Dhaka, Oct 1 (UNB) – Ariful Haque played a century of 117 * for Rangpur Division as his side scored 300/5 * in 90 overs in the first innings on the first day against Barishal Division in their Tier-1 four-day match of the 20th National Cricket League (NCL) at Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bagura on Monday. 

Ariful was at the crease playing 181 balls and hitting 12 boundaries and one six and skipper Sajedul Islam [2* off 9b] was pairing him in the 6th wicket when the bails were drawn for the first day.

Besides his individual score, Ariful shared 195 runs off 56.1 overs with Naeem Islam [92 off 192b; 10x4; 1x4] in the 5th wicket stand. Opener Jahid Jabed [62 off 93b; 9x4] was another big hitter for Rangpur Division.

Sohag Gazi [2/88], Monir Hossain [1/23], Salman Hossain [1/24] and Kamrul Islam Rabbi [1/61] shared wickets for Barisal Division.

Toss: Barisal Division elected to bowl first.

Dhaka Metropolis vs Sylhet Division

In another league match of the four-day first class affair, Shadman Islam hammered 157 for Dhaka Metropolis’ collection of 332/4 * in 88 overs at stumps in the 1st innings against Sylhet Division after the first day’s paly of their Tier-2 round-1 match at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Mehrab Hossain Jr [28* off 32b; 2x4; 1x6] and former national team captain Mohammad Ashraful [1* off 17b] were at the crease when the bails were drawn for the day.

Opener Shadman was brilliant in his innings of 283balls as he hit 20 boundaries and two sixes, alongside sharing a 112 runs off 37.2 overs in the opening stand with Shykat Ali [42 off 104b; 5x4] before building another 112-run partnership from 23.2 overs in the second wicket stand with Shamsur Rahman [34 off 69b; 4x4].

Before being caught by Sayem Alam off Shahanur Rahman on 286/3 in 77.3 overs, Shadman shared another partnership of  62 off 17.1 overs with captain Marshall Ayub [50 off 84b; 3x4], who was another big hitter for  Dhaka Metropolis. 

Shahanur [2/61], Enamul Haque Jr [1/118] and Abu Jayed [1/46] were the wicket takers for Sylhet Division.

Toss: Sylhet Division elected to bowl first. 

Rajshahi vs Khulna

Rajshahi Division were trailing by 88 runs with nine wickets remaining in the 1st innings after day-1, replying to defending champions Khulna Division’s 210/10 in 52.3 overs, including Tushar Imran’s century of 104, in the Tier-1 match at Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi.

Mizanur Rahman [74* off 88b; 13x4] and Junaid Siddique [1* off 1b] were at stumps with 122/1 in 29 overs for Rajshahi when the bails were drawn for the first day.    

Opener Nazmul Hossain Shanto [46 off 86b; 6x4] was bowled out by Afif Hossain at 117/1 in 28.2 overs.

Earlier in Khulna Div’s innings, Tushar featured 14 boundaries and two sixes in his innings of 144 balls while Anamul Haque [26 off 15b; 6x4], Nahidul Islam [26 off 49b; 4x4], Soumya Sarkar [13 off 50b; 1x4] were other double digit scorers for the defending champions.

Shafiul Islam captured five wickets for 43 runs in 12 overs while Sunzamul Islam [2/25], Delwar Hossain [2/33] and Farhad Reza [1/60] shared the remaining five wickets for Rajshahi. 

Toss: Khulna Division elected to bat first.

Chattogramvs Dhaka Div

Chattogram Division were trailing by 213 runs with 8 wickets in hands in the 1st innings of the Tier-2 match after day-1 against Dhaka Division’s 238/10 in 81 overs at Khan Saheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah.

Opener Sadiqur Rahman [23* off 16b; 3x4] and Tasamul Haque [2* off 16b] were at the pitch with Chattogram Division score of 25/2 in 7 overs at stumps.

Shahadat Hossain removed both the wickets for duck, conceding 18 runs in four overs for Dhaka Division.

Earlier, Taibur Rahman [63 off 93b; 6x4] and opening batsman Rony Talukdar [59 off 143b; 4x4; 2x4] hit their half centuries for Dhaka Division.

Jubair Hossain got five wickets for 61 runs in 16 overs while Nayeem Hasan [3/74] and Hasan Mahmud [2/36] shared the remaining five wickets for Chattogram Division.

Toss: Chattogram Division elected to bowl first. 

Sylhet, Oct 1 (UNB) – Bangladesh got off to a good start in the 5th version of the six-nation Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football Tournament beating upper ranked Laos by 1-0 goal in the opener at 25,000-crowd Sylhet District Stadium here on Monday evening, amid huge enthusiasm among the local fans.

In the match, Biplo Ahmed put Bangladesh ahead in the 60th minute by a good shot from a handshake distance that kissed the net hitting the Laos custodian, following two repeated unsuccessful attempts (1-0). 

Mahbubur Rahman Sufil spoiled two close chances while Nabib Newaz Jibon missed another easy chance at the match.

In a FIFA international friendly match in Laos on March 27 last, Bangladesh came from behind to settle for a 2-2 draw with the hosts. 

With the day’s feat, Bangladesh not only regained their rhythm after a frustrating show in the just-concluded SAFF Championship in Dhaka, but also brightened their chance to reach the semifinals of the prestigious meet.

Bangladesh (FIFA ranked 193), the runners-up of 2015 Bangabandhu Gold Cup Football, lived up their expectations again beating FIFA ranked 178 Laos team.

Earlier, Finance Minister AMA Muhith inaugurated the 12-day heavyweight soccer meet at a simple ceremony in the evening. President of Bangladesh Football Federation Kazi Mohammad Salahuddin was also present on the occasion.

In the remaining Group B match, Bangladesh will play stronger Philippines on October 5 at the same venue.

The group matches of the country’s prestigious meet are billed for Sylhet from Oct 1-6.

Later, two semifinals will be held at the Bir Shrestha Ruhul Amin Stadium in Cox’s Bazar on October 9 and 10 and the final will commence at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka on October 12.

Six teams—split into two groups—are initially taking part in the first phase in Sylhet with the matches kicking off at 6:30 pm.

Participating teams are:

Group A – holders Nepal, Palestine and Tajikistan
Group B – Laos, the Philippines and hosts Bangladesh.

Remaining fixture of group matches:

Oct 2: Nepal vs Tajikistan
Oct 3: Laos vs Philippines
Oct 4: Tajikistan vs Palestine
Oct 5: Bangladesh vs Philippines
Oct 6: Palestine vs Nepal

Bangladesh’s Eleven: Ashraful Islam Rana, Waly Faisal, Bishwanath Ghosh, Tutul Hossain Badsha, Topu Barman, Biplo Ahmed (Mamunul Islam Mamun), Jamal Bhuiyan, Masuk Miah Zoni, Rabiul Hasan (Zafar Iqbal), Mahbubur Rahman Sufil (Ibrahim Miah) and Nabib Newaz Jibon.

Dhaka, Oct 1 (UNB) – Bangladesh defeated Pakistan by three wickets for their first win in the eight-nation Under-19 Asia Cup at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Monday. 

Bangladesh shored the win scoring 191 for 7 in 47.2 overs after restricting the visiting Pakistan at 187 for all in 45.2 overs.

Bangladesh innings boosted with two half centuries by retired hurt Shamim Hossain [65 off 105b; 5x4; 2x6] and Prantik Nawroz Nabil [58 off 93b; 4x4] alongside their partnership of 97 off 24 overs in the 4th wicket. 

Shamim and Nabil nullified Bangladesh early stumped with loss of three wickets for 42 in 104 overs as carried the team collection to 139/4 in 34.4 overs with their partnership before Nabil was lbw by Bilal Javed.

Opening batsman Sajid Hossain [21 off 26b; 4x4], wicketkeeper batsman Akbar Ali [17* off 31b; 2x4] and skipper Towhid Hridoy [10 off 8b; 2x4] were other double digit scorers for Bangladesh.

Muhammad Musa conceded economic 24 for three wickets in 7.2 overs while Saad Khan [1/13], Mohammad Hasnain [1/19], Bilal Javed [1/40] and Naseem Shah [1/63] equally shared four wickets for Pakistan.

Pakistan were sent in to bat first and raised their total riding on a half century by number-four batsman Waqar Ahmad [67 off 58b; 10x4; 1x6] and opening batsman Saim Ayub’s 49 off 77 balls with a boundary and two sixes.

Number-seven Junaid Khan [24 off 35b; 3x4], captain Rohail Nazir [23 off 36b; 2x4] and Muhammad Mohsin Khan [11 off 31b] were other double digit scorers for Pakistan. 

Spinner Rishad Hossain got three wickets for 53 runs in eight overs while pacer Shoriful Islam got two for 20 runs in 8.2 overs. Mrittunjoy Chowdhury [1/17], Rakibul Hasan [1/34] and Avishek Das [1/56] shared the three wickets for Bangladesh.

Youth ODI debuts: Rakibul Hasan and Avishek Das [Bangladesh]; Saim Ayub, Mohammad Asif, Naseem Shah and Bilal Javed [Pakistan].

Bangladesh started their Group ‘B’ campaign in the tournament with a 6-wicket loss against Sri Lanka and will play the next match against Hong Kong at the same venue on Tuesday. 

Dhaka, Oct 1 (UNB) – Khulna Division clinched the Walton 4th National Women’s Hockey title beating Dhaka Division by 1-0 goal in the final at the Maulana Bhashani National Stadium here on Monday.

Jessi scored the match-winner for Khulna Division in the 24th minute.

President of Bangladesh Hockey Federation and Chief of the Bangladesh Air Force Air Chief Marshal Mashiuzzaman Serniabat witnessed the day’s final as the chief guest and later he distributed the prizes.

Champions Khulna Division received prize money of Tk 60,000 while the runners-up Dhaka Division got Tk 40,000 as prize money, in addition to trophies.

Nomita Karmakar of Khulna was adjudged the best player of the tournament while three players –-Kimi Karmakar (Khulna Division), Sumi Akhter (Dhaka Division)  and Tasnim Akhter (Rangpur Division) scored five goals each to share the highest scorer awards.    
  
Earlier, Rangpur Division finished 3rd in the tournament beating Rajshahi Division by 3-1 goals in the 3rd place deciding match Monday morning.
 

Dhaka, Oct 1 (UNB) – Hosts Bangladesh will start the four-match Women’s T20 series against Pakistan on Tuesday at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox’s Bazar. 

The match will kick off at 9 am Bangladesh time.  

Pakistan team, led by Javeria Wadood, arrived in Dhaka on Sunday and reached Cox’s Bazar on Monday morning to play the T20I series and one–off ODI match against the home team, all at the same venue.

The remaining three T20I matches between the two teams will be held on October 3, 5 and 6 while the lone ODI match is scheduled for October 8.     

Earlier on Saturday, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced an 18-member final squad of Bangladesh Women’s Cricket team for both the T20I series and ODI match including all-rounder Lala Mondal in one of the five changes in their squad.  

Salma Khatun was made captain of Bangladesh T20I team while Rumana Ahmed skipper of Bangladesh ODI team. 

Fast bowler Lily Rani Biswas was dropped from the team that played in the Women's World T20 Qualifiers in Ireland in July. The other inclusions are Ritu Moni, batsman Sharmin Akhter, 19-year-old pacer Suraya Azmin and 18-year-old batsman Murshida Khatun. 

Lata, Suraya and Murshida were in standby for the World T20 Qualifiers.

The changes were made keeping in mind the bigger picture - the Women's World T20 in November - for which Bangladesh are playing this four-match T20I series against Pakistan. These players will get a chance to stake their claim in that squad.

Lata, who played 52 international matches, last played for Bangladesh in January 2017 when she made only four runs in three ODIs against South Africa. But she impressed with her fitness and training in the last few months, as did fast-bowling all-rounder Ritu Moni. Sharmin was considered as a batting option, while Suraya and Murshida are promising young cricketers.

Bangladesh Squad: Rumana Ahmed (ODI Captain), Salma Khatun (T20 Captain), Nigar Sultana, Fargana Haque, Khadija Tul Kubra, Fahima Khatun, Ayesha Rahman, Shamima Sultana, Jahanara Alam, Nahida Akter, Panna Ghosh, Ritu Moni, Sanjida Islam, Sharmin Sultana, Suraya Ajmin, Sharmin Akter Supta, Lata Mondol and Murshida Khatun,

Pakistan Squad: Javeria Wadood (Captain), Bibi Nahida, Ayesha Zafar, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Sidra Amin, Omaima Sohail, Nida Rashid, Sidra Nawaz, Sana Mir, Nashra Sundhu, Anum Amin, Natalia Parvaiz, Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig and Aiman Anwar.