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The senior cricketers and the members of the national team management committee have requested the Bangladesh Cricket Board to reactivate the High Performance Unit so that they can continue practice even if they are left out of the side.
   The request was made when they met the BCB president, AHM Mustafa Kamal, and the senior officials on Saturday after completion of a successful series against Zimbabwe.
   The BCB had closed down the HP unit, once a breeding ground for the upcoming players, in late 2005 and never showed any interest in reactivating it after it had established an academy in June 2006.
   While the academy, which is now known as the GP-BCB National Cricket Academy, is providing training mostly to the budding cricketers, it has been said that there was no scope for the ditched national cricketers to continue training.
   Jalal Yunus, the chairman of BCB’s media committee, said they have taken a serious note of the demand and will soon ask an official to take effort for re-launching the unit. ‘If necessary, we will hire a separate coach for the unit,’ said Yunus.
   Jalal said at the meeting they wanted to know what had gone wrong with the pace bowlers despite the team having a special coach for them in Sri Lankan Champaka Ramanayeke. Bangladesh played the last three matches against Zimbabwe with one pacer. They also looked very ordinary on West Indies tour, which left the BCB officials highly concerned.
   Without revealing the details on this issue, Jalal said they may decide to send Ramanayeke back to the academy to train the upcoming players for which he was appointed initially.
   The BCB president appreciated the idea of decentralising the training camps of different BCB selections so that the training facilities including indoor stadiums in Chittagong, Bogra, Rajshahi and Khulna which remain idle for most of the year due to lack of activities, can be utilised properly.
   Most of the teams train in Dhaka creating a logjam at the indoor facilities, which has prompted the players to come up with this idea.
   The BCB also asked national coach Jamie Siddons to coordinate with the age-group and development coach so that there can be a uniform coaching style for the present and all the prospective national players.
   Stand-in skipper Sakib al Hasan and his deputy Mushfiqur Rahim, coach Jamie Siddons, manager Shafiqul Haque, assistant coach Khaled Mahmud and computer analyst Nasir Ahmed were present at the meeting.
   BCB senior vice-president Mahbubul Anam, cricket operations chairman Enayet Hussain Siraj, chairman of media committee Mohammed Jalal Yunus and acting CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury also attended the meeting.
   The BCB high-ups congratulated the squad upon completion of a highly successful year in which they have won every ODI series and also had a historic first overseas Test series victory against the West Indies and a memorable ODI win over World Cup runners-up Sri Lanka.

Chitta-gong Abahani forced held Brothers Union to play a 2-2 draw in the lone match of the Citycell Bangladesh League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Saturday.
   Ghana striker Enock Bentil struck twice for Brothers Union while Mithun Chowdhury and Suman Barua netted one goal each for Chittagong Abahani.
   Bentil opened the account for Brothers Union in the 36th minute with right-footer from the six-yard box after receiving a cross from Atique from the right wing.
   After the lemon break, Mithun restored parity for Chittagong Abahani in the 51st minute with a placing shot from the D-box giving no chance to Brothers’ keeper Iran Sheikh.
   Brothers went 2-1 up when Bentil’s powerful shot from inside the danger zone flew into the net in the 57th minute before Suman levelled the margin for Chittagong Abahani in the 72nd minute from goal-mouth melee.
   Our Staff Correspondent adds: This was the second draw in three matches for both Brothers and Ctg Abahani, which put them level on points and share the fourth position with Arambagh KS and Farashganj SC, who all have equal five points.
   Holders Abahani and title contenders Mohammedan both have maximum nine points from three matches, but the latter are on top of the table on goal difference. Sheikh Russell KC are third with seven points.
   With the game the lone professional league of the country goes into a one-and-a-half months break to facilitate the national team’s preparation for the SAFF Championship, scheduled to be held in Dhaka from December 4 to 13.

