ICC
World Twenty20
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Tigers give SL a scare

Rokibul Hasan, who scored an unbeaten 38, off-drives during Bangladesh's ICC World Twenty20 warm-up match against Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge in Nottingham yesterday.

Bangladesh put up yet another spirited display but still suffered a four-wicket defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka in their last official ICC World Twenty20 warm-up game at Trent Bridge yesterday.

Bangladesh bowlers, in their defence of 151-6 in 20 overs, made Sri Lanka struggle before the latter reached the target making 152-6 with two balls to spare.

At one stage the Tigers tightened their grip on the match, leaving the Lankans need to score 25 runs from the last three overs. But it was Mashrafe Bin Mortaza who continued his 'slog flu' as the pace spearhead conceded 14 runs in the 18th over to eventually let the game slip.

Former Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene top scored with 43 off 28 balls that contained six fours and a six.

Indeed Bangladesh lost their official warm-up games against Australia and Sri Lanka, but they showed their potential ahead of the first Group A match against India which will take place on June 6 at the same venue.

Back to the match, seeking quick runs Bangladesh's top-order fell apart but a thrifty 70-run association between Mushfiqur Rahim and Rokibul Hasan helped them to a competitive score.

Bangladesh, having been handed a loss by Australia at this same venue on Monday, elected to bat on a hard batting track under sunny skies. Unfortunately for them, their top-order failed to fire due to a kamikaze approach and that put plenty of pressure on Rokibul and Mushfiqur. Rokibul never threatened to run away with the innings but his unbeaten presence at the end of a wobbly innings ensured Bangladesh take the field confidently.

Farveez Maharoof's first over cost 15 - Tamim Iqbal welcomed him with a trio of forceful boundaries - but also accounted for the trigger-happy Zunaed Siddiqui with a slow legcutter. Then a moment of madness had Tamim on his way back: Mohammad Ashraful turned the ball just wide of Nuwan Kulasekara, who collected with ease and whipped off the bails with both batsmen at the other end. There was never a run and the captain was to blame.

Batting was easy on this track - Shakib Al Hasan dispatched his first two deliveries for fours, Ashraful drag-flicked the next to fine leg - and all that was needed was partnerships. Bangladesh knew this track from yesterday and in particular the short boundaries for left-handers, but when they failed to perforate the field for a couple of overs, Ashraful and Shakib tried too much instead of trying to set a platform.

In particular, Bangladesh were rocked by Isuru Udana's double-wicket seventh over, which owed much to Kumar Sangakkara. Ashraful chased a very wide delivery and was excellently snapped up by Sangakkara, standing up to the stumps, and then Mahmudullah drove loosely and tickled a faint inside edge. Ajantha Mendis didn't take long to pick up a wicket, though truth be told it was an ugly heave across the line from Shakib.

Rokibul bided his time and didn't collect his first boundary until he'd faced 27 deliveries. He then opened up with some handy reverse sweeps and paddle shots and finished unbeaten on 38 from 40 balls. Mushfiqur hit 34 from 28 balls, including two clean sixes early into his arrival that cleared the stands over midwicket. Having picked out the deep midwicket boundary effortlessly in the penultimate over, Mushfiqur fell trying another in the last. Mashrafe Mortaza struck two clean straight fours to get the score above 150.

SCORES IN BRIEF
BANGLADESH: 151 for 6 in 20 overs (Tamim 14, Ashraful 16, Shakib 23, Rokibul 38 not out, Mushfiqur 34, Mashrafe 9 not out; Maharoof 1-23, Udana 2-30)

SRI LANKA: 152 for 6 in 19.4 overs (Dilshan 17, Jayasuriya 29, Jayawardene 43, Sangakkara 16, Mubarak 16; Mashrafe 2-30, Shakib 2-18)

ICC World Twenty20

Ashraful upbeat

First official practice game today

Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful poses with the ICC World Twenty20 Championship trophy following a press conference at Lord's in London yesterday.

Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful believes the Tigers are preparing well for the ICC World T20 which kicks off on June 5.

"We have come here one week early, had three games against New Zealand, Holland and Scotland and the boys have done well. We are confident and there are two tough games against Australia tomorrow [Monday] and Sri Lanka the day after. So that's a nice build up to the main tournament," said Ashraful at the captains' media briefing at Lord's yesterday.

The Bangladesh skipper was due to stay back in London until later in the evening for the official dinner before he would leave for Nottinghamshire. The rest of the Bangladesh squad is already in Nottingham, their World T20 base, and had a training session at Lady Bay to prepare for today's warm-up against Australia at Trent Bridge.

