Sports
BPL 2023: Ticket prices for first phase revealed
The ninth season of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is set to begin on January 6th, 2023 and tickets for the opening round of BPL T20 matches of the Dhaka phase will be available for sale on January 4th.
A total of seven teams are participating in the league, which will take place in three phases starting from Dhaka, followed by Chattogram, Dhaka, and Sylhet before returning to Dhaka for the final phase.
Read more: BPL 2023: Salahuddin laments lack of DRS
Ticket counters will remain open from 9:30am to 7:30pm and tickets will be available on match days and before match days. The ticket prices are arranged in five different price ranges, with Grand Stand priced at TK 1500, VIP Stand at TK 1000, Club House at TK 500, North/South Stand at TK 300, and Eastern Stand at TK 200.
Tickets are available at two different locations; Shaheed Suhrawardi Indoor Stadium, Mirpur, and the ticket booth adjacent to Gate 1 of Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur.
Read more: Bangladesh Cricket in 2022: A peak to begin with, then mostly downhill
A total of 46 matches will be taking place this year in BPL, with Dhaka set to host 26 matches, Chattogram 12, and Sylhet 8. The teams have already begun preparing for this highly anticipated T20 event.
National Handball: Dhaka, Chattogram, Bandarban, Kushtia top groups
Dhaka, Chattogram, Bandarban, and Kushtia DSAs topped their groups to reach the second round of the Exim Bank 33rd National Men's Handball Championship 2022 after their wins at the Shaheed Captain Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium in the capital Sunday.
Dhaka came top of Group A, defeating Dinajpur by 46-18 goals after leading the first half 21-10.
Chattogram topped Group B, beating Lalmonirhat 20-12 after dominating the first half 11-6.
Read: Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games begins on January 2
Bandarban defeated Narail 31-15 in their day's first match and later outplayed Joypurhat 26-4 in the day's second match to come top of Group C.
Kushtia topped Group by defeating Cumilla 40-14 in the first match and beating Jamalpur 33-29 in the second match.
In the day's other matches, Jamalpur outplayed Thakurgaon 28-12, Patuakhali defeated Khulna 25-11, and Cumilla beat Thakurgaon 23-11 at the same venue.
Pelé, Brazil’s mighty king of ‘beautiful game,’ has died
Pelé, the Brazilian king of football who won a record three World Cups and became one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century, died Thursday. He was 82.
The standard-bearer of “the beautiful game” had undergone treatment for colon cancer since 2021. He had been hospitalised for the last month with multiple ailments.
His agent Joe Fraga confirmed his death.
Widely regarded as one of football’s greatest players, Pelé spent nearly two decades enchanting fans and dazzling opponents as the game’s most prolific scorer with Brazilian club Santos and the Brazil national team.
His grace, athleticism and mesmerising moves transfixed players and fans. He orchestrated a fast, fluid style that revolutionised the sport — a samba-like flair that personified his country’s elegance on the field.
He carried Brazil to football’s heights and became a global ambassador for his sport in a journey that began on the streets of Sao Paulo state, where he would kick a sock stuffed with newspapers or rags.
In the conversation about football’s greatest players, only the late Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are mentioned alongside Pelé.
Different sources, counting different sets of games, list Pelé’s goal totals anywhere between 650 (league matches) and 1,281 (all senior matches, some against low-level competition.)
The player who would be dubbed “The King” was introduced to the world at 17 at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, the youngest player ever at the tournament. He was carried off the field on teammates’ shoulders after scoring two goals in Brazil’s 5-2 victory over the host country in the final.
Injury limited him to just two games when Brazil retained the world title in 1962, but Pelé was the emblem of his country’s World Cup triumph of 1970 in Mexico. He scored in the final and set up Carlos Alberto with a nonchalant pass for the last goal in a 4-1 victory over Italy.
The image of Pelé in a bright, yellow Brazil jersey, with the No. 10 stamped on the back, remains alive with football fans everywhere. As does his trademark goal celebration -- a leap with a right fist thrust high above his head.
Pelé’s fame was such that in 1967 factions of a civil war in Nigeria agreed to a brief cease-fire so he could play an exhibition match in the country. He was knighted by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in 1997. When he visited Washington to help popularise the game in North America, it was the US president who stuck out his hand first.
“My name is Ronald Reagan, I’m the president of the United States of America,” the host said to his visitor. “But you don’t need to introduce yourself because everyone knows who Pelé is.”
Pelé was Brazil’s first modern Black national hero but rarely spoke about racism in a country where the rich and powerful tend to hail from the white minority.