Brendon McCullum hit a return-to-form hundred and Scott Styris took three wickets in two overs as New Zealand beat Pakistan by 64 runs in the second day-night international here on Friday.
   McCullum notched 131 to help the Black Caps post a challenging 303-8 on a flat Abu Dhabi Stadium pitch before Styris (3-23) triggered a middle-order collapse which saw Pakistan bowled out for 239, leaving the three-match series level at 1-1.
   Pakistan won the first match by 138 runs on Tuesday. The final match will be played here on Monday.
   Chasing a daunting target, Pakistan got off to a solid start of 77 with Khalid Latif (45) and Salman Butt (59) setting the tempo. Even after Latif fell leg-before to New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori in the 17th over, Pakistan were well on course.
   Butt and Younus (19) added another 47 for the second wicket before Styris struck three times in ten balls to turn the match in his team’s favour.
   Bowling for the first time in 13 months, Styris had Younus smartly caught at short mid-wicket by a diving Ross Taylor and then next ball induced Shahid Afridi (0) to play into the same fielder’s hands.
   In his next over, Styris had Kamran Akmal (four) caught at short cover before Butt was run out after being sent back by Mohammad Yousuf.
   Vettori then trapped Yousuf (18) to push Pakistan to the brink of defeat.
   Although Shoaib Malik (26) and Abdul Razzaq (35) resisted, it was too little too late against a professional New Zealand.
   Earlier, New Zealand had McCullum to thank for repairing the innings through a second wicket stand of 126 with Martin Guptill (62).
   Vettori praised his team’s character.
   ‘We talked about some key things after the first match and came out and did them perfectly,’ said Vettori.
   ‘McCullum and Martin Guptill put on a very good partnership and we bowled well.’
   Pakistan captain Younus termed the McCullum-Guptill partnership as the key for New Zealand.
   ‘Actually they had a good partnership and when we batted we lost crucial wickets, especially to Styris,’ said Younus. ‘McCullum was superb today.’
   Stripped of the vice-captaincy to allow him to concentrate on batting last month, McCullum steadied the innings, driving and cutting with authority during his 129-ball knock. He hit 14 boundaries and three sixes.
   Guptill hit five boundaries and two sixes during his 70-ball knock before holing out to paceman Razzaq.
   McCullum also added 44 for the fifth wicket with Vettori (30) before Razzaq returned for his second spell to have the New Zealand captain caught behind off a miscued hit.
   McCullum reached the three-figure mark off 108 deliveries. He was finally dismissed in the 47th over, bowled off an inside edge by paceman Umar Gul.
   He also added 56 for the seventh wicket with Jacob Oram who made 33 not out.
   Pakistan brought back Malik after resting him in the first match, while New Zealand included fit-again Kyle Mills and Neil Broom.

Opener Imrul Kayes smashed 115 off 137 balls as holders Abahani continued their winning run in the Dhaka Premier Cricket League thumping BKSP by 82 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.
   Abahani joined arch-rivals Mohammedan Sporting Club at the top of the points table with both sides winning four matches on the trot. In the fourth round, Mohammedan scraped a three-wicket victory against CCS at Fatullah.
   Old DOHS, who upset title-contenders Gazi Tanks in the first round, posted their second win, this time against reigning runners-up Surjo Tarun by 18 runs at the BKSP.
   
   Abahani v BKSP
   Abahani had a horrific start losing the first two wickets for 15 runs and their Indian recruit Reshmi Ranjan did little to be dismissed for 24, leaving the holders stuttering at 96 for four.
   Opener Imrul, who held the other end, had a worthy partner then in Nasir Hossain, who helped him forge a 135-run stand for the fifth wicket to bail out the side. Nasir was out for 81 off 73 balls and Kayes followed him soon as Abahani ended their stipulated 50 overs at 268 all out. Zakaria Masud claimed 4-48 for BKSP.
   Skipper Mohammad Rafique took 4-28 as BKSP were all out for 186 runs in 47.5 overs. Aizal Ahmed made highest 56 runs for the academy side.
   
   Mohammedan v CCS
   Big-hitting middle order batsman Nazmul Hossain scored 84 from 83 balls while opener Uttam Sarkar added 50 as CCS posted a competitive 225 all out against Mohammedan, who were bolstered by the return of national cricketer Mohammad Ashraful and Mahmudullah. Mohammedan’s most successful bowler was, however, pacer Mohammad Shahzada, who returned with 4-51.
   Ashraful (25) and Nafees Iqbal (39) provided a Mohammedan a solid platform and in-form Marshall Ayub exploited it to score 61 off 78 balls, guiding Mohammedan to 226-7 in 49 overs. Ayub shared 75-run stand with Faysal Hossain (42) for the fifth wicket. Pakistani cricketer Atiqur Rahman claimed 4-37 for CCS.
   