The Tigers are expected to go in with three spinners and three pacers against the Aussies. Nayeem Islam might make a return to the side after missing the last two practice matches with a sore shoulder. Shahadat Hossain is likely to be kept out again with Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Syed Rasel and Rubel Hossain forming the pace attack.

The game starts at 1:30pm local time (6:30pm Bangladesh Time) with ESPNStar Sports beaming live coverage in South Asia.

Ashraful was looking forward to the first match of Group A against India at Trent Bridge on June 6.

"In this form of the game any side can beat the other. We defeated the West Indies in the last World T20 in South Africa and progressed to the Super Eights. Our main goal is to repeat that and if we beat India, who are the world champions, in the first match then we will fancy our chances of doing well against the other top sides and making the semifinals even."

The captain was asked about the new kid on the block Rubel Hossain who has been too hot to handle for Holland and Scotland in warm-up matches.

"He has taken nine wickets in two matches and is bowling really well. He has an awkward action and has bit of extra pace," said Ashraful.

Ashraful also put his money on vice-captain Mashrafe to come into his own against India despite a rather forgettable Indian Premier League campaign for Kolkata Knight Riders where he just got one game and went for many.

"It was only in the last over that he did badly. Otherwise I thought he was okay. But I know he'll be back. He is that type of a player. He always does well against India."

Mortaza has been the man-of-the-match in both games Bangladesh have won against India.

Asked about the comment from the Ireland captain William Potterfield that they wanted to beat Bangladesh, Ashraful said the Tigers were the better side.

"I think if we play our best cricket then we should not have a problem against Ireland because we have more quality in the side."

French Open

King Nadal ousted

Ivanovic follows suit

Spanish world number one Rafael Nadal serves the ball to Swedish Robin Soderling (not in picture) in the French Open round of 16 match at Roland Garros in Paris yesterday. Nadal, the king of clay, was eventually beaten by the Swede.

Defending champion Rafael Nadal was knocked out of the French Open on Sunday losing in the fourth round to Sweden's Robin Soderling 6-2, 6-7 (2/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/2).

Soderling will play either Russian 10th seed Nikolay Davydenko or Fernando Verdasco, the eighth-seeded Spaniard for a place in the semifinals.

Belarussian teenager Victoria Azarenka sunk Ana Ivanovic's hopes of defending her French Open crown with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-3 win in the fourth round.

It is the first time the 19-year-old has reached the last eight at a Grand Slam event and she will play Russian top seed Dinara Safina for a place in the semifinals.

The 21-year-old Ivanovic, meanwhile, was left pondering what she has to do to re-discover the form that brought her the title and world No.1 spot a year ago.

Top seed Dinara Safina eased into the French Open quarterfinals defeating Aravane Rezai of France 6-1, 6-0 in a 53-minute centre-court mismatch.

It was the Russian's 18th win out of 19 matches on clay this season and confirmed her status as favourite to win her first Grand Slam title.

Ten-time Grand Slam title winner Serena Williams angrily denounced her Roland Garros opponent as a 'cheat' on Saturday as two of the world's top 10 crashed to shock French Open defeats.

Williams, the 2002 champion, defeated Spain's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the last 16.

Andy Murray reached his first French Open quarter-final on Sunday where he will face big-hitting Fernando Gonazalez who almost missed Roland Garros due to a freak injury caused by signing autographs.

Third seed Murray became only the third British man in the Open era to reach the last eight here with a convincing 7-5, 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 win over Croatia's Marin Cilic.

The 28-year-old, who outgunned Romania's Victor Hanescu 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the Roland Garros quarter-finals for the third time, injured his ankle while signing photos and tennis balls for fans at the Rome Masters in April.

ICC World Twenty20

Twenty20 is home

Cricket's newest format returns to its birthplace when England hosts the World Twenty20 from Friday with the event kicking off a bumper summer which includes one of the sport's oldest combats, the Ashes.

But, as with all the other forms of one-day cricket first played in England at county level, the 'mother country' has found herself having to play catch-up with the rest of the world.

Originally conceived as a fun way of bringing new audiences, particularly those who couldn't watch cricket during the working day, into the game, Twenty20 has taken the sport by storm.

Tournaments such as the Indian Premier League (IPL) are now far more lucrative per match for a player than five-day Test cricket, the traditional pinnacle of the sport.

India, whose administrators were originally hostile to Twenty20 because they feared its commercial impact upon the 50-over game, won the inaugural global tournament in South Africa two years ago.

Nine members of that winning squad, which defeated arch-rivals Pakistan by five runs in a thrilling final in Johannesburg, will be coming to England.

But, in what above all other types of cricket is a game heavily weighted in favour of batsmen, India will be without master run-maker Sachin Tendulkar, who has now opted out of Twenty20 internationals.

