sports
Men's Asian 5s Hockey: Bangladesh pummelled 15-1 by India
Bangladesh Men's Hockey team made a frustrating start in the 11-nation Men's Asian Hockey five-a-side (5s) World Cup Qualifier after suffering a humiliating 15-1 goals defeat against India in their opening day held in Salalah, Oman Tuesday evening.
Bangladesh were trailing by 1-7 goals in the first half against their giant neighbor India.
Also read: Hockey Champs Trophy: Monarch Padma beat Walton Dhaka 6-3
Sarowar Morshed Shawon scored the lone goal for Bangladesh in the very 2nd minute of the match by a field goal.
Earlier, Bangladesh was placed in the six- nation Elite group with India, Pakistan, Japan, Malaysia and hosts Oman while five-team Challenger group consists of Afghanistan, Iran, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Kazakhstan.
Also read: Jr Asia Cup Hockey: Bangladesh eliminated in group stage
In the remaining elite group matches, Bangladesh will play Pakistan on Aug 30 at 2 pm, Malaysia on the same day at 8 pm, Japan on Aug 31 at 2pm and hosts Oman, also on August 31 at 10pm (all times local).
Also read: Hockey Champs Trophy: Walton Dhaka taste first victory beating Rupayan City Cumilla 4-3
Bangladesh national men's hockey reached Oman on Saturday to take part in the eleven-nation qualifying round of the meet to be held between August 29 to September 2.
Bangladesh Men’s team : Asim Gope, Sarowar Hossain, Mahbub Hossain, Shafiul Alam Shishir, Deen Islam Imon, Sarowar Morshed Shawon, Raju Ahmed Topu and Abed Ullah.
Bangladesh U-16 Football team to fly Bhutan Wednesday to compete SAFF U-16 Champs
Bangladesh U-16 Football team will leave Dhaka for Bhutan Wednesday morning to compete in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-16 Championships to be held there from September 1-10.Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) on Tuesday announced a 30 member Bangladesh squad to play in the six- nation regional soccer meet to be held in the Himalayan country.
Also read: Bangladesh to compete in next month's SAFF U-19, U-16 Championships
Bangladesh team comprises 23 booters and seven officials.
Bangladesh, which was placed in three -team Group A with India and Nepal, will play India on Sept 1 and Nepal on Sept 3, both at the Changlimithang Stadium in Bhutan.
Also read: Lebanon confirmed as 8th team in SAFF Championship 2023
After the group matches, top two teams from each of the two groups will play in the semifinals on September 7 while the finalmatch will be held on September 10.
Also read: Bangladesh come from behind to beat Maldives, keep SAFF dream alive
Members of Bangladesh team:
Goal Keeper: Nahidul Islam, Abdur Rahman, and Alif Rahman Imtiaz ;
Defenders: Ashiqur Rahman, Ismail Hossen, Abu Rayhan Shawon, Mohammad Delwar, Imdadul Haque, Imran Khan, Saim Omith, Sheikh Sangram and Mithu Chowdhury ;
Midfielders: Kamal Mridha, Abdullah Junaid Chistry, Arman Miah and Nazmul Huda Faysal (Captain);
Forwards: Abu Sayed, Mohammad Ripon, Murshed Ali,MH Mohibbullah, Mohammad Manik, Salahuddin Shahed and Swe Mong Sing Marma.
Team officials:
Team Manager -Mohidur Rahman Miraj, Head Coach -Saifur Rahman Moni, Assistant Coach-Abul Hossain, Goal Keeping Coach- Shah Alam Tutul, Physio -KM Shakib, Team Doctor- Mohammad Atiquzzaman and Media Officer - Saeed Hasan.
28th National School Handball begins
The Polar Ice Cream 28th National School Handball (Boys & Girls) Tournament began here on Tuesday with BCIC College making a good start beating South Breeze School by 3-2 goals in the official opening match for the boys.
Twelve more matches --six for boys and six for girls --were also decided on the first day.
Also read: 28th National School Handball begins Tuesday
CEO of the meet' s sponsor Dhaka Ice Cream ( Polar Ice Cream) Industries Limited Shah Masud Imam inaugurated the meet as the chief guest at the Shaheed Capt ( Retd) M Monsur Ali National Handball Stadium here.