   DOHS v Surjo Tarun
   On a sluggish BKSP track, infamous for many low-scoring matches, DOHS rode on opener Nasiruddin Faruque’s 43 and Taibur Rahman’s unbeaten 39 to post 183-7 in 50 overs. Surjo Tarun, in reply, were all out for 165 runs, despite Anisur Rahman making 52. Moshiur Rahman and Nazmul Islam grabbed three wickets each for DOHS.

India are a loss away from just their third bilateral one-day series defeat since 2006, but MS Dhoni was not letting the pressure get to him. India surrendered a 3-2 series lead in Hyderabad, where they fell three runs short of a target of 351, to arrive in Guwahati needing to win to prevent their first bilateral series defeat since Australia toured two years ago.
   ‘It [the Hyderabad loss] was hurting and disappointing. But we have left everything in the dressing room,’ said Dhoni. ‘We have two more games to go and that’s what count now. Whatever has happened has happened. You cannot change much about it. It’s important to concentrate on what lies ahead and stay fresh mentally.
   ‘Every game was a pressure game in the series and the remaining two games also. Our first priority is to be in the series, so we have to win the next game and not looking too far ahead.’
   India’s middle order has not produced a lot of runs over the last two matches and that was a major factor in their current series position. As he most always does, Dhoni patted back criticism of two bad outings from the middle order, himself included. ‘We rely on a good start but every now and then your openers don’t score and the pressure comes to the middle order,’ said Dhoni. ‘This is one of the series where the middle order has not performed consistently.
   ‘It’s not a worrying thing. But of course it’s good if we get a good start so that the middle order and lower order capitalise on that.’
   The young allrounder Ravindra Jadeja has bowled decently in the series as support to Harbhajan Singh but has not done much with bat, prompting questions of his viability in the side. Yet without an alternative allrounder option in the squad Dhoni backed Jadeja to perform. ‘He is doing well but when it comes to selection, we don’t speak too much about it,’ he said. ‘But every individual, if he is doing well he deserves a chance to be in the side. Jadeja is bowling well, as series goes he will turn up more as a batsman.’

It is not for everyone to assess what Sachin Tendulkar did in Hyderabad. An innings of such scale, magnitude, brilliance and craftsmanship cannot easily be comprehended or commented upon by lesser mortals. But one man perhaps possesses that right. Kapil Dev had been there and done exactly that 26 years ago in Tunbridge Wells on a nondescript day against Zimbabwe. If anything, he perhaps did one better, guiding India home with his unbeaten 175.
   And India’s finest all-rounder didn’t miss even a single ball on Thursday night. The day after the maestro single-handedly almost stole the game from Australia with his epic effort, Kapil was unequivocal in his definition. ‘There is no doubt that this is Sachin’s best innings in the last 15 years,’ he told DNA on Friday.
   ‘Forget about my innings,’ he said when reminded about his score against Zimbabwe. ‘That was in the past. This is current. I do not recollect seeing Sachin in this mood in recent times.’
   Kapil was adamant that the 175 didn’t matter; it was the attitude that counted. ‘I do not care if he scored 25 runs or 100 runs or 175. If Sachin continues to play in this way, I will become his greatest ever fan.’
   There is little that is left unsaid about Sachin in his illustrious career spanning 20 years.
   But on Friday, one of the world’s best all-rounders ever, sounded deeply emotional.
   ‘Let me explain. There will be more runs scored and even more attacking knocks played. But I will never forget this innings. What he did was unbelievable. His intent and mastery of the situation was breathtaking. I repeat, at the twilight of his career, if Sachin adopts this approach more frequently, he will have a lifelong fan in me.’ Kapil’s voice was shaking by the time he put the phone down.

North South University overpowered Independent University Bangladesh 2-0 while Dhaka International University thrashed University of Asia Pacific 4-0 in the opening matches of the Mentors’ Inter-Private University Football Tournament 2009 on Saturday.
   Asif and Birol scored for North South University in the 30th and 43rd minutes of the match after Bangladesh Football Federation president Kazi Salahuddin had formally inaugurated the tournament at the Bangladesh Army Stadium.
   Chief executive of Mentors’ Khairul Hasan and Northern University Bangladesh vice-chancellor Dr Shamsul Huq were also
   present on the occasion as special guests at inaugural ceremony.
   Dhaka International University’s Shamsuz-zaman opened the account in the 5th minute before Joinal Abedin doubled the margin on 27t minutes. Shafiqul Gani Shehan then added two more goals in the 30th and 35th minutes for the winners in the second match against UAP.
   Dhaka International University of Business, Agriculture and Technology will play against Gono Biswabidyalaya while Stamford University will take on Presidency University in today’s matches.

