such as soccer. I hope it is more of a celebration than a war.’
   Brazil do have a point to prove having lost their last two games at the Monumental stadium and not having won there in nearly a decade.
   Parreira has led Brazil against Argentina seven times but only twice at this particular venue – when they lost 1-0 in 1983 but drew 1-1 in 1993 – and he is out to vastly improve those statistics with a win.
   Brazil beat Argentina 3-1 at home in Belo Horizonte just over a year ago and will want to avoid what happened in 2002 qualifiers when they first won 3-1 at home before losing 2-1 in Argentina after going a goal ahead.
   Brazil are going into the match in good spirits, having beaten Paraguay 4-1 on Sunday, though that cannot be said for their opponents who lost their unbeaten record in a 2-0 defeat away to Ecuador on Saturday.
   Argentina lead the 10-nation, South American World Cup qualifying table with 28 points and Brazil now have 27 points from their 14 matches. The top four qualify automatically with the fifth-placed team playing off with the Oceania winners.
   Parreira, however, continues to do without midfielder Juninho Pernambucano who pulled a hamstring in training though he is expected to recover in time for the Confederations Cup in Germany from June 15 to 29.
   Brazil team doctors confirmed Juninho would definitely not be playing against the Argentinians.
   Third placed Ecuador – who are bidding for their second successive finals appearance – will look to continue their fine form with at least a point in a tough away trip to Colombia.
   Paraguay will not want to slip up again after their Brazilian defeat as they host bottom of the table Bolivia while defeat for Venezuela in Chile would probably end their hopes of making the finals in Germany.
   Peru too cannot afford any mistakes as they sit five points adrift of fourth-placed Paraguay and entertain Uruguay today.

Iran and Asian champions Japan only need draws against Bahrain and North Korea today to secure their automatic seats at the World Cup finals in Germany next year.
   But both Asian heavyweights are promising to go all-out for wins as they look to qualify in style from group B.
   In group A, South Korea, 2002 World Cup semi-finalists, will be eyeing maximum points against Kuwait, who are under new management after Serbia and Montenegro coach Slobodan Pavkovic paid for Saturday’s 3-0 drubbing by Saudi Arabia with his job.
   Former coach Mohammad Ibrahim has been handed the task of trying to reverse the team’s fortunes with only two throws of the dice left.
   ‘We have only 48 hours and while it’s not an easy task it’s not impossible. We have lost seven points so far in the qualifiers and the situation now is very hard,’ the 42-year-old told football.asia.com on Monday.
   South Korea are in second on seven points, one behind leaders Saudi Arabia who host Uzbekistan in Riyadh.
   The Saudis, under Gabriel Calderon, are vying for their fourth straight World Cup.
   The top two in each group qualify automatically with the third-placed teams facing a play-off against each other with the winner playing the fourth-placed team from the CONCACAF zone for another place.
   Iran, bidding for a place in their third World Cup, have been promised ‘valuable’ bonuses by President Mohammed Khatami if they make it to a fourth final.
   ‘Wednesday will be a great day for Iran and the Iranians,’ said Mohammad Dadkan, the head of Iran’s Football Federation.
   ‘Although we can qualify with just a draw, we want to get the maximum points. We want everyone to pray.’
   Iran’s Croatian coach Branko Ivankovich refused to get carried away with the tide of expectation.
   ‘The game is not over yet,’ he said.
   ‘It is too soon for the big celebration. We have a difficult game ahead of us on Wednesday against Bahrain. Some of our players got two yellow cards meaning they will not be able to play.’
   Man of the Match and the sole goal scorer in the North Korea game, Rahman Rezai, is among them.
   Japan were put through a searching training session on Monday as their manager Zico left no stone unturned in his pursuit of qualification.
   ‘We know we can go to Germany with a draw, but we will be playing to win,’ the former Brazilian star, said.
   Zico is missing three key players through suspension – talismanic midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata, fellow midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura and
   left-sided flyer Alessandro Santos.
   The clash on tonight is being played behind closed doors in neutral Bangkok on the orders of FIFA after crowd trouble in Pyongyang erupted in the game against Iran in March.
   North Korea coach Yun Jong-su, who is likely to be banished from the bench for the match after being ordered to the stands on Friday, said, ‘We are still optimistic. We have two matches remaining in the World Cup qualifiers and we will take them very seriously.’