General Secretary of Bangladesh Handball Federation (BHF) Asaduzzaman Kohinoor presided over the day's inaugural function.
Also read: National Men's Handball: Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) emerge champions
Twenty four teams are competing in the boys competition while 19 teams are taking part in the girls group at the Shaheed Capt ( Retd) M Monsur Ali National Handball Stadium and Sheikh Russel Roller Skating complex respectively.
Also read: IHF Trophy Women's Handball: Bangladesh emerge champions in Youth (U-17) group beating India
Final matches of both the boys and girls groups will be held on September 4.
Litton Das Ruled out of First Match Due to Fever
The Bangladesh national cricket team has encountered a significant setback just before their opening Asia Cup match against Sri Lanka, as their opener, Litton Das, has been ruled out of the first match due to fever.
Litton has been among Bangladesh's top batters for the past few years, and his absence will undoubtedly be felt by the Tigers in their first Asia Cup match.
Read: Asia Cup 2023: Preview of Pakistan vs Nepal 1st ODI
Minhajul Abedin, the chief selector of Bangladesh, told UNB that the opener won't be able to participate in the opening match in Sri Lanka.
"He is still suffering from fever," Minhajul told UNB. "We are awaiting an update from the medical department."
Read: Bangladesh aim a Super Fours berth in Asia Cup
Litton was supposed to travel to Sri Lanka with the team on August 27th but could not make it due to a fever.
He was rescheduled to travel to Sri Lanka on Tuesday and join the team in Kandy; Litton's plans were disrupted due to his ongoing fever, preventing him from taking the flight.
Read: Bangladesh Cricket Team Departs for Asia Cup Without Liton Das
Bangladesh are set to commence their Asia Cup journey on August 31st in Kandy. After that, they will travel to Pakistan for their second match against Afghanistan.
Minhajul mentioned that they have not yet contemplated a replacement for Liton.
This year's Asia Cup features a total of six participating teams. Apart from Bangladesh, the other teams are Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
Asia Cup 2023: Preview of Pakistan vs Nepal 1st ODI
In the opening match of the 16th edition of the Asia Cup, Pakistan will face Nepal in Karachi on August 30. The Nepal cricket team has already reached Pakistan to participate in the tournament for the first time. The Pakistan vs Nepal ODI match will start at 3:30 pm Bangladesh time at Multan Cricket Stadium.
Preview of Pakistan vs Nepal ODI match
The number 1 team in the Men's ODI Team Rankings will play the Number 15 team. Pakistan will step onto the field as the favourite, and they are getting home-ground advantage, too. Furthermore, their recent triumphant 3-0 sweep in the ODI series against Afghanistan undoubtedly contributed to a significant boost in their confidence.
On the other hand, Nepal secured their spot in the Asia Cup by emerging victorious in the 2023 ACC Men's Premier Cup held in May. Their impeccable record of remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament showcases their expertise. Nevertheless, facing Pakistan presents an entirely distinct and more challenging scenario. Playing with one of the most experienced teams, Nepal might get to see a one-sided game.
Read more: Asia Cup 2023: Analysis of Bangladesh ODI Squad
It's quite fascinating that Pakistan and Nepal have never played against each other in any official match in international cricket. However, they did have a practice match in the UAE back in 2015. During that match, Pakistan scored a solid 306 runs for the loss of 6 wickets, thanks to an impressive performance by Azhar Ali, who scored 73 runs off 73 balls. In return, Nepal had a slow start and managed to score 205 runs in their 50 overs while losing 5 wickets along the way.
Pakistan Probable XI
Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf.
Nepal Probable XI
Aarif Sheikh, Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Bhim Sharki, Sompal Kami, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Gulshan Jha, Pratis GC.
Read more: Asia Cup 2023 Fixtures: Team List, Schedule, and Venues
Players to Watch in the PAK vs NEP 1st ODI in the 2023 Asia Cup
Imam Ul Haq
Pakistani batter Imam Ul Haq has shown remarkable consistency in the recent ODI series against Afghanistan, maintaining an average of nearly 70 with the bat. Considering his impressive performance, he will surely have an impact on the first match against Nepal. Overall, he played 62 matches and scored 2884 runs in total with 9 centuries and 18 fifties.