England started their tour of South Africa with a crushing 185-run over the Diamond Eagles franchise team in a 50-overs match in Bloemfontein on Friday.
   Captain Andrew Strauss hit one of three half-centuries as England piled up 294 for seven, taking advantage of good batting conditions after being sent in to bat.
   Stuart Broad struck with the second ball of the Eagles’ innings and the home team never recovered, crashing to 109 all out in 26.2 overs. Five England bowlers took two wickets each.
   Strauss hit 72 and shared a second wicket stand of 123 with Jonathan Trott (85) before Eoin Morgan slammed a quick 67 not out off 52 balls as the innings ended with a flurry of scoring.
   Eagles opening bowler CJ de Villiers took an early wicket when he bowled Joe Denly for three but Strauss and Trott put the tourists in command.
   Strauss and Trott were content to play themselves in as they compiled their century partnership before lifting the tempo.
   Strauss made his runs off 85 balls with seven fours and a six before holing out to square leg against the medium-paced Ryan Bailey.
   Trott took 81 balls to reach his fifty but needed only another 23 deliveries to reach 85, with seven fours, before he was bowled by Bailey when he missed an attempted pull.
   Morgan was mainly responsible for England scoring 57 runs in the batting Powerplay, which was taken from the 43rd to the 47th over. But he rode his luck, surviving two dropped catches.
   Eagles opening batsman Morne van Wyk edged the second ball of the innings from Broad to Graeme Swann in the slips.
   Promising left-hander Rilee Rossouw hit four fours in making 17 off 10 balls but was caught behind off the first ball of Broad’s second over.
   James Anderson, Sajid Mahmood, Swann and Paul Collingwood also took two wickets each as the Eagles collapsed.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori believes his team’s conscious effort to improve in key areas helped them beat Pakistan and level their three-match series at 1-1.
   They may have been beaten by 138-runs in the first match on Tuesday but the Black Caps hit back with a clinical performance in the second on Friday to win by 64 runs—a turnaround which delighted the New Zealand captain.
   ‘I think we wanted to improve on some key areas, made a conscious effort and it’s pleasing that we were able to turn around in a couple of days; now we must keep the pressure on Pakistan,’ said Vettori after the win.
   The third and final match will be played here on Monday.
   New Zealand rode on a return-to-form century by Brendon McCullum (131) who added 126 for the second wicket with Martin Guptill (62) which built the foundation of an imposing total of 303-8 in 50 overs.
   ‘The partnership between McCullum and Guptill set up the victory for us, enabled us to achieve a 300-plus total and put pressure on Pakistan,’ said Vettori, who also identified Scott Styris’s three wickets in two overs as the turning point.
   Pakistan got off to a solid start of 77 between Salman Butt (59) and Khalid Latif (45) and were 124-2 when Styris, bowling for the first time in nearly 13 months, grabbed three wickets off just 10 balls.
   ‘I was trying to get some quick overs,’ said Vettori of his decision to bowl Styris. ‘Those turned out to be the most influential overs. Scott came into the game to impress and did at a time when Pakistan were coming hard on us.’
   Vettori praised his team’s fielding.
   ‘If you look at a couple of catches and Guptill’s run out of Butt then you realise that these can swing games your way,’ said Vettori.
   Man-of-the-match McCullum said he wanted to prove his worth as opener.
   ‘There was some pressure on me coming into this match,’ said McCullum, who was relieved of vice-captaincy to improve his batting form. ‘Vice-captain or not, I am a senior player and wanted to prove my worth as an opener.’

The Zimbabwean Under-19 Cricket team arrives today by an Emirates flight to play a five-match ODI series against Bangladesh Under-19 team, beginning in Khulna on November 13.
   The tourists will travel to the port city of Khulna on Monday (Nov 9) and play an one-day warm-up match against the Bangladesh X1 Thursday (Nov 11) at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna (previously known as Khulna Divisional Stadium).
   The Zimbabwean team will start their five-match one-day series against their Bangladesh counterpart Friday (Nov 13) at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna.
   The tourists will also play the 2nd and 3rd one-day matches on November 14 and 16 at the same venue.
   They will play the remaining two one-day matches on Nov 19 and 20, both at the Jessore District Stadium, before leaving Bangladesh on Nov 21.