Generally short boundaries and fielding restrictions put a premium on big-hitting batsmen and in Yuvraj Singh they have someone who struck England's Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over in South Africa.

Tendulkar, who himself played in this year's IPL, warned it was important that openers Yuvraj and Gautam Gambhir were refreshed after failing to find top form in the IPL.

"I think the key would be how soon they can shed the fatigue factor," Tendulkar said.

Wicket-taking bowlers are an invaluable commodity in a game where economy rates can go out the window and India look to have a promising pace attack.

Left-armer Rudra Pratap Singh, who took 12 wickets in South Africa in 2007, will be supported this time around by Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma.

Pakistan, starved of international cricket at home after a terror attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in March made the country a 'no-go zone', will fancy their chances of going one better this time around.

"I thought Australia would thrash them in the one-off T20 match in Dubai but it was the other way round and now, if Pakistan play to their potential, they can win the title," Pakistan great Wasim Akram told AFP this month.

Australia have dominated all forms of cricket during the last decade except Twenty20 and captain Ricky Ponting is determined to improve both his and the team's record.

"The past couple of games I've played have been very poor," he said. "In the two games in South Africa I made one in each. It's not great form going into a World Cup."

Ponting gave Australia a scare when he sustained a hand injury during practice on Saturday.

But he is still expected to take part - which is more than England captain Andrew Strauss.

The opening batsman has opted out of the tournament because he thinks he isn't a good enough Twenty20 player and the suspicion remains that England are more interested in the Ashes series against Australia that follows this event.

England have never won a major international one-day tournament and they will be without all-rounder Andrew Flintoff (knee), now replaced by uncapped leg-spinner Adil Rashid, while doubts persist over star batsman Kevin Pietersen (Achilles).

But the IPL and subsequent international form of Ravi Bopara has shown England that there is life beyond "Freddie" and "KP".

Sri Lanka and New Zealand have repeatedly punched above their weight in international tournaments and could do so again during a tournament that will take place at three of English cricket's most historic venues - Lord's, the Oval and Trent Bridge.

And the West Indies could yet put a largely disappointing tour of England behind them in this format.

Meanwhile South Africa, who won both of their two previous Twenty20s against Australia, are desperate to add a one-day title to set alongside their achievements in winning Test series in both England and Australia during the past 12 months.

Bangladesh and Ireland, who have both enjoyed shock wins on the global stage in the past, will dream of further upsets although, with both Scotland and the Netherlands taking part, there is also the capacity for some hugely lopsided results too.

For the first time the corresponding women's tournament will run in parallel with the main men's event, with both finals taking place on the same day at Lord's where, thanks in part to Twenty20, permanent floodlights are now a feature of the ground.

The tournament gets underway on June 5

ICC World Twenty20

From IPL to WC

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is looking forward to uniting all the talents at his disposal during the World Twenty20 in England after competing against his teammates in the Indian Premier League.

India are the defending World Twenty20 champions after winning the inaugural edition in South Africa two years ago.

Since then the IPL, a lucrative franchise Twenty20 tournament that features the world's best players, has burst on the scene although this year it was played in South Africa because of security concerns.

"Of course it is a pleasure representing your country after the IPL where you have limited talent in your side," Dhoni told reporters at Lord's here on Sunday.

"But here we have plenty of options and we have the cream of the IPL so there is less pressure on each and every individual."

India supply more IPL players than any other nation but wicket-keeper batsman Dhoni, the captain of the Chennai Super Kings, said this was not an advantage in itself.

"The IPL will help us but not only us. There are quite a few players from other countries but most of our players are in the IPL.

"The best thing is that our youngsters will know how to handle pressure, when in the last over you need 10 or 15 runs, everyone in our side has faced that situation.

"It's good exposure for our guys to play against guys like Brett Lee and Shane Warne.

India have been drawn in Group A alongside Asian rivals Bangladesh - who defeated India at the 2007 50-over World Cup in the Caribbean and Ireland - who beat both Bangladesh and Pakistan in the West Indies two years ago.

"In Twenty20, there is no such thing as a weak side, an individual can take the game away from you," Dhoni explained. "If we take care of the immediate steps, the result takes care of itself."

Reflecting on India's success in South Africa, where they beat arch-rivals Pakistan in a thrilling final, Dhoni said: "We can't live on or relish the memories, we have to turn up and do everything from scratch again, it's not about the past.

"Cricket is a very cruel game, the moment you relax is when you are in trouble," Dhoni said.

Asked how the team had developed, Dhoni joked: "I've got quite a few grey hairs. That's one change, the plus point is that in the last three years there have been fewer changes in the side.

