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T20 World Cup: Bangladesh to take on South Africa Wednesday in warm-up match
The cornered Tigers are set to take on South Africa on Wednesday in their last warm-up ahead of the Super 12s of the ongoing T20 World Cup in Australia.
In the first warm-up match, Bangladesh suffered a heavy defeat to Afghanistan. So the match against South Africa came as the last chance for Bangladesh to finalize their plan and the playing XI ahead of the main event.
Bangladesh has been going through a prolonged bad patch in T20Is for a while. They failed to do well in the Asia Cup, they also failed to do well in the last few series as well. So the team now came under immense pressure to do well.
Read: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021: Bangladesh Cricket Team’s Full Schedule
Ahead of Wednesday’s clash, Minhajul Abedin, the chief selector of Bangladesh, said it’s the players who have to play well on the field.
“We have done enough experiments, now the players should play well,” Minhajul said on Tuesday while talking to the media in Brisbane. “We have a few practice sessions after the warm-up match. After that, we have to play well in the World Cup.”
The match will begin at 2 pm (Bangladesh time) on Wednesday.
National Youth Archery: BKSP emerge champions
BKSP emerged champions in Sheikh Russell 4th Teer National Youth Archery Championship securing 12 gold, nine silver and seven bronze medals that concluded in the Archery Training Centre at Shaheed Ahsanullah Master Stadium in Tongi on Tuesday.
Bangladesh Police Archery Club finished distant 2nd collecting two gold, two silver and three bronze medals while Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club, Wahed Archey Club and Bangladesh Air Force became joint 3rd with one silver medal each.
Read: Archery World Cup: Bangladesh to play Australia in recurve men’s team on Thursday
President of Bangladesh Archery Federation Lt Gen M Moinul Islam (retd) was the chief guest at the closing function of the three-day meet and distributed prizes among the winners.
T20 World Cup: Netherlands maintain all-win run beating Namibia by 5 wkts
The Netherlands maintained all-win run in the first round Group A match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Cricket beating giant Namibia by five wickets at the GMHBA Stadium in South Geelong in Victoria, Australia on Tuesday.
With the day's feat, the Netherlands brightened their chance to reach the Super-12 stage of the World Cup securing full four points from straight two matches and will face Sri Lanka on Thursday (Oct 20) in their last group match.
Namibia, which came to the limelight upsetting Sri Lanka in the opening first round match, today (Tuesday) opted to bat first after winning the toss and scored 121 for 6 in quota 20 overs with middle order batter Jan Frylinck making the team's highest 48-ball 43 runs with one four and one six.
Later, Jan Frylinck was adjudged the most valuable player of the match.
Besides, opener Michael Van Lingen (29), one down Stephan Baard (19), captain Gerhard Erasmus (16) and David Wiese (11) were the other notable scorers for Namibia reaching the double figure.
Bas De Leede grabbed two wickets for 18 runs in three overs.
Chasing a target of 122 runs, the Netherlands scored the match-winner 122 runs for the loss of five wickets with three balls to spare.
Two openers Max O Dowd and Vikramjit Singh made a good foundation of the Dutch innings contributing 59 runs in 8.2 overs in the opening stand.
Max scored 31-ball 39 runs hitting three fours and two sixes, Vikram made run a ball 30 with two boundaries.
Bas De Leede, who earlier bagged two wickets, scored run a ball 30 featuring two boundaries to be adjudged player of the match.
No other Dutch batter failed to score the double figure run.
JJ Smit took two wickets for 24 runs in four overs.
T20 World Cup: Meiyappan’s hat-trick in vain as UAE lose to Sri Lanka
Karthik Meiyappan made history against Sri Lanka when he became the first player to claim a hat-trick for the UAE in T20Is. It was also the first hat-trick of the T20 World Cup 2022. But his glorious feat went in vain as the UAE lost to Sri Lanka by a big margin of 79 runs on Tuesday in Geelong.
Sri Lanka displayed the strength of their bowling and wrapped up the UAE only for 73 and pulled off a big win. This win will surely help Sri Lanka to come out of the frustration that they got after the first defeat to Namibia.
Pathum Nissanka guided Sri Lanka to 152 for eight when they batted first. Pathum hit 74 off 60 runs while Dhananjaya de Silva posted 33 off 21 deliveries. Kusal Mendis was the only other Sri Lankan batter to reach a double-digit total. He made 18 of 13.
During the 15th over of Sri Lanka’s innings, Meiyappan removed Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka and captain Dasun Shanaka in three consecutive balls to complete the first hat-trick of the tournament.