The certificate awarding ceremony of the Level 3 Coach Education Course was held at the Dhaka Sheraton Hotel on Friday.
    The Bangladesh Cricket Board president, AHM Mustafa Kamal, handed over the certificates
   to the participants of this elite course for cricket coaches.
   This is for the first time the elite course, conducted jointly by the ACC and Cricket Australia, is being held in Bangladesh.
   The course began on November 3 and will continue up to November
   9 at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
   A total of 29 participants from 14 countries, including former inter-
   national cricketers Rashid Latif, Iqbal Sikander
   and Rashid Khan of Pakistan, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Rumesh Ratnayeke, Piyal Wijetunge of Sri Lanka and Aminul Islam, Khaled Mahmud, Monjurul Islam and Minhajul Abedin of Bangladesh, are taking part in the course.
   Other Bangladeshi participants are Nazmul Abedin, Sarwar Imran, Mohammad Salahuddin, Waheedul Ghani, Zafrul Ehsan and ESM Ashfaqul Islam.
   There are seven course presenters from Australia and they are Ross Turner, Jeff Lawson, Toot Byron, David Mann, Martin Gleeson, Alan Campbell and Graham House. Bangladesh head coach Jamie Siddons and
   fitness and conditioning coach Grant Trafford Luden will be the guest presenters.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti knows his first Premier League clash with Manchester United will provide the acid test of his title credentials, but he believes the champions have weaknesses that can be exploited in today’s summit meeting.
   Ancelotti’s side have become the top pick to win the English crown after an impressive start under the Italian suggested he has recaptured the magic missing from Stamford Bridge since Jose Mourinho’s departure.
   But Ancelotti is well aware that only when he has emerged unscathed from a head-to-head duel with United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will he truly be able to feel like a major player in the Premier League.
   The likes of Mourinho and Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger earned their stripes – and Ferguson’s grudging admiration – by defeating United in individual matches and then the title race.
   Now Ancelotti, whose side are two points clear of second placed United, must do the same.
   While most of Ferguson’s managerial opponents will inevitably suffer from an inferiority complex when they compare their achievements with the Scot’s, Ancelotti can draw inspiration from his previous battles with United.
   He has knocked Ferguson out of the Champions League twice during his time with AC Milan, with the 2007 semi-final rout at the San Siro a particularly fond memory, and has won a Community Shield penalty shoot-out against United in August.
   The Blues chief believes today’s match will go his way as well if Chelsea take advantage of the flaws in Ferguson’s defence and midfield.
   United, who haven’t won at the Bridge since 2002, were unusually timid in their 2-0 defeat at Liverpool two weeks ago and their porous defence has conceded 11 goals already in the league this season.
   And, with England defender Rio Ferdinand ruled out with a back injury, Ancelotti suspects Chelsea maybe able to expose United’s soft centre in the same way as Liverpool.
   ‘Liverpool played a fantastic match (against United), a strong match and put a lot of pressure on. That’s why they won,’ Ancelotti said.
   ‘They didn’t give United any possibility to play like they want to play. It was a good lesson for us because Manchester can suffer when there’s pressure on their midfielders.
   ‘I think Ferdinand is a very good defender. Without Ferdinand they lose something.
   ‘But I don’t want to work just against other team’s weaknesses. We want to put our own qualities on the pitch.
   ‘The best thing is to maintain a balance. They have fantastic strikers. Wayne Rooney is one of the most intelligent strikers in the world.’
   Ferguson will hope the return to fitness of Serbia centre-back Nemanja Vidic shores up a defence that conceded three times against CSKA Moscow in midweek, while Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov could feature after a knee injury.
   The United manager, who can point to a famous 1999 Champions League victory over Ancelotti’s Juventus as proof that he doesn’t need to fear the Italian, has seen Chelsea bosses Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Guus Hiddink fail to overthrow United in recent years.
   But he admits Ancelotti could pose the biggest threat to his supremacy since Mourinho’s departure.
   ‘I thought Ancelotti would do well,’ he said. ‘He was a great coach at AC Milan. He won the European Cup twice and brought a wealth of experience with him to Chelsea.
   ‘He was also a great player so he has a lot of knowledge. He brought a different system to the ones Chelsea have used in the past.
   ‘It has maybe been easier to adapt tactics because they have very experienced players, who have more tactical knowledge than the younger ones. It seems to have worked well.’
   Even though there is plenty at stake on Sunday, Ancelotti has no intention of being an unwelcoming host and will share a bottle of red wine with Ferguson whatever the result.
   ‘We drank red wine after we drew in the semi-finals of the Champions League, Juventus against United,’ he said. ‘United equalised in the last minute and I was a bit angry. But after the red wine it was better!’