"The individuals involved have played 80 to 90 one-day internationals, helps me personally. I can pick ideas according to the situation. Also the fielding has evolved compared to what it was. We have raised the bar."

India, who still have a doubt over the fitness of fast bowler Zaheer Khan's shoulder injury, come into this event without batting great Sachin Tendulkar.

'The Little Master' has opted out of international Twenty20s and Dhoni said: "He's among the greatest, it's tough, you always want a player like Sachin in your side.

"But he wasn't at the last T20, the guys are getting used to it. But he has a big impact in the dressing room, the amount of ideas he has is amazing."

Much has been made of the impact various strategies might have on the outcome of Twenty20 matches but Dhoni said: "It's about how quickly the individual adapts, about what he does on the field.

"It's not only about strategies but how you implement and how the individual you are planning against reacts. If it was all about strategy Sachin would have been sorted out by now and he's been playing for 20 years."

India begin their Group A campaign against Bangladesh at Trent Bridge on Saturday.

Citycell National School Football Championship
Said's fiver at BNS
Action from yesterday's Citycell National School Football Championship match between Muslimuddin High School of Jhenidah and Azimuddin High School of Kishoreganj at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. PHOTO: BANGLARCHOKH.COM Sports Reporter

Abu Said of Moslehuddin Secondary School scored a mammoth five goals contributing to his team's victory over Aziumddin High School by 8-2 goals in the Citycell National School Football Championship at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) yesterday.

Said scored in the 29th, 65th, 66th, 75th and 78th minutes while Arup Reza (42nd), Shimon (36th) and Kayes (39th) netted the other goals. Humayun (67th) and Ujjol (77th) scored the two goals for Aziumuddin.

In the second game of the day, Shuti VM Pilot High School defeated Raja Suryakumar Institute 3-1 at the same venue. Shujon Miah (17th) and Sabbir (22nd, 58th) took their team to victory and Shujon scored the lone goal for Raja in the 74th minute.

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) coaches panel has selected six top players from the school championship who will be part of BFF's future star program. The selected players are Anik Burman (Laxmi Narayan Cotton Mill), Mohammad Saddam (Raja Suryakumar Institute), Mohammad Zahid (Victoria High School), Mohammad Yasmin (Town Secondary School), Kawsar Ali Rabbi (Govt. Nasirabad School) and Rubel Miah (Govindaganj Bahumukhi High School).

The first semifinal will be held today at BNS between Govindaganj Bahumukhi High School and Victoria High School.

ICC World Twenty20

Tigers warm up well

Bangladesh paceman Rubel Hossain leads his teammates into the pavilion after his five-wicket haul against Scotland at Sir Paul Getty's Ground in Wormsley on Friday.

For Mahmudullah Riyad and Rubel Hossain England has just been like the comfort zone of the backyard. Both have taken the opportunity given to them with both hands and have been the star performers for the Tigers in the three warm-up matches played so far.

Riyad's unbeaten 46 after pacer Rubel's five-for powered the Tigers to finish the unofficial practice games with a six-wicket victory over Scotland at Wormsley on Friday.

Right-hander Riyad took the opportunity with both hands as he top-scored with 43 in the first game against New Zealand and followed that up with 56 against Holland and 46 not out in Bangladesh's successful chase against Scotland.

Fast bowler Rubel did not play the first game but when given the chance he returned with four for 19 and five for 16 in the two matches.

"I am going out there with a very positive mind. I am looking to hit the ball hard and score runs all the time. I guess the mindset is helping me a lot," said Riyad.

"I also started this tour very confident because I am coming off a successful domestic season where I made runs. Also I had worked on my technique, especially on my backlift with Jamie [Siddons] and it has paid off," he added.

For Rubel the practice matches were a chance to show what he has practised.

"The slower ball is coming out really good," said the quick who has rattled batsmen with fast yorkers and sharp bouncers and caught the eyes of former England pacers Devon Malcolm and Phillip DeFreitas who were at Wormsley on Saturday playing for the PCA Masters against Holland.

"He is improving all the time. He trains hard and has so far managed to execute what he is doing in training. His natural pace and slightly unusual action makes him an interesting proposition," said Tigers' bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake.

Both players are also loving the atmosphere in the team.

"There is a definite buzz. We are together all the time enjoying each other's company. There is great camaraderie," said Riyad.

"I am loving it. Mashrafe [Bin Mortaza] has been an idol and to be on the same team is amazing. He helps me a lot and so does the other teammates," said Rubel.

The Bangladesh team enjoyed an off-day Saturday. Today morning the Tigers travel to their World T20 base in Nottingham.

The Tigers will play their first official practice game against Australia on June 1 and second against Sri Lanka a day later before taking on defending champions India in the first Group A match at Trent Bridge on June 6.