Opposing fans taunted Pelé with monkey chants at home and all over the world.
“He said that he would never play if he had to stop every time he heard those chants,” said Angelica Basthi, one of Pelé’s biographers. “He is key for Black people’s pride in Brazil, but never wanted to be a flagbearer.”
Pelé’s life after football took many forms. He was a politician -- Brazil’s Extraordinary Minister for Sport -- a wealthy businessman, and an ambassador for UNESCO and the United Nations.
He had roles in movies, soap operas and even composed songs and recorded CDs of popular Brazilian music.
As his health deteriorated, his travels and appearances became less frequent. He was often seen in a wheelchair during his final years and did not attend a ceremony to unveil a statue of him representing Brazil’s 1970 World Cup team. Pelé spent his 80th birthday isolated with a few family members at a beach home.
Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, in the small city of Tres Coracoes in the interior of Minas Gerais state on October 23, 1940, Pelé grew up shining shoes to buy his modest football gear.
Pelé’s talent drew attention when he was 11, and a local professional player brought him to Santos’ youth squads. It didn’t take long for him to make it to the senior squad.
Despite his youth and 5-foot-8 frame, he scored against grown men with the same ease he displayed against friends back home. He debuted with the Brazilian club at 16 in 1956, and the club quickly gained worldwide recognition.
The name Pelé came from him mispronouncing the name of a player called Bilé.
He went to the 1958 World Cup as a reserve but became a key player for his country’s championship team. His first goal, in which he flicked the ball over the head of a defender and raced around him to volley it home, was voted as one of the best in World Cup history.
The 1966 World Cup in England -- won by the hosts -- was a bitter one for Pelé, by then already considered the world’s top player. Brazil was knocked out in the group stage and Pelé, angry at the rough treatment, swore it was his last World Cup.
Read more: Pelé’s family gathers at hospital in Sao Paulo
He changed his mind and was rejuvenated in the 1970 World Cup. In a game against England, he struck a header for a certain score, but the great goalkeeper Gordon Banks flipped the ball over the bar in an astonishing move. Pelé likened the save — one of the best in World Cup history — to a “salmon climbing up a waterfall.” Later, he scored the opening goal in the final against Italy, his last World Cup match.
In all, Pelé played 114 matches with Brazil, scoring a record 95 goals, including 77 in official matches.
His run with Santos stretched over three decades until he went into semi-retirement after the 1972 season. Wealthy European clubs tried to sign him, but the Brazilian government intervened to keep him from being sold, declaring him a national treasure.
On the field, Pelé’s energy, vision and imagination drove a gifted Brazilian national team with a fast, fluid style of play that exemplified “O Jogo Bonito” -- Portuguese for “The Beautiful Game.” His 1977 autobiography, “My Life and the Beautiful Game,” made the phrase part of football’s lexicon.
In 1975, he joined the New York Cosmos of the North American Football League. Although 34 and past his prime, Pelé gave football a higher profile in North America. He led the Cosmos to the 1977 league title and scored 64 goals in three seasons.
Pelé ended his career on Oct. 1, 1977, in an exhibition between the Cosmos and Santos before a crowd in New Jersey of some 77,000. He played half the game with each club. Among the dignitaries on hand was perhaps the only other athlete whose renown spanned the globe — Muhammad Ali.
Pelé would endure difficult times in his personal life, especially when his son Edinho was arrested on drug-related charges. Pelé had two daughters out of wedlock and five children from his first two marriages, to Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi and Assiria Seixas Lemos. He later married businesswoman Marcia Cibele Aoki.
Read more: Neymar ties Pelé's record but loses again at World Cup
Bangladesh Championship League: BFF Elite Academy outplay Dhaka Wanderers 3-2
BFF Elite Academy earned a 3-2 win over Dhaka Wanderers Club in the Bangladesh Championship League Football 2022-23 Wednesday morning.
At the Birshreshtha Shaheed Shipahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur, Mirajul struck in the 20th and 45+3 minutes for the winners. Samuel netted another one in the 74th minute.
Read more: Fed Cup Football: Bashundhara Kings, Ctg Abahani make good start
Sourav and Hafiz pulled two back for Wanderers, both in the first half.
Aminul of Wanderers was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.
In the other match of the day, newcomers Gopalganj Sporting Club outplayed Wari Club 4-1 at the same venue in the afternoon.
Raju, Tanin, Mohsin and Ihtesham scored one each for Gopalganj, who dominated the first half 2-0.
Ali Akbar scored the consolation goal for Wari in the second half from a penalty.