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo says he wants to go down in history on the same page as Pele and Diego Maradona, while revealing he hopes he does not have to face former club Manchester United anytime soon.
   The 24-year-old Portuguese international became the most expensive player ever earlier this year after the Bernabeu outfit paid £80 million to prise him away from Old Trafford, where he netted 84 Premier League goals.
   The current FIFA World Player of the Year made an explosive start to life in la Liga, breaking a Real Madrid club record by scoring in his first four league games, before suffering an ankle injury.
   And Ronaldo has revealed that, ideally, he would like to continue playing professional football for another 15 years, with his ultimate ambition to join South American greats Pele and Maradona as one of the best players ever to have graced the game.
   ‘I have another seven, eight years in football, or more. If my legs give
   me a chance to play
   until 40, I want to play,’ he told FourFourTwo Malaysia.
   ‘But I want to be in the first page of history, the same as Maradona and Pele. I want to be there.
   ‘I know it’s very tough but I think it’s possible if I carry on like that, to win things. I think it’s possible. I know it’s hard, but in my head, it’s possible.’
   And the former Sporting Lisbon starlet added that he hopes he does not have come face-to-face with former employers Manchester United in the Champions League either this season or next, as he still retains many friends from his successful six-year stint in England.
   ‘I don’t want to play against Manchester. It’s a strange feeling if I play against them,’ he said.
   ‘But you never know. In the Champions League, everything is possible but I don’t want to play against Manchester.
   ‘I still have the same friends. I speak sometimes with Rooney, Vidic, Ferdinand, Nani, Evra, Anderson.
   ‘It’s good to know what’s going on there and the people like to know if I’m happy here.’

Sir Alex Ferguson has voiced his support for Manchester United’s defenders in the light of a relatively disappointing start to the season by the reigning Premier League champions.
   United, who set a world record of 1,311 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal last season, have been far more susceptible this term, allowing 11 goals in as many Premier League games.
   More worryingly, United have leaked seven goals at home, more than clubs in or around the relegation zone such as Birmingham, Hull and Wolves.
   Ferguson’s team has not been aided by the absence of Dutch international goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, who was in goal during last season’s record-breaking run and injuries to Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.
   Those circumstances have forced the United manager to name 16 different defensive line-ups so far this season.
   However, despite the lack of continuity in his defence and the loss of form of key personnel such as Ferdinand, Ferguson insists United’s defensive frailties are not a cause for concern ahead of today’s clash with table-toppers Chelsea, two points in front of the Scot’s side.
   ‘Changing defensive line-ups didn’t affect us last year,’ said Ferguson. ‘When we were on that run of 12 clean sheets we were changing the back four all the time so the players are there. We are lucky, we’ve got a good squad so I don’t see why that should be the problem.
   ‘But I think you also have to look at the number of goals scored in the Premier League this season as opposed to the previous season.
   ‘It’s the most there’s been so maybe we are just in one of these unusual seasons, but it would be nice to get clean sheets - no question about that,’ he added. ‘It makes a difference.’
   Coincidentally, United’s record run of a dozen Premier League games without conceding a goal started last season following this corresponding weekend and Ferguson believes that, contrary to the current form book which includes Tuesday’s 3-3 home draw with CSKA Moscow in the Champions League, his team is capable of repeating that feat.
   ‘It’s a team of great ability,’ said Ferguson. ‘Maybe the strongest part is that we’ve got some variations to counter-act the injuries we get.
   ‘We’ve got Wes Brown and Jonny Evans, last week they were tremendous against Blackburn and strangely enough on Tuesday Jonny was magnificent, particularly in the second half.
   ‘Although they scored three goals, I find it hard to fault my central defenders. I just think we were too open.
   ‘I just think we had a challenge last year and they accepted it. The challenge was we had to go to Japan (for the World Club Championship) and that focused all of our minds.
   ‘We needed to get results before we went to Japan and after we got back because we were going to be games and points behind teams. They buckled down to the job and it was a fantastic job from them.
   ‘The challenge now is to win the league. Someone made the point the other day, I don’t think the Premier League settles until the internationals are over. Once we go over this next bout of internationals and the league settles down, we will probably see a truer league.’