Bangladesh face ICC associate members Ireland on June 8 in the second group match.

BRIEF SCORES
SCOTLAND: 141-7 in 20 overs (Hamilton 45, McCallum 50, Berrington 18, extras 11; Mashrafe 1-21, Rasel 1-31, Rubel 5-16, Riyad 2-35, Borren 1-29)

BANGLADESH: 142-4 in 18.4 overs (Tamim 33, Shamsur 1, Ashraful 3, Shakib 36, Riyad 46 not out, Rokibul 15 not out, extras 8; Nel 1-18, Stander 1-13, Watson 1-29)
Result: Bangladesh won by six wickets.

ICC World Twenty20

Mashrafe raring to go:

Bangladesh's think-tank must be secretly delighted that Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was treated shabbily by his Kolkata Knight Riders team in the Indian Premier League.

The astonishing price tag of 600,000 dollars paid by Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan for Mortaza appeared a bad investment as coach John Buchanan confined the young fast bowler mostly to the reserves despite the team's dismal showing.

But warming the benches for five weeks left a frustrated Mortaza hungry for success on the field when he turns out for Bangladesh in the World Twenty20.

"I can't wait to get back on the field," said Mortaza. "It was a great experience mixing with all the top players in the IPL. I learnt so much just watching them.

"Now I want to play and do well for my country. That is the only thing on my mind."

Mortaza's desperation should please Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful and coach Jamie Siddons.

The 25-year-old has risen steadily since his dramatic debut in 2001 when he was launched into the Test squad by West Indian legend Andy Roberts, the then coach, even before he had played first-class cricket.

Mortaza's hard-hitting batting lower down the order makes him ideally suited for Twenty20 cricket where he has a strike-rate of 105.88 in nine matches and six wickets, although at an expensive economy rate of 9.22.

Now free from a spate of knee and back injuries that troubled him over the years, Mortaza must play a major role with both bat and ball if Bangladesh are to progress in the tournament.

"Mashrafe is obviously one of our key players," said coach Siddons. "The heavy English conditions will suit his style."

Skipper Ashraful added: "He is a kind of player you turn to when in trouble and invariably he will deliver whether it is with the bat or ball. The whole team relies on him. He is our superstar."

Bangladesh open their campaign against defending champions India in Nottingham on June 6, followed by the second group match against Ireland two days later at the same venue.

MCA fight back, take lead:

Bangladesh A bowlers could not stop a late-order revival by Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) on the third day of their four-day game at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra yesterday.

At 247 for 6, the second-string side were close to taking a big first innings lead. But Rohit Motwani and Srikant Mandle batted well to make sure the visitors in turn took a 20-run lead, as they ended the day on 363-6 in reply to Bangladesh A's 343.

The left-handed Motwani batted with utmost patience, scoring 95 with the help of four boundaries in his 223-ball innings. He remained unbeaten with Mandle, who made 57 off 102 balls with a six and seven boundaries. The two have so far added 116 for the seventh wicket when all seemed lost for the visitors.

The Ranji Trophy side resumed the day on 69 for two but it was the hosts who quickly gained advantage, removing Kedar Jadhav for 19. Forty-five runs later, occasional off-spinner Rajin Saleh dismissed Rohan Bhosale for 53 off 121 balls.

Ankit Bawne made 57 while Ganesh Gaekwad added 30 but their consecutive losses put the home side before the tourists regained control.

Talha Jubair took two wickets and there was one each from Sajidul Islam, Enamul Haque, Dollar Mahmud and Rajin.

BRIEF SCORES
BANGLADESH A: First innings 343 all out in 91 overs (Kayes 4, Nafis 30, Imran 90, Hannan 39, Rajin 1, Mehrab 81, Sahagir 2, Dollar 79, Sajid 0, Enamul 11*, Talha 2; Samad 6-108, Aditya 1-68, Kiran 2-73).

MAHARASHTRA CRICKET ASSOCIATION: First innings 363-6 in 119 overs (Khadiwale 8, Bhosale 53, Sirikhande 23, Jadhav 19, Bawne 57, Motwani 95*, Gaekwad 30, Mandle 57*; Sajid 1-88, Talha 2-59, Dollar 1-37, Enamul 1-95, Rajin 1-18).

Salahuddin dreams big:

Nobody knows better than Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Kazi Salahuddin that there is no alternative to creating football stars to bring back the glory days of the game.

Following the past few years' doldrums in the game, the country lacks genuine football stars and that is the reason why the BFF boss announced yesterday that the federation was looking forward to the ongoing Citycell National School Football Championship for creating new stars.