Read more: BPL Football: Dhaka Abahani beat Rahmatganj 2-1 to get first win
In the day's other match, Uttara Football Club defeated Fakirerpool Young Men's Club 2-1 at the same venue Wednesday afternoon.
Zakirul and Mishu scored for Uttara, one in each half. Sumon pulled one back for Fakirerpool in the second half.
Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games begins on January 2
The first phase of the Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games'.2023, organised by Bangladesh Olympics Association (BOA), begins on January 2 at the country's upazila level.
On completion of the first phase on January 10, the Inter-District 2nd phase of the meet will be held January 16-22 and the final phase of the meet will be held in Dhaka from February 26 to March 4.
Read more: Bangladesh win Bangabandhu Asian Central Zone U-23 Volleyball with unbeaten record
BOA Vice President and Chairman of the Games media committee Sheikh Bashir Ahmed Mamun disclosed the details of the meet at a press conference at the Dutch-Bangla Auditorium of BOA on Wednesday.
Member Secretary of the Games Steering Committee Ashiqur Rahman Miku, Games Chief Coordinator Brigadier General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui and member secretary of the Media Committee Sirajuddin Mohammad Alamgir were also present at the press conference.
The Under-17 boys and girls, who was born after January 2, 2006 will be entitled to participate in the meet showing their birth certificates.
Read more: 27th National Youth Hockey final Tuesday
Some 60,000 athletes are expected to compete in 24 disciplines of sports with new inclusion Cycling, Gymnastics and Rugby in the ensuing Youth Game. In the first Youth Games, some 50,000 athletes took part in 21 disciplines of sports.
An athlete will compete in maximum eight events--six individual and two team events--in the first phase of the meet.
A strong and high-level organizing committee was formed with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the Chief Patron and Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal as the Chairman.
Earlier on December 23, BOA President and Army Chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed unveiled the games logo and mascot at a function at the Bangladesh Army Multi-Purpose Complex here.
Dhaka Test: India secure 87-run 1st innings lead after day two
India secured an 87-run lead in the first innings of the Dhaka Test on Friday.
They were bundled out for 314 in reply to Bangladesh's 227.
Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer led the way for India with spectacular individual efforts, accumulating 93 and 87 runs, respectively.
Rishabh is lucky to be there as Nurul Hasan Sohan failed to capitalise on an easy stumping opportunity off Shakib Al Hasan's delivery. The batter was well out of the crease but Nurul was not able to break the stumps in time.
Read: Dhaka Test: Taijul draws first blood on day two against India
Shreyas was also very close to being dismissed a few times, but he managed to escape with a score of 87. Unfortunately, Mehidy Hasan Miraz dropped a catch at the gully despite his best efforts.
India, however, lost their last six wickets for 61 runs.
Bangladesh had a successful first session when they took three wickets, thanks to Taijul's impeccable bowling.
Read: Siddons blames Bangladesh's batting collapse in Dhaka Test on mental lapses
After the lunch break, Taijul took another wicket. Shakib bagged four wickets, proving his bowling prowess in Test once again.
Bangabandhu National Athletics begins on Friday
The Bangabandhu 46th National Athletics Championship'2022, organised by Bangladesh Athletics Federation (BAF) begins on Friday (December 23) at the Bangladesh Army Stadium in Banani here.
The most attractive events of the meet --men's and women's 100-meter sprints--will be held at 4:30 and 4:45 pm respectively on the day.
The marathon race of the meet already completed Saturday ( Dec 17) morning marching with Bangabandhu Victory Day National Marathon.
Read more: Bangabandhu 46th National Athletics begins Friday
Although the competition will begin Friday morning, but the BAF President and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Md. Tofazzel Hossain Miah will inaugurate the three-day meet in the afternoon at a simple ceremony to be chaired by BAF Vice President Nuruddin Chowdhury Nayan, MP.
Some 500 athletes from 64 districts, eight divisions, universities, education boards, BKSP, BJMC and other affiliated organizations are expected to compete in the 40 events of the meet--22 for the men and 18 for the women.
The organizer will award the top three athletes of all the 40 events of the meet with Tk 3,000 as first prize, Tk 2,000 as 2nd prize and Tk 1,000 as the 3rd prize.
Besides, the record holder athletes will be awarded with a prize money of Tk 5,000 each.
Bangabandhu Asian Central Zone U-23 Volleyball Championship begins
The Bangabandhu Asian Central Zone Under-23 Men's International Volleyball Championship'2022 began here on Thursday (Dec 22) at the Shaheed Suhrawardy National Indoor Stadium in Mirpur.
Four countries---Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan and hosts Bangladesh are taking part in the competition.