Naseem Shah
Pakistani bowler Naseem Shah's performance in the recent ODI series against Afghanistan has been outstanding, both in terms of his exceptional bowling and his economical figures. With his strong performance, he could be a top bowler against Nepal. Debuted in 2022, Naseem played 10 ODI matches so far and took 25 wickets in total.
Read more: Predictions: Who will win Asia Cup 2023?
Sandeep Lamichhane
Lamichhan's bowling record for Nepal is outstanding. He played 49 ODIs and chased 111 wickets. He surpassed Rashid Khan to reach 100 ODI wickets in just 42 matches and set a world record. In T20, too, he has a chance to take the record by himself. He now has 85 wickets in 44 matches.
Final Words
This year's Asia Cup, organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), will feature a hybrid model. This also includes matches in co-hosting country Sri Lanka. Although Pakistan is the main host, it can be said that the main tournament will be in Sri Lanka. 9 matches, including the final, are in the island nation. The remaining 4 matches of the tournament are in Pakistan. The Pakistan vs Nepal match will mark the inauguration of Asia Cup 2023.
Read more: Asia Cup 2023: Six Players in Bangladesh ODI Squad to Watch
Jamal Bhuiyan leads Sol de Mayo to victory in memorable debut
Captain of Bangladesh Jamal Bhuyan guided his new Argentine club Sol de Mayo to victory on debut on Sunday, getting on the scoresheet too in the process.
Also read : Bangladesh Football Team Captain Jamal Bhuiyan becomes brand ambassador of National STEAM Olympiad 2023
Jamal Bhuiyan was honoured with the captain's armband for his team in the Argentine Torneo Federal A League (3rd division league) match, as Sol de Mayo beat Germinal 2-1.
Also read : Jamal Bhuiyan reach Kolkata to play I-League
With this victory, Jamal's club Sol de Mayo advanced to 5th place in the nine-team league.
He scored what turned out to be the winning goal for his team in the 81st minute from a penalty after his Argentine team mate Fernando Valdebenito opened the account in the first half.
Germinal reduced the margin just three minutes before the final whistle.
Also read : Bangladesh football captain Jamal Bhuiyan catches Covid-19
Sol de Mayo will play their next match against Olimpo at home on September 9.
However, the Bangladesh captain is due to leave Argentina for Dhaka tonight (Monday night), in order to join the national team camp ahead of two friendlies at home against Afghanistan on September 4 and 7 .
Asian 5s Hockey: Bangladesh women's team finish 8th
Bangladesh Women's Hockey team finished miserably in 8th place in the 10-team Women's Asian Hockey five-a-side (5s) World Cup Qualifiers, losing to Chinese Taipei 8-5 in their last game in Salalah, Oman on Monday.
The 7th place deciding match between two teams was locked in 4-4 goals in the first half.
Read more: Asian 5s Hockey: Bangladesh Women' s team crush Iran 9-3
With the day's feat, the Chinese Taipei women's not only finished 7th in the meet ahead of Bangladesh but also took sweet revenge of their 5-10 goals defeat against Bangladesh in the group match last week.
In the last match of their first-ever five-a-side international hockey tournament, Bangladesh's best player Orpita Pal scored four goals while Irin Akhter Riya scored one against the Chinese Taipei.
Read more: Jr Asia Cup Hockey: Bangladesh eliminated in group stage
Earlier in the group matches, Bangladesh beat Chinese Taipei by 10-5 goals, Iran by 9-3 goals and hosts Oman by 9-2 goals and conceded 4-7 goals defeat against Indonesia and 7-10 goals defeat against Hong Kong.
Bangladesh Women’s team : Sumi Akhter, Mukta Khatun, Fardia Akhter Ratri, Orpita Pal, Sanjida Akhter Moni, Kona Akhter, Riasa Akhter and Irin Akhter Riya
Read more: Jr Asia Cup Hockey: Bangladesh to play hosts Oman on Tuesday
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Men's team will start their campaign in the Asian Hockey 5s World Cup Qualifier against India on Tuesday (August 29) also in Salalah, Oman.
Bangladesh national men's hockey reached Oman