"Our coaches have been scouting and have handpicked a lot of talented players. We want to take them under our wing for a month-long trial camp and want to invest on the survivors of the camp -- only the very best," said Salahuddin, arguably the best striker the country has ever produced, while talking with the reporters before departing for the FIFA Congress which will be held over June 2-3 in Nassau, the Bahamas.

"We will offer scholarships to these players under the school development programme. Even if we don't get any sponsors, the BFF will continue supporting the young talents," he continued.

When asked how many players would be selected, the BFF president said that number was not a factor but the quality was. "We will pick all the quality players and even if the number exceeds 300, we will take them."

"We will take care of their education as long as they remain a footballer. This is a professional approach we have taken and if just four players rise from the ranks, it would be a great achievement. I just want the parents to know that there is a future for footballers in the country."

The former national football captain also added that the young boys would continue their studies at home and the BFF development committee will arrange short-term training camps for them.

The BFF president is leading a three-member delegation to the FIFA Congress. A meeting of the confederations will be held on June 1 where the world leaders of football gather for the 59th edition of the Congress.

Salahuddin told at the briefing at the BFF House that he would confirm issues about Bangladesh's bid to host the SAFF men's and women's championships in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

"A meeting of the SAFF [South Asian Football Federation] is scheduled to be held in the Bahamas where we expect to take decisions on the SAFF Championship. During the AFC Congress, we made bids for both the tournaments in Bangladesh. I am going to fight all the way for the rights because during the next three years, we are planning to make Bangladesh the centre of South Asian football," he said.

"Also, we are going to talk about the SAFF executive committee, which has been running the show for the last ten years. Bhutan objected about the one-man show for too long and we had seconded the decision during the last SAFF meeting in Kuala Lumpur," he added.

"I also hope to finalise the teams to participate in the Bangabandhu International Gold Cup and confirm their commitment."

BFF vice-president Kazi Nabil Ahmed, technical director Shahidur Rahman Shantoo and general secretary Al Musabbir Sadi were also present.

3 hattricks in Club Cup:

Four goals from Selim and a hattrick by Shahed helped hosts Raipur Jagarani Club to an 8-2 victory over Crescent Club in the Basundhara Champions Club Cup football tournament in Meherpur yesterday.

The goal rush began as early as the fifth minute with Shahed hitting the back of the net and it was rounded off by Selim's fourth, in the 86th minute.

Jhalu of Dinajpur Football Academy scored the day's third hattrick when his three sunk Kanchanjangha Football Academy in a 5-0 victory.

In Tangail, home side Udayan Krira Chakra crushed Sonali Otit of Manikganj 6-1. The other winners of the day were Ukilpara Sporting Club (Kishoreganj), Nijra XI (Gopalganj) and Young Star Club (Moulavi Bazar).

Moin Smriti Sangsad had a goalless draw with Unmachan while Diganta Prasari and Singra drew 2-2.

Hasan wants to emulate Sehwag:

Rookie opener Shahzaib Hasan, who was a surprise inclusion in Pakistan's squad for the Twenty20 World Champion-ships, says he wants to emulate his explosive Indian counterpart Virender Sehwag in the mega-event that starts June 5 in England.

The 19-year-old was included in the Pakistan squad and has been backed by skipper Younis Khan to do well in the tournament.

Shahzaib has a tally of 80 fours and 13 sixes in 10 first-class matches. The youngster says he loves watching Sehwag in action.

"He is someone I would like to emulate and bat like. He dictates the pace of the game and I want to do that," Hasan said.

Hailing from Karachi, the youngster has already made an impact in the national Twenty20 Championship that concluded on last night.

Shahzaib might find it difficult to get a spot in the playing XI because the Pakistani think-tank is contemplating using wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal as a makeshift opener in the tournament.

"I will wait for my chance when it comes I will try to take it with both hands. For me just to get into the Pakistan team is a dream come true. Because my career is not a very long one," Hasan said.

breaking news

Fans cheer their heroes

HEROES' WELCOME: Barcelona players drive through the streets on an open-topped bus to celebrate their Champions League victory in Barcelona on Thursday.

Tens of thousands of ecstatic fans cheered Barcelona's Champions League heroes during a victory parade through the city centre in an open-top bus Thursday.

Leo Messi, Samuel Eto'o, Thierry Henry and their teammates flew back from Rome after a stunning 2-0 win over Manchester United on Wednesday -- the third part of a unique treble including the Spanish league and cup titles.

The players and coach Pep Guardiola then rode through the city in a open-top bus decked out in the club's royal blue and burgundy colours and marked "Champions," dancing and waving to the fans.

The crowd, many of whom waved the red and yellow flag of the Catalonia region, chanted "Ole, Ole, Champions!" and "Barca, Barca and Barca!" as the bus headed through the city's main thoroughfares for the club's Camp Nou stadium.