It’s a choice any coach would welcome – When Ronaldo returns, which of Brazil’s soccer stars should he replace?
   It’s the decision Carlos Alberto Parreira will have to make – and it got tougher on Sunday when Brazil’s improvised frontline led a steamroller offense that routed Paraguay 4-1 in a World Cup qualifier.
   A standout was striker Robinho, who scored a goal and was tackled for a penalty that set up another score. For fans, he brought back the lilting rhythm of the ‘samba soccer’ that led Brazil to a record five World Cup titles.
   ‘We played well, it was a great victory, and we leave here happy,’ said the 21-year-old striker.
   The victory left Brazil on the brink of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and turned today’s qualifier against Argentina – one of the great soccer rivalries – into a ‘luxury exhibition game,’ Parreira said.
   Argentina still leads the South American qualifying race with 28 points, one ahead of Brazil. And the Brazilians aren’t mathematically assured of a spot in the Cup finals – although they could clinch a berth against Argentina today, and still have four more qualifying games to go.
   ‘Brazil is 99.9 per cent qualified,’ Parreira said after Sunday’s match.
   As satisfying as the victory was the offensive firepower Brazil unveiled – without Ronaldo. The three-time FIFA Player of the Year was released from the two Cup qualifiers and from the upcoming Confederations Cup to allow him to rest and recover from a messy separation from his fiancee Daniella Cicarelli.
   With Inter Milan’s Adriano and Robinho of Santos improvised in the frontline, Brazil came out in high gear and thrashed Paraguay, in fourth place in the standings with 19 points.
   FC Barcelona star Ronaldinho, FIFA Player of the Year in 2004, scored twice on penalty kicks to give Brazil a 2-0 lead, and Bayern Munich’s Ze Roberto made it 3-0 on a curving shot into the upper corner.
   After a header from Paraguay’s Roque Santa Cruz deflected into the net and closed the gap to 3-1, Robinho slipped a shot under goalie Justo Villar to seal the victory and an exceptional afternoon.
   ‘Mission accomplished,’ said AC Milan midfielder Kaka. ‘We needed a game like this. It was a great show.’
   But if Brazil is relaxed about today’s qualifier in Buenos Aires, Argentina feels the pressure after a surprising 2-0 loss to Ecuador on Saturday. Argentina coach Jose Pekerman fielded mostly second-stringers, resting his regular starters for the match up against Brazil.
   ‘The pressure is on them,’ Real Madrid winger Roberto Carlos told Pele’s Web site. ‘They’ll have to come at us.’
   Parreira breathed easy. He recalled the team’s qualifying difficulties for the World Cups in 1994 and 2002, when Brazil struggled but went on to win the title.
   ‘It was important to avoid the crunch I went through in ‘93 and (Luiz Felipe Scolari) endured at the last Cup,’ Parreira said. ‘Now we have a luxury exhibition game – with first place at stake.’
   The sporting press commemorated the win as a decisive step toward the 2006 World Cup – and possibly a sixth world title.
   ‘With one foot in the World Cup,’ trumpeted the Rio de Janeiro newspaper Jornal do Brasil.
   ‘Soccer worthy of a five-time champion,’ said O Globo.

Perennial European powerhouses Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal and the Czech Republic can significantly boost their chances of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup finals with wins against relatively easy opponents today.
   The most competitive of the 13 scheduled matches is likely to be European champion Greece against visiting Ukraine, however.
   The former Soviet Republic can just about guarantee itself a spot in the final tournament with a win, while the Greeks will be looking to extend their seven-match unbeaten run and keep themselves ahead of Turkey in the standings.
   The two teams drew 1-1 in their first meeting in Kiev in October.
   Ukraine leads Group 2 with 20 points, and Greece is second with 15. Turkey, who visit Kazakhstan, are third with 13 points.
   The eight European group winners and the best two second-place teams qualify directly for the World Cup finals in Germany. The other six runners-up play off for three more spots.
   The Netherlands, who visit Finland in Group 1, made some changes to its squad Monday, dropping PSV Eindhoven midfielder Mark van Bommel and replacing him with club team-mate Phillip Cocu.
   Netherlands coach Marco van Basten also dropped Jan Venegoor of Hesselink, Andre Ooijer and Wilfred Bouma.
   The Dutch team lead the Group 1 with 19 points, one more than the Czech Republic, who host Macedonia.
   Spain, who trail Group 7 leader Serbia-Montenegro on goal difference with 12 points, hosts Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Spanish team struggled in its 1-0 win over Lithuania on Saturday, however.
   Portugal, who were boosted by the return of Luis Figo on Saturday in a win over Slovakia, visit Estonia in Group 3. The first time the Portuguese met Estonia, it took 75 minutes to break through the defense in a 4-0 win.
   ‘We’ll have to stay calm and patient. We need to score a goal to make them open up a bit,’ Portugal midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo said. ‘The Slovakia win really lifted us. We’re motivated and feeling good.’
   Also scheduled for today are Romania vs Armenia; Denmark vs Albania; Latvia vs Liechtenstein; Luxembourg vs. Slovakia; Faeroe Islands vs. Ireland; Belarus vs. Scotland; and Iceland vs Malta.
   Ireland, who gave up two second-half goals in a 2-2 draw with Israel on Saturday, could take over first place in Group 4 with a win.