LGRD and Co Operatives Minister M Tajul Islam inaugurated the four-nation meet as the chief guest Thursday afternoon.
Read more: Asian Men's U-20 Volleyball: Bangladesh finish 5th with win over China
MP(Member of Parliament) Elias Uddin Mollah was the special guest at the function chaired by the President of Bangladesh Volleyball Federation (BVF) and Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam. BVF Senior Vice President and Tournament Committee Chairman Mohammad Younus, BVF general secretary Ashiqur Rahman Miku, Unique Group chairman Mohammad Nur Ali were also present on the occasion.
In two opening day's matches, Bangladesh taking on Nepal while Sri Lanka playing against Kyrgyzstan.
Bangladesh Championship League: Swadhinata KS off to good start beating Little Friends 2-0
Swadhinata Krira Sangha made a good start to the Bangladesh Championship League (BCL) Football 2022-23, beating Little Friends Club 2-0 in the opening match at the Birshreshtha Birshrestha Shaheed Mostafa Kamal Stadium in the capital's Kamalapur on Wednesday.
Sagar Miah Shawon put the Swadhinata KS ahead in the 27th minute. Iqbal Hossain sealed the victory for them scoring one more goal in the added time (45+1 minute) of the first half in the afternoon.
Earlier, Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan (Manik), vice-president of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) and convener of the working sub-committee of the BFF Professional League Management Committee, and member of the working committee Abdur Rahim were present at the day's inaugural ceremony.
Read: 2nd phase of Bangladesh Championship League Football begins Monday
Eleven club teams are taking part in the tournament, second string league after Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football.
Croatia’s ‘golden generation’ nears end after World Cup
Argentina was a step too far for a Croatia team that reached back-to-back World Cup semifinals and shocked Brazil along the way in Qatar.
Lionel Messi inspired Argentina to a 3-0 win at Lusail Stadium Tuesday and moved a step closer to lifting the one major trophy that has eluded him.
But for Croatia playmaker Luka Modric, this was almost certainly his last chance of winning the World Cup. He was substituted late on and left the field to applause from both sets of fans, who paid tribute to one of soccer’s greats.
Croatia will play France or Morocco in the third place playoff, but it is time to look ahead to the next generation.
EXPECTATION VS. PERFORMANCE
Beaten finalists at the World Cup in Russia four years ago, Croatia wasn’t expected to go deep again this time around. Especially after drawing 0-0 with underdog Morocco in its first group game.
That result has aged well as the tournament has progressed and Morocco emerged as the first African nation to reach the semifinals of a World Cup.
Croatia’s spirit has been its most notable quality, coming back from behind against Japan and Brazil to go through on penalties in the round of 16 and quarterfinals.
Read: Messi fans overjoyed in south Asia after Argentina semi win
But the run to the semis also involved a degree of luck. Croatia could have been knocked out at the earliest possible stage if Romelu Lukaku had taken one of a series of chances in a 0-0 draw with Belgium in its final Group F game.
The Croatians certainly weren’t the most attractive team in Qatar, only winning one of six games in regulation or extra time, but they were tough to beat and defied expectations for the second World Cup in a row.
“They achieved great things and they’re the golden generation of Croatian football,” said coach Zlatko Dalić.
WHO’S OUT?
At the age of 37, Modric has likely played in his last World Cup, but he could still be around for the European Championships in 2024. Ivan Perisic and Dejan Lovren are both 33, and Andrej Kramaric, 31.
“Well, perhaps this is the end for the generation at the World Cup,” said Dalić. “A couple of them are at an age where it will be hard to play at the World Cup in 2026.
“I think a lot of players will finish off at Euro 2024.”
Dalić, who led Croatia to the final in Russia, also plans to stay on.
“I will continue, my contract runs until Euro 2024,” he said. “My plan is to qualify with Croatia for Euro 2024.”
WHO’S NEXT?
Center back Josko Gvardiol has been one of the standout players of the World Cup and has been linked with a host of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Read: ‘To finish this way is brilliant’: Messi’s last dance, last chance for World Cup glory
He was powerless to stop Messi’s moment of magic in the buildup to Argentina’s third goal, but he looks like he will be a key figure for his country going forward.
Mateo Kovacic is a seasoned international at 28, and could be the dominant force in midfield when Modric steps aside.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The third place playoff may seem like one of the most pointless games in soccer, but not for Croatia.
“Win the match and go back to Croatia with a medal,” said Modric. “We need to leave everything to win the bronze medal and let our fans celebrate one more time.”
Dalić is also looking further ahead to the Euros, with qualifying games against Wales and Turkey in March.