Cameroonian Eto'o, who scored one of the goals in the final, stood at the front, blowing kisses to the crowd.

"Eto'o, Africa says thank you," said one banner carried by a Senegalese man who said his name was Yatma.

"Since he (Eto'o) came here we (Africans) are better treated," he said.

Two little girls, aged six and eight, both wearing Messi strips, were disappointed that they could not see the Argentine star, who scored the second goal.

"Messi isn't there, Papa," they cried, who tried to console them. "He'll be on the other side," he said.

One jubilant Catalan, Alfons, said: "I lived in Buenos Aires building motorways, just as Messi helped lift us up on the road to glory." Messi, he insisted, was a Catalan.

Dozens of youths also clambered onto the Colombus monument, at one end of the famous Las Ramblas avenue, to await the team.

The joyful scenes contrasted with those in the early hours of Thursday when police in the city arrested 119 people and more than 150 people were injured as victory celebrations descended into riots.

Around 100,000 people spilled onto the streets of the Catalan capital after the victory.

But the carnival atmosphere turned ugly after midnight when youths began clashing with police around Las Ramblas.

Youths hurled bottles as they tried to storm through metal barricades keeping a mob back from shops, prompting a surge by baton-wielding riot officers.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to control rioters, who damaged lampposts, telephone kiosks and bus stops, media reports said.

Terrified passers-by cowered behind walls as the clashes intensified.

Spain's TVE public television said one of its cameramen was among those hurt.

The statement said police had issued "repeated warnings" to the rioters.

The celebrations had started peacefully as thousands of joyous fans, many draped in the dark red and blue of their club, let off fireworks and honked horns.

Many fans mocked rivals Real Madrid, which ended the season trophyless -- Barca's own fate for the past two seasons until new coach Pep Guardiola rejuvenated the team this year.

And in the Spanish capital, Catalans jumped into the fountain in the Plaza Cibeles, the traditional site for celebrations by Real supporters.

Barca fans had already twice savoured success in recent days after their team won the Spanish title and lifted the Spanish Cup.

"Champions! (three times)", headlined the Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia.

Barca and their supporters have experienced "the greatest night in their history," it said.

The nation's top-selling paper, El Pais, said Barcelona now has "a legendary triple crown" and is "at the top of the world."

UEFA Champions League

China hold Germany

Germany striker Mario Gomez (R) heads the ball ahead of China's Feng Xiaoting during their friendly match in Shanghai on Friday.

New coach Gao Hongbo got his reign off to a promising beginning as China drew 1-1 in a friendly against an under-strength Germany in front of a passionate home crowd in Shanghai.

China got off to the perfect start when four minutes in midfielder Gao Junmin took a pass into the area and breezed past defender Robert Huth to score with an angled shot past Robert Enke in the away goal.

But the euphoria did not last long, Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger playing in the unmarked Lukas Podolski, who fired home the equaliser two minutes later.

"We wanted to play the strategy laid out by the coaches, we wanted to play hard and build up our confidence," an elated Gao Junmin said after the match.

"We came here to learn from the Germans."

With big name stars Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose at home, German coach Joachim Loew had hoped their absences would give one of his newcomers an opportunity to shine.

As it was, China played on the break, packing the defence and with just one up front, and in the event restricted the Germans to few chances.

Indeed, the best opportunities went to the hosts. In the 36th minute, left-back Cao Yang saw his perfect cross to Gao Lin wasted.

China continued to create chances, with Enke saving a long-range shot by midfielder Jiang Ning in the 72nd minute, and just tipping a blast from Zhou Haining over the bar moments later.

Germany's best chance fell to Schweinsteiger, but he failed to capitalise on an open net in the 83rd minute.

Gao Hongbo was named head of China's national team earlier this month in the hope he can improve a side which has been dismal in recent years.

The former striker, China's seventh head coach since 2000 and youngest ever at age 44, takes over a team that has fallen to 97th in the FIFA world rankings, behind Iceland but just ahead of Sierra Leone.

Perez promises beautiful game

Former Real Madrid president Florentino Perez raises his hand during his presentation in Madrid on Thursday.

Former Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, set automatically to take charge of the club again on June 1, has promised to deliver fans the beautiful game as they try to move beyond Barcelona's year of hegemony.

Barca won the Champions League, the Spanish title and the Spanish Cup in a superb season under debutant coach Pep Guardiola and Real were left looking ordinary by comparison.

Perez said the team he would help to build would be world beaters.

"We will build a spectacular team with top notch players," Perez told a gathering of Real stakeholders and reporters Thursday.