In reply to Sri Lanka’s 152, the UAE tumbled for 73 in 17.1 overs. None of their batters was able to offer some resistance to Sri Lanka’s bowling line.
Dushmantha Chameera and Wanindu Hasaranga bagged three wickets each conceding 15 and eight runs respectively.
Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Maheesh Theekshana.
UAE XI: Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, Kashif Daud, Vriitya Aravind, Aryan Lakra, Basil Hameed, Chundangapoyil Rizwan(c), Aayan Afzal Khan, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Zahoor Khan.
Brilliant Benzema and His Road to Ballon d’Or Glory
French forward Karim Benzema joined Real Madrid's second galactico after being acquired from Ligue 1 club Lyon for 30 million pounds in 2009. He had to play second fiddle to Cristiano Ronaldo in his early years. No one could have predicted that one day Benzema would take home football’s most prestigious award before Cristiano left Madrid in 2018. Since Ronaldo left, the gifted striker has taken on the role as the main hitman. He had a crucial role in Madrid's success the previous season, which helped him win the Ballon d'Or 2022 award.
How Benzema has transformed himself into a top striker upfront
In football, clutch players often get high value, and not every world-class footballer has the ability to deliver when it matters the most. That is why only a handful of them are considered clutch players.
Read: Karim Benzema wins Ballon d’Or for the first time
Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema has turned out to be a decisive player when Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Italian giants, Juventus, in the summer of 2018. Before that, Benzema’s role was largely to support Cristiano in the attacking half. He even had stiff competition with Gonzalo Higuian in the initial few seasons and later with Gareth Bale in Madrid.
Real Madrid initially struggled to cope without Ronaldo, who helped the Spanish giant win three consecutive Champions Leagues from 2016 to 2018. In the 2018-2019 season, the Los Blancos finished third.
Real Madrid soon returned with their best and were crowned La Liga champions in the 2019-2020 season and had strong performances in the 2020-2021 campaign. At the same time, Karim Benzema has continued to shine as a forward, finishing as the top goal scorer for Madrid in each season since Cristiano’s departure, which has also impacted hugely on his growth as a leader.
Taking the main role of scoring goals, Karim initially had to adjust his position upfront and to make a strong connection with other forwards, the likes of Lucas Vazquez and young Vincius Junior and Rodrygo. The French forward soon started to realize that he is Madrid’s main reliance and has to take his game to the next level to become one of the most lethal strikers in the world.
Benzema’s contribution as a clutch player in Real Madrid’s dream run in the 2021–2022 Champions League
When Real Madrid started their 2021–2022 campaign with a newly recruited experienced manager, Carlo Ancelotti, and with an aged squad, the odds didn’t favour them to win La Liga, let alone the Champions League. Atletico Madrid were considered the ultimate favourites to win the domestic title, while a host of European giants were ahead of Real Madrid to clinch the UCL tournament.
Read: Neymar faces fraud trial for Barcelona transfer from Santos
However, after finding a new vice captaincy role in the 2021-2022 season, Benzema seemed to rejuvenate even more from the beginning. Head coach Ancelotti should be applauded for his role in injecting motivation into the players and giving them continuous faith when needed. Karim Benzema was the major receiver of Ancelotti’s motivation and became a clutch player for the team. He continued to find the net in the dying moments of the domestic tournaments. But Karim's efforts in the UEFA Champions League's knockout rounds were what had even his harshest critics gushing with adoration.
Karim Benzema wreaked havoc on some of Europe's best teams and snatched victory in the dying moments. The positioning of Benzema in the centre, Vinicius Jr. to the left, Rodrygo or Federico Valverde to the right, and Luka Modric and Toni Kroos in the middle behind them worked out perfectly for the team. Most of the time, Real Madrid were down and out, but in games where Benzema was the difference, they rallied to win them in the final 30 minutes.
In the round of 16, PSG was favourite to advance to the quarter-final after winning the first leg over Real Madrid 1-0 at the Parc des Princes and was even 1-0 up in the second leg until the 60th minute of the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu. But Paris Saint-Germain’s expectations were dashed when Benzema ran riot on PSG’s defense and earned a hat-trick within 18 minutes. PSG supporters were stunned and in disbelief at what they had just witnessed.
Karim Benzema was devastating against Chelsea in both legs of the quarter-final. He scored a brilliant hat-trick at Stamford Bridge and also scored the decisive goal in extra time to send Real Madrid into the semifinals.