League leaders Bayer Leverkusen opened a four-point gap at the top of the Bundesliga on Friday with a 4-0 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt after scoring three goals in the first 11 minutes.
   Having been named in the Germany squad for the first time since February earlier in the day, Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling netted in the second minute after Frankfurt failed to cope with a cross from striker Eren Derdiyok.
   With the visitors still recovering from the early blow, 20-year-old defender Stefan Reinartz headed home on six minutes and then 19-year-old Toni Kroos rifled home a shot into the top right-hand corner on 16 minutes.
   It was a night for youth when substitute midfielder Lars Bender, 20, came off the bench for Derdiyok in the 83rd minute and hit the fourth goal just three minutes later.

England manager Fabio Capello was awe-struck as he unveiled a bust at Wembley of Sir Alf Ramsey, the man whose World Cup winning achievement he hopes to emulate in South Africa next year.
   Ramsey became the first and so far only England manager to lead the side to World Cup glory when in 1966 he guided the hosts to a triumph that culminated with a 4-2 extra-time Wembley final win over West Germany.
   Several members of the late Ipswich manager’s victorious England side, including final hat-trick star Sir Geoff Hurst, as well as Sir Bobby Charlton, Martin Peters and George Cohen, were at Wembley on Friday for the unveiling of a bust that will be displayed in the tunnel area of the stadium.
   ‘It is not easy for me to talk in front of world champions, it’s very emotional,’ said Capello.
   ‘I saw the England final on TV and remember everything, and now I am England manager.
   ‘I remember my history in football and the first time I met Sir Bobby Charlton, it’s magical for me and incredible to be here among these players.’
   Capello also unveiled a replica of the Jules Rimet trophy, the prize awarded to World Cup final winning teams before Brazil were allowed to keep it permanently after being crowned world champions for a third time in 1970.
   ‘I think all the fans hope that the new (World) Cup will be here (at Wembley),’ Capello added.
   Next week sees England continue their build-up to the World Cup with a friendly against Brazil in Doha.
   Several players are set to miss the match because of injury, including Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand and Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard.
   However, United striker Wayne Rooney is expected to be fit and Old Trafford great Charlton said he would be delighted if the ex-Everton forward, who has so far netted 25 times in 56 internationals, broke his England record of 49 goals.
   ‘Nothing would give me greater pleasure,’ Charlton said. ‘I would be happy if that happened.
   ‘I think he is a terrific player, inspirational, and people like him. As long as he doesn’t get suspended for arguing with referees or doing something daft on the pitch - he is learning rapidly and doing less and less of that.’
   Charlton added Capello’s emphasis on discipline was reminiscent of Ramsey’s approach to the England job.
   ‘He reminds me of Alf Ramsey, no question. His history has always been as a tough character but he gets teams to listen and perform to their best.
   ‘Not just in finals but in friendly matches, they are expected to play just as hard.
   ‘That was the same with Alf Ramsey. You knew what was expected of you and you did it.’
   Looking ahead to next year, Charlton said: ‘I think England have a great chance of winning. I’m not getting carried away because it’s a tough game and you are playing against the best in the world.
   ‘It would be sensational if we could win but I don’t want to put any more pressure on them.’

England midfielder David Beckham is relishing the chance to play Champions League football again once he returns to AC Milan on his second loan spell in January.
   Milan missed out on Champions League qualification last season but are on course to progress from the group stages this time around, allowing the 34-year-old to be eligible for the start of the knockout phase in February.
   ‘I’ve not been involved for a few years now but I always enjoy Champions League games,’ said Beckham, who first joined the Serie A side from the Los Angeles Galaxy at the start of 2009.
   A Champions League winner in 1999 with Manchester United, Beckham’s last appearance in the competition came for Real Madrid in 2007, prior to joining the Galaxy that July.
   ‘They’re different from playing the majority of league games,’ he said.
   ‘They’re always special nights and there’s always a different atmosphere, especially at big clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid and Milan.’
   Beckham has been keeping an eye on Milan’s early season form in Serie A under new head coach Leonardo.
   ‘Unless I’ve been playing or training I’ve watched every game,’ he said.
   ‘I watch every Milan game, every Manchester United game and every Madrid game being an ex-player and a fan of all three teams. It’s great to watch teams like that and learn from players and teams.
   ‘It was a tough start (for Milan) but that was going to happen but Milan are a great team and it was never going to be a problem.’
   Beckham must firstly try to help the Galaxy reach the MLS Cup final, which determines the American league champions and he is committed to the cause, even it means missing out on a 116th England cap later this month.
   Should the Galaxy defeat Los Angeles rivals Chivas USA in their Western Conference semi-final second leg on Sunday night, the next round of the play-offs will clash with England’s friendly against Brazil in Doha on November 14.
   ‘Of course I’d a lot rather the Galaxy progressed in the play-offs more than anything,’ Beckham said.
   ‘We’ve got to this stage and done well so far this season but everybody knows how proud I am about playing for my country.
   ‘Ideally it would be great if they were separate but they’re not so it will be good if we progress.’
   Beckham said he and his team-mates would have to step up their game from last Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Chivas.
   ‘We know we can play better than we did in the first game and we have to if we want to progress. We have to play a lot better,’ he said.