"We have set up a strong and stable sporting project which will be able to call upon footballers who will turn each Real Madrid match into a fascinating rendezvous," vowed Perez, the architect of the multimillion-dollar era of 'galacticos', global stars such as Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham.

The recipe worked for a while and a ninth European Cup duly arrived in 2002 but, aside from a 2007 league title for Beckham's only trophy and a Liga repeat last year Real have seen the pendulum swing spectacularly towards Barcelona this season.

And in the past seven seasons which have elapsed since Zidane's brilliant winner in the 2002 final, the club have performed woefully in the Champions League ever since.

Perez did not mention any names regarding new top signings but the usually well-informed Cadena Ser radio said Chilean Manuel Pellegrini, currently at Villarreal, would become coach in place of stop-gap Juande Ramos, who replaced the sacked Bernd Schuster mid-season.

And reports Thursday said that the club would also land AC Milan's Brazilian playmaker Kaka.

Media reports constantly speculate that Cristiano Ronaldo, Liverpool's Spanish star Xabi Alonso and Bayern Munich's French star Franck Ribery will don the all-white strip next term.

Pulling strings as top advisors will be Argentine Jorge Valdano, long ensconced in the club's corridors of power, as well as Zidane.

Perez is set to return as chairman as the only other candidate still in the race for the job will not qualify to run, sports daily AS reported on Tuesday.

Little-known Eduardo Garcia will be unable to lodge a bank guarantee of 57.4 million euros with the club which is needed to be able to run for president by a May 31 deadline, the newspaper said.

According to the club's rules, if there is only one candidate for president, Perez will be appointed to the post on Monday, otherwise a vote will be held on June 14.

While the club normally holds elections every four years, it faces the prospect of holding a ballot a year early due to the resignation of former president Ramon Calderon in January.

Zia maintains 2nd position:

Grand Master Ziaur Rahman preserved his second position with Indian GM Sandipan Chanda, after his win over Xiu Deshun of China in the 2nd Subic Open International Chess Tournament in seven rounds yesterday at Olongapo City.

The second-place holders have 5.5 points each.

GM Niaz Murshed have earned four points from seven matches losing to GM Abhijit Gupta (India). GM Ghaem Ehsan Magami is the solo leader in the points table with six in his kitty.

The FA Cup

Everton ready to step up:

Everton midfielder Tim Cahill believes Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea represents the chance to start a golden era for David Moyes' team.

While Chelsea's star power and big-match experience makes the west London club favourites to win the Wembley clash, Cahill is convinced Everton are on the brink of something special and the Australia international wants the Toffees to make the final their coming of age party.

It is 14 years since Everton last won a major trophy - when Paul Rideout's goal clinched a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the FA Cup final - but even that was a rare moment of triumph in a barren period.

While more title success may be asking too much, under Moyes's astute leadership Everton now look capable of breaking into the Premier League's top-four and staying there.

They underlined their case by finishing fifth and knocking out Liverpool, United and Aston Villa en route to Wembley despite missing key players like Mikel Arteta and Ayegbeni Yakubu for long periods.

Victory at Wembley would validate Everton's rise and, although Chelsea are keen to win the Cup as a farewell present for departing boss Guus Hiddink, it could be that Moyes's success-starved players have more motivation on Saturday.

Sydney-born Cahill, who was on the losing side when he played for Millwall in the 2004 FA Cup final against United, is in no doubt that Everton can win if they show enough belief.

"We need to believe we can win. We need to believe that once we cross that white line this is our chance of winning some silverware," he said.

"On a day like the FA Cup final, I will be looking for that telling moment that hopefully will change the game, that telling pass that might put someone in or that tackle that's going to stop them scoring."

Everton captain Phil Neville, the former United midfielder, is one of the few players in the squad to have tasted sustained success, but he admits he would swap all that to help his current team become a major force.

"I think this club is going in the right direction. We can restore Everton to where it belongs and that is at the top of English football," Neville said.

Chelsea last won the FA Cup against United in 2007. That victory remains their last piece of silverware and midfielder Frank Lampard acknowledges it is time to end the trophy drought.

"It's very important we win something for the confidence of the club and take something away from the season," Lampard said.

"Personally the way I have played, I think it is my best season, and to round it off we do need to win the Cup."

Win or lose, it will be an emotional occasion for Hiddink, who resumes his role as Russia coach on a full-time basis immediately after the match.

Hiddink has made a big impact during his brief spell as interim manager and Lampard would love to send him home on a high.

"Our form since Guus Hiddink took over has been championship-winning form, and we only didn't go to the Champions League final because of things that happened on the night," Lampard added.

"It will be great to finish off with a big day out and a win for him," Lampard said. "It would be lovely if we could do that. All the players here and everyone he's worked with wants his season to finish like that."