Edwin van der Sar has vowed to become Manchester United’s new Peter Schmeichel and put them back on top of English football.
   The former Juventus and Ajax keeper has agreed a two-year contract at Old Trafford who have tried 10 keepers since Schmeichel left in 1999 after the treble-winning season.
   ‘They have tried a lot of goalkeepers since Peter went. I know United wanted a goalkeeper with experience, leadership qualities and who has performed at the highest level,’ said the 34-year-old Dutch international after his 2 million pound switch from Fulham.
   ‘I am that man and I am still a player with big ambitions. I believe I am now back at a level where I belong.
   ‘A lot has been said about replacing Peter Schmeichel. I will do my best to copy what he did. I know I have the experience and the ability to help the club push for all prizes next season.’
   United could have landed Van der Sar in 1999 if they had moved quicker when he was leaving Ajax.
   ‘They came in for me but I had just given my word to Juventus. I could not back out no matter how much United wanted me,’ he said.
   Van der Sar joined Fulham from Juventus for 5 million pounds four years ago.
   United were also poised to sign PSV Eindhoven’s South Korean forward Park Ji-Sung with chief executive David Gill in talks with the Dutch club for a 5 million pound move.

South Korean World Cup star Park Ji-Sung has confirmed he could be moving to Manchester United after the Red Devils made a formal bid to sign him from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven.
   Midfielder Park impressed during PSV’s run to the semi-finals of this season’s Champions League and United chief executive David Gill is hopeful of tying up a deal later this week.
   PSV have confirmed that they have had an approach from United and that Park has been informed of their interest.
   The player indicated to the Korea Times that he was tempted by the offer despite his close relationship with Guus Hiddink, the PSV manager who led South Korea to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup.
   ‘It is true that I have had an offer from them (United), although my agent didn’t tell me the details,’ Park was quoted as saying.
   ‘Hiddink may have some effect in making the decision but his opinion is not absolute.’
   A PSV spokesman added, ‘We want to keep him, as we want to keep all our best players, but we know the system and we know that if another club makes an official offer, it’s a possibility we will lose that player.’

Inter Milan have slapped a world record £60 million transfer fee on striker Adriano before a meeting with Roman Abramovich today, reports British Press.
   The Chelsea owner will travel to Italy for talks with both Inter and Milan over the loan deals of Juan Sebastian Veron and Hernan Crespo, according to claims in Rome yesterday.
   But Abramovich and chief executive Peter Kenyon will also try to thrash out deals for Milan’s left-back Kakhabar Kaladze and Brazilian superstar Adriano.
   Real Madrid are also chasing the 23-year-old Inter ace and have offered centre-back Walter Samuel in part-exchange.
   But Inter are determined to hold on to him.