In Real Madrid's semi-final match against Manchester City, the French forward was even more important, and he delivered. He scored twice in Real Madrid’s loss to Man City by 4-3 in the first leg and also scored the decisive goal in extra time in the second leg at the Bernabeu.
Karim Benzema was all but certain to win the 2022 Ballon d'Or trophy after his efforts against PSG, Chelsea, and Manchester City in the Round of 16, Quarterfinal, and Semifinal.
Read: Maradona's 'Hand of God' ball expected to rake in $2.7m-$3.3m at auction
Karim Benzema’s football stats in the 2021–2022 season
Karim Benzema scored 44 goals in 46 appearances for Real Madrid in the 2021–2022 season, including 15 in 12 outings in the Champions League. He helped Madrid win La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.
Apart from his performances with the Spanish club, Benzema was brilliant for his national side. Karim scored 9 goals in 13 appearances for the French national team in 2021 and helped them to win the 2020–2021 UEFA Nations League.
Bottom Line
Karim Benzema's dream of winning the Ballon d'Or came true on Monday when Zinedine Zidane handed him the trophy. Zizou, who won the prestigious prize in 1998, was the last Frenchman to win it before yesterday. Karim Benzema therefore became the fifth Frenchman to receive the Ballon d'Or trophy, and he was undoubtedly a deserving winner.
Read: Mbappe transfer: Possible destinations if he leaves in Jan 2023
Former all-rounder Rogger Binny replaces Sourav Ganguly as India's cricket board chief
Former Indian all-rounder Roger Binny on Tuesday replaced Sourav Ganguly as the head of the country's all-powerful cricket control board.
"The 67-year-old was elected president unopposed at the annual meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Mumbai," vice-president Rajeev Shukla told the media.
With a net worth of USD 2 billion, the BCCI is the world's richest cricketing body that weilds significant influence in the global cricket arena.
Binny, who was the highest wicket taker in the historic 1983 World Cup that India won, played a total of 27 Tests and 72 one-day internationals in his cricketing career. He was regarded as an astute all-rounder.
Considered one of Indian cricket's best skippers, 50-year-old Ganguly, on the other hand, is now tipped to contest for the top job in the Cricket Association of Bengal.
Ganguly, who became the BCCI president, quit international cricket way back in 2008 but continued playing in the multi-billion-dollar cricketing tournament, Indian Premier League, for a few more years.
He scored more than 18,500 runs in Tests and one-day internationals.
Media reports in India speculate that Ganguly didn't get a second three-year term as the BCCI chief as he had refused to join India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Karim Benzema wins Ballon d’Or for the first time
Karim Benzema won the men’s Ballon d’Or for the first time on Monday after a brilliant season with Real Madrid capped by the Champions League and Spanish league titles.
Spanish player Alexia Putellas won the women’s trophy for the second straight year following another standout season with Barcelona.
Benzema had his best season ever at Madrid, being the top scorer in both leagues. He scored 44 times for Madrid, including 15 in Europe’s top competition, and equaled Raúl González as the club’s second-highest scorer behind Cristiano Ronaldo.
Benzema, at 34, became the oldest winner since the first recipient in 1956, Stanley Matthews.
“Age is just a number for me,” he said. “People play until their later years now and I still have this burning desire. It is this drive that has kept me going and never allowed me to let up.”
Benzema won ahead of Sadio Mané and Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne. Mané played for Liverpool last season and joined Bayern Munich in the summer.
“I'm really proud, it's a lot of work and a kid's dream come true," Benzema said.
He succeeded Lionel Messi, who won the award for a record-extending seventh time last year but was not among the nominees this time after his first season with Paris Saint-Germain.
For the first time this year, the Ballon d’Or was based on achievements from the past season. It had previously been awarded based on performances throughout calendar years.
Awarded by France Football magazine, the Ballon d’Or has been given out to men for 66 years. The women’s trophy was created in 2018, and both were canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic.
Benzema became the fifth Frenchman to win it after Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin and Zinedine Zidane, who was crowned in 1998, the year France won its first World Cup.
Benzema was not part of the France squad that triumphed at the 2018 World Cup in Russia but, barring an injury, will compete at the tournament in Qatar next month.
After nearly six years out following his involvement in a sex tape scandal, Benzema was recalled by France coach Didier Deschamps last year ahead of the European Championship and has played regularly since.