Queiroz defiant on Ronaldo call-up
   Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz insisted Saturday that he intends to call up Cristiano Ronaldo for crucial World Cup play-offs against Bosnia-Herzegovina despite the opposition of the player’s club Real Madrid. Real Madrid doctors have estimated that the striker will be out of action for at least two more weeks as he recovers from an ankle injury which has forced him to miss the club’s last seven matches. Ronaldo initially injured his right ankle in Real’s 3-0 Champions League victory over Marseille at the end of September and aggravated the problem while playing for Portugal on October 10. But Quieroz is not convinced that he is unable to play, and said that the Real Madrid star ‘will be examined by doctors who will decide if he can or not contribute to the national team.’ ‘I’m going to call up Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s an important player for us and I hope he can help us even if it’s only for a few minutes,’ Queiroz told televsion channel TVI24. ‘We want a great Cristiano, in form, and that’s our priority - to know if he is fit,’ said the Portugal coach. ‘Can he miss the first leg and play the second? It’s still too early to know,’ said Queiroz, who is expected to name his team on Sunday to play Bosnia on November 14 in Lisbon and November 18 in Zenica.
   Real Madrid have told Queiroz in no uncertain terms they will not make the star striker available. ‘It’s impossible for Ronaldo to play with Portugal,’ said Real coach Manuel Pellegrini. ‘I feel sorry for the Portugal squad and for the player, but he hasn’t trained for a long time now and he is still in pain.’
   — AFP
   
   Ancelotti won’t rush for chequebook
   Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti insisted on Friday that he will not be rushing for the Stamford Bridge chequebook despite a transfer ban being lifted on the Premier League leaders. The high-flying London club had been banned by FIFA from signing any new players until January 2011 after they were accused of encouraging French youngster Gael Kakuta to break a contract with his first club, Lens. But on Friday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport temporarily lifted the four-month suspension pending a full ruling by arbitrators which now allows Chelsea to reinforce their squad in the January transfer window. Ancelotti, whose team tackle defending champions Manchester United on Sunday, said: ‘We can buy players in January, but we don’t want to take a decision in this moment. ‘I’m very happy with the squad and it’s not necessary at the moment to take new players.‘I know we will lose four players in January (to the African Cup of Nations), but if we maintain the players’ fitness, we can have a good period also without the African players.’
   Earlier, CAS released a statement from their headquarters in Lausanne in which it explained its decision. ‘The Court of Arbitration for Sport has granted the request for a stay filed by Chelsea Football Club Ltd and Mr Gael Kakuta in relation to the decision taken by the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber on 27 August 2009,’ it said. Chelsea had asked for a suspension in a bid to sign new players during the January transfer window.
   — AFP

Big Hitter hits UK stand
The UK’s newest cricket magazine, Big Hitter, returns for a bumper third issue packed with big-name interviews. Aimed at the fans of Asian cricket, Big Hitter gives the readers an in-depth look at the game in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as well as profiling British Asian players. Its issue No 3 features exclusive interviews with some of the leading cricketers of the day as well as rising stars and the greats of the game. Big Hitter’s line-up includes interviews of VVS Laxman, Shahid Afridi, Muttiah Muralitharan, Gutam Ghambir, Umar Akmal and Steve Waugh. There is also an in-depth report on Bangladesh’s recent upturn in fortunes, a comprehensive Champions Trophy review, Sri Lanka’s Test successes fully documented, a feature on Cricket and Identity and a special report on Youth cricket in Asia. The latest issue of the magazine hit the newsstand on November 5, said a press release.
   — New Age