Nokia subscribes to Bangladesh

Nokia, a major mobile phone giant, has apparently signed an agreement with the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), to promote the game in the country.

"We are happy to have Nokia with us. But we won't give you the financial details," said BFF president SA Sultan at a press conference.

"The world loves football and the Bangladeshis are no exception. And we at Nokia take pride in having our logo being carried by the team," said Prem Chand, managing director of Nokia Emerging Asia.

Via Bangladesh-Blogger

Bangladesh complete five-wicket win

A composed 43 from Nazimuddin and a quick 36 from Mohammad Ashraful followed up a good bowling display as Bangladesh coasted to a five-wicket win over Kenya in the second game of the Twenty20 Quadrangular tournament.

> Nazimuddin stars after bowlers restrict Kenya

Bangladesh blast away to semis

Bangladesh were in no danger of losing from the moment they won the toss, proving again that their bowling and fielding is outstanding.

The prospect of playing against stiffer competition, Sri Lanka and Pakistan possibly, cannot come soon enough.

Related Link: Scorecard

As bowlers they're way far better than any of the others in the competition and as fielders they're possibly on a par with any of the Asian Test-playing countries.

Irin Sultana took a brilliant catch, running fifteen or so yards from mid-on to scoop a ball one-handed inches off the ground behind the bowler. Sultana's on tour as the reserve wicket-keeper and this was her first ever outfield catch for her country.

Bangladesh embarrass UAE

Bangladesh vs UAE, one of two matches on day 1 of the ACC women's tournament, lasted only an hour. Seven ducks were registered in the UAE innings, with three batsmen making 1 and the highest innings score being 3.

Related Link: A league of their own

Bangladesh's opening bowlers Panna Ghosh and Shamina Akter knocked over the UAE batsmen in 9 overs, and then Tajkia Akhter, the captain, and Chamely Khatun reached the target in 1.2 overs.

UAE struggled against the bowling from both ends, Ghosh ending with figures of 5 for 6 from 5 overs while Akhter, her stockier but equally quick teammate, took 3 for 2 in her 4 overs.

Bangladesh fighting in Colombo

Bangladesh in Sri Lanka Test Series - 1st Test, 2007

On the second day of Ashraful's inaugural Test-match, he has approached the experienced and versatile Sri Lankan Squad with vigour.

Although the question of Sri Lanka declaring soon enough was on everyones mind! There were odd moments of joy, and the lackluser performance in the 1st innings failed to devoid the team of spirit.

While both opening batsmen Shahriar Nafees and Javed Omar are still batting, chasing Sri Lanka's mammoth total of 577; the Bangladeshis are eyeing a heavy defeat.

However, there are encouraging signs on the weather front, forecasters have predicted a heavy deluge.

And on the sporting front, Ashraful has often claimed Sri Lanka as his batting-territory, and will be eager to prove himself as captain.

Bangladesh 89 & 3/0; Sri Lanka 577/6d
Stumps - Sri Lanka lead by 485 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the 2nd innings.


DPMD Jayawardene 127* MG Vandort 117
Mohammad Rafique 28.5-1-138-1 Abdur Razzak 30-2-109-1

Bangladesh mauled in Colombo

Bangladesh in Sri Lanka Test Series - 1st Test, 2007

By lunch on the first-day of their test with Sri Lanka, the Bangladeshi batsmen again showed why they are often ridiculed by the international media, for their inconsistency.

While former captain Habibul Bashar's performance in the warm-up was encouraging, he managed a paltry-two, avoiding the golden-duck by a fathoms length!


Looking ahead to a second-day, it might be up to the bowlers to save the day. Shahadat Hossain showed some signs, but in the end the Sri-Lankan batsmen proved to capable for a Bangladeshi side still reeling from the departure of the influential Dave Whatmore.


Bangladesh 89; Sri Lanka 227/3
Stumps - Sri Lanka lead by 138 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the 1st innings.


TM Dilshan 27* MG Vandort 87*
Mohammad Rafique 11-1-46-0 Abdur Razzak 14-1-47-1

B-League gathers pace

The first professional Football League in Bangladesh, aptly named B-League, is quietly stowing away.

Avid followers of Bangladesh Football have down the years seen this sport lose it's prime, through mismanaged organisations.

The Bangladeshi crowd have always suffered in this beautiful-game of experiments and bureaucracy called football management. Generations of talented Bangladeshi footballers have lost out among favouritism.

In the B-League, dominated by foreign players with average skills, local players are stand-by utilities waiting to relieve a foreign team-mate.

The Bangladesh Football Federation is happy with the current status of the game in Bangladesh. It has high hopes of competing with major world leagues!

Habibul Bashar faces axe

Bangladesh cricket captain Habibul Bashar is nearing the end of his reign as the undisputed contender for the top job in the game. After a disastrous personal world cup debacle, Bashar the gentelman of the game is seeming more likely to be axed, some sources suggest.

The captain of Bangladesh has been lacking the basic drive to contend in the international stage. Fans have called for his resignation, and are eager to see the dashing Mohammad Ashraful replace him.

Although cricket analysts are worried about the burden of captaincy hindering Ashraful's talent.

> Image by Allan Mckenzie

Tigers tamed

A day in a test match is a very long-time. At least for the Bangladeshi cricket team, that was the case. On the first day of the 2nd test-match with India, the underdogs declined to make use of good omen, and put India to bat.

At the end of the day, the Indian team was resolute with 326 for no loss. Only Mashrafe Mortaza showed any resistance, although unsuccessful in securing a wicket. He was possibly upbeat on the news of being selected in place of Shoaib Akhtar in the Afro-Asia Cup.


> Web-link: Bangladesh v India, 2nd Test, Mirpur