Dhaka, Aug 18 (UNB) - Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad started gearing up after the Eid vacation as he batted for an hour and bowled five overs at the academy ground in Mirpur on Sunday. 

Mahmudullah had been suffering from several injuries. But as per the latest update, he felt no pain while batting, and bowled five overs without complaining any pain as well. 

“Now, I’m fit. I’ve recovered from the calf muscle pain. At the same time, the shoulder problem is also fine now. I’ve batted for a long time today. There’s no problem,” he told reporters. 

Mahmudullah failed to impress in the World Cup. He also disappointed during Bangladesh’s first assignment after the World Cup in Sri Lanka. Due to his regular downfall, critics are seeking his removal from the national set up. But, the all-rounder is upbeat to flare up. 

“We have many games coming along the way. I’m confident to do well and take advantage of the chances,” he further said. 

Bangladesh’s next challenge is the one-off Test against Afghanistan before facing them and Zimbabwe in a T20 tri-series. 

Mahmudullah believes if Bangladesh can play according to their strength, they will get the result in their favour.
 

Dhaka, Aug 18 (UNB)- Captain of the Bangladesh national women’s football team Sabina Khatun became first Bangladesh woman footballer to be named as Youth Ambassador of Suchana Program in Bangladesh for one year.

The 25-year-old Bangladeshi forward will work for the Suchana Program, now running in 157 unions of 20 upazilas of Sylhet and Moulvi Bazar districts of the country under financial supports of DFID and European Union to promote nutrition and health care of children under 2 years of age.   

Sabina inked a one-year contract with Suchana Program at a signing ceremony at BFF house in Motijheel on Sunday.

Chairman of the women’s wing of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Mahfuza Akhter Kiron, BFF General Secretary Md Abu Nayeem Shohag, Chief of Party of Suchana Program Dr Sheikh Shahed Rahman, Program Director Arif Ahmed and Senior Manager of Communication Sheikh Ali Haider Azam were present on the occasion.

In her immediate reaction, Sabina said “Thanks to Suchana Program authority and Save the Children- Bangladesh for giving me this opportunity. It will be a great pleasure and experience for me. I hope it will inspire my next generation of footballers.”

Chief of Party of Suchana Program Dr Sheikh Shahed Rahman said, “Our organization is working for the rights of children and women. Sabina can play a vital role here. Her stories of overcoming social barriers and becoming a national footballer will inspire the women.”

Program Director Arif Ahmed said, “Sabina will act as a role model of our program. Her presence as Youth Ambassador in our different social programs will inspire other girls and will help flourish the latent talents from the grassroots level.”

Sabina Khatun is considered the best women footballer of Bangladesh and started her international career as a professional footballer from 2009.

She played for Sethu FC in Indian women’s league in 2018 and Maldives National Defense Force team in Maldivian futsal tournament in 2015.

Sabina is awarded with Anannya Top Ten Awards in 2016, a prize for women in Bangladesh who contributed in agriculture, industries, trade, economics, acting, music, sports, education, liberation war, social welfare and development-work-law, human rights, entrepreneur, politics and journalism.

Dhaka, Aug 18 (UNB) – Bangladesh’s newly-appointed head coach Russell Domingo has said he will put in his best efforts so that Tigers keep moving in the right direction of international cricket and go to the next level. 

“Bangladesh are moving in the right direction in international cricket. They’ve a good bunch of guys and some of them have been playing international cricket for a long time now. I’ll have Mahmudullah (Riyad), Tamim Iqbal, Shakib (Al Hasan), Mushfiqur (Rahim) and more. I’ve to make sure they continue to improve themselves, while the team goes to the next level,” Domingo told UNB in an interview on Sunday. 

After parting its ways with Steve Rhodes following the World Cup failure, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had been looking for a coach for the national team. There were many who showed interest to take the charge. 

Before Eid-ul-Azha, Domingo came to Bangladesh and gave an interview which made the BCB happy.

On Saturday, the BCB announced the name of Domingo as the new head coach of the Tigers. 

Asked why the BCB picked him for the job, Domingo said: “I think I’ve much coaching experiences in international cricket. I’ve coached the international side for seven years. Before that, I worked with the youth development system. I understand what it takes to be an international cricketer. I was lucky to share some of those ideas with BCB.”

Domingo will get his compatriots Charl Langeveldt and Neil McKenzie as pace-bowling coach and batting coach of the Tigers respectively. 

The new coach believes it will help him make a good plan for Bangladesh’s success in the future. 

“I’ve worked with them for a long time in South Africa. So, I’m looking forward to working with them again in Bangladesh. They’re great coaches. It’ll make our job easier. The important thing is that we know what to expect from each other. I believe it’ll benefit the Bangladesh team,” he further said. 

The 44-year-old South African never played international cricket. He started his coaching career at the age of 25 and established himself as one of the most experienced coaches in the world. He is special to find new talents for the senior side. 

Domingo believes relying on the vast experiences, he will be able to guide Bangladesh cricket to the next level. Under his coaching, Bangladesh can be one of the top 4-5 cricketing nations, believes the new coach.

The newly-appointed coach will arrive in Dhaka on August 21. 

He will conduct a 10-day practice camp at Dhaka before the Tigers face Afghanistan in the one-off Test which his first assignment as the coach of Bangladesh.

Dhaka, Aug 18 (UNB)- Bangladesh national volleyball team will face Uzbekistan in their first central zone match of the AVC Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship’2019 on Monday (August 19) at the Army Sports and Physical Training Complex in Nepal. 

Bangladesh have been placed in Group B along with Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan while Group A comprises hosts Nepal, Kyrgyzstan and Maldives. 

In their next matches, Bangladesh will play Afghanistan on August 20 and Turkmenistan on August 21 at the same venue. 

The Group A champions will play Group B runners-up in the first semifinal while the Group B champions will play Group A runners-up in the second semifinal, both on August 22.

The winners of the semi-finals will play final at the same venue on August 24. Bangladesh volleyball team is expected to return home on August 25.  

Earlier, a 17-member Bangladesh Volleyball team reached Nepal on August 16 after a 21-day training camp in Iran, under supervision of Iranian head coach Ali Por-Aroji. 
 

Dhaka, Aug 18 (UNB) — Touring Sri Lanka Emerging Cricket team made a flying start to take 1-0 lead in the three-match one-day series beating their Bangladesh counterparts by a big margin of 186 runs in the first match at Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) in Savar on Sunday. 

The Islanders Sri Lanka opted to bat first after winning the toss and amassed a big total of 304 runs for 7 in 50 overs with Charith Asalanka scoring 71 runs off 79 balls hitting seven fours and two sixes and Wanindu Hasaranga making 70 runs off 46 deliveries with seven fours and three sixes.

Shafiqul Islam and Shariful Islam took two wickets each conceding 22 and 71 runs respectively. 

In reply, Bangladesh Emerging team were dismissed cheaply for 118 runs in 28.3 overs to concede a humiliating defeat.  
 
Replying to Lankan massive total, Bangladesh lost five wickets scoring only 82 runs. Saif Hasan made a half century with just 50 runs while Afif Hossain was the second-highest scorer with 19 runs. The other Bangladeshi batsmen were clueless to score runs in the middle. 

Seven of Bangladeshi batsmen went to pavilion with single digit and three of them with duck. De Silva made the major damage in Bangladesh innings grabbing four wickets for 12 runs  

The next two matches of the one-day series will be held on August 21 and 24.