UEFA president Lennart Johansson wants Liverpool to defend their Champions League trophy as European soccer’s ruling body prepares to vote on the issue.
   Johansson told BBC radio on Tuesday that UEFA’s executive committee will arrange a telephone conference in the next few days, with members voting on whether Liverpool will be allowed in next season’s competition after their win over AC Milan.
   Under current rules, Liverpool’s fifth-placed finish in the Premier League means they have qualified only for the much less prestigious UEFA Cup.
   Asked if he was in favour of Liverpool being allowed in the Champions League, Johansson said,’ Yes, I am...but I want people to know that they are free to have their own opinion when they are voting.
   ‘I think that a champion should, as in all other sport, have the possibility to defend its title.’
   Johansson said he favoured allowing the Merseyside’s into the qualifying rounds. The 14-member committee, of which he is a member, would be given background on all the options available.
   Executive committee members will be contacted on Tuesday to set a time and date for the teleconference.
   ‘One decision is about what will happen in the future,’ Johansson said. ‘The main decision will be about Liverpool.
   ‘I hope and I trust that it will be a decision which will be accepted by all parties because we have the ambition, on the one hand, to give Liverpool the opportunity to defend their title and, on the other hand, to see that no-one suffers from such a decision.’
   Though there are three qualifying rounds to the money-spinning Champions League, English clubs have so far only joined in the final round.
   Johansson said Liverpool’s title defence should start ‘from the very beginning, in my opinion’. ‘They have to go through all the competition.’

Edson do Nascimento, son of Brazilian football legend Pele, was arrested here Monday on suspicion of being a member of a drug trafficking and kidnapping gang, police said.
   The 35-year-old ‘Edinho,’ as the son is known, was detained with 17 other people.
   The gang is alleged to have links with other criminal gangs operating in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
   Police said they believe the gang was involved in the kidnapping of the mother of Brazilian footballer Robinho last year.
   The woman, Marina
   Souza, was freed in late December after a 200,000 dollar ransom had been paid for her release.
   Some 70 police officers participated in the arrests in Sao Paulo, which also netted weapons and 11 vehicles, according to media reports.
   Edinho is a former footballer with the Santos club, where Pele also played.
   Pele, one of the greatest footballers of all time who won the World Cup three times with Brazil, went on to become a government minister in his home country.

Victoria return to winning ways
Victoria SC beat Dhanmondi Club by 2-1 goals in the only match of the Metropolis First Division Football League at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium in Kamalapur on Tuesday. Mithun put the winners ahead in the 19th minute of the first half while Ali Hossain leveled the margin for Dhanmondi Club in the 80th minute. Jibon scored the match-winner for Victoria SC in the 81st minute.
— UNB

37 report so far
Thirty-seven of the 45 players called for a non-residential hockey camp for Under-18 that began Monday have so far reported to the Hockey Federation. The remaining eight players must report to the Federation by Thursday if they are interested to be considered for selection for any long-term training programme, a Federation official said.
— UNB

Women’s volleyball gets under way
Rajshahi, Pabana and Rajbari won their respective matches in the opening day of the Pepsi Inter-District Women’s Volleyball Championship at Dhanmondi women’s sports complex on Tuesday. In the afternoon matches, Rajshahi DSA outplayed Tangail and Rajbari DSA defeated Khulna DSA, all by 3-1 sets. Earlier in morning matches, Pabna DSA thrashed Khulna DSA and Rajshahi beat Tangail, both by straight 3-1 sets. Magura and Rangpur did not turn up on the opening day. Earlier, Bangladesh Volleyball Federation president, Alhaj Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu, inaugurated the meet.
— BD News

Win for Dhaka Junior
Dhaka Junior SC beat City United Club by 3-2 goals in a match of the Metropolis Third Division Football League at the Banani Army Army Stadium on Tuesday. In another match, Muslim Institute drew with Spondon Krira Chakra 2-2 at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium in Kamalapur. Jalil scored two goals for The Muslim Institute while Palash struck twice for Spondon KC. In the day’s other match at the Banani Army Stadium, Shaheed Zia Smriti Sangsad played a goalless draw with Mirpur Eleven.
— UNB

School Judo to be held in August
The Milk Vita First National School Judo competition will be held from August 10 to 19 at the National Sports Council gymnasium. Interested school teams have been asked to contact the Bangladesh Judo Federation office (Room 230-232) at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium, said a Federation press release on Tuesday.
— UNB

Kaptai defeat Baghaichhari
The Kaptai Upazila team defeated Baghaichhari upazila team by 4-1 goals in the second round of the Zila Parishad Junior (Under-14) Gold Cup Football Tournament at the Rangamati stadium on Tuesday. Reshim Uddin netted four goals for the winners to record the first hat-trick of the tournament. Yusuf made the lone consolation goal for the losers. Lion Sporting Club will take on the Sapchhari Ribeng Club today.
— New Age