“There were much more difficult moments for me, when I was not selected (with France) and I did not give up," Benzema said after Zidane, his former coach at Madrid, handed him the trophy. “I am really proud of my career. This is the Golden Ball of the people."
Leading an attack that also included Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, Benzema played a crucial role last season to drive Madrid to a record-extending 14th European title, and his fifth since he joined from Lyon in 2009. The Frenchman was the tournament’s top scorer and found the net when it really mattered, with 10 of his goals in the knockout stages.
Putellas scored 42 goals and delivered 22 assists last season. She became the first player to win the award twice.
With Barcelona, she won the Spanish League and reached the Champions League final. She has been sidelined since July after injuring her left knee and undergoing surgery on the eve of the Women's European Championship.
“When I got injured I didn’t think I’d be here today, but it makes me proud to get recompense for all that hard work,” she said. “I miss playing so much and doing what I like to do the most.”
Putellas beat out fellow forwards Beth Mead of Arsenal and England and Sam Kerr of Chelsea and Australia for the award at the ceremony in Paris. A panel of international journalists chose the winners.
In other awards, the Kopa Trophy for the best under-21 player went to 18-year-old Barcelona midfielder Gavi, while Robert Lewandowski won the Gerd Müller award for the best striker of the year.
The Lev Yashin award for best goalkeeper went to Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois.
Ballon d’Or organizers added a humanitarian prize named after the late Brazil midfielder Socrates. The trophy went to Mané for his charity work in Senegal including building a hospital and school donations.
BFF U-18 Football: Muktijoddha SKC beat Sheikh Russel KC 2-1
Muktijoddha Sangsad KC earned 2-1 goals victory over Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra in the BFF U-18 Football League here on Monday.
Bilto put Muktijoddha SKC ahead in the very first minute (1-0) while Tahmid restored the parity for Sheikh Russel KC in the 26th minute (1-1).
Naimul scored the match-winner for the freedom fighters' team in the stoppage time of the match (90+2 minute).
In the day's other match, Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society outplayed Bangladesh Police FC by 4-0 goals.
Nabidul struck twice, Sajjad and Mahi netted one each for the old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj.
In the Bashundhara Group Senior Division Football League, PWD Sporting Club beat Victoria Sporting Club by 1-0 goal here on Monday, scored by Jubair in the 65th minute.
The day's another league match, Sadharan Bima KS defeated Dilkusha Sporting Club by 2-0 goals.
After a barren first half, Nabil Ahmed scored both the goals for the insurance men's team in the 54th and 80th minutes.
The day's other league match between Bangladesh Boys Club and East End Club ended in 1-1 draw.
Ashraful Haque scored first for East End Club in the 37th minute while Mohammad Shahjahan leveled the margin for Bangladesh Boys in the 75th minute.
Press Club TT: Mamun-Enamul pair emerge doubles champions
Syed M Mamun and SK Enamul Haque pair emerged doubles champions in the Table Tennis competition of the Jatiya Press Club Sports Festival on Monday.
They beat Shakhawat Hossain and Mahbub Reza partner in the event's final held at the Abdus Salam Hall of the Club Monday afternoon.
Kazi Rownak Hossain and Tariqul Islam Masum pair finished 3rd in the competition.
Ten club members took part in the men's doubles of the table tennis competition, conducted by former general secretary of Bangladesh Table Tennis Federation Rafiqul Islam Tipu.
Jatiya Press Club arranged the 10-day sports festival on the occasion of the club's 68th Founding Anniversary.
5 SAFF champion girls receive grand reception in Khagrachari
Five women footballers from Rangamati and Khagrachari districts have been accorded a grand reception in Khagrachari for winning the Saff Women’s Football Championship.
Khagrachari Parbattya Zila Parishad provided the reception to five women footballers on Monday.
An open parade on jeep was held which paraded the district town. Huge numbers of people welcomed them by shaking hands with the champions.
The grand reception programme was held at Zila Parishad Premises where Kujendra Lal Tripura MP, chairman of Refugee Affairs Taskforce received them with garlands.
Anai Mogini, Anuching Mogini, Rupna Chakma, Ritu Porna Chakma and Monika Chakma were each given a cheque of Tk 2,01000.
Mongsui Pru Chowdhury, chairman of Khagrachari Parbattya Zila Parishad, announced to provide Tk 4 crore for building a bridge in Rangamati and Tk 2 crore for building a residential hotel for Khagrachari women players.
By defeating four-time finalists and hosts Nepal, the Bangladesh national women’s football team has emerged as the new champions in the seven-nation SAFF Women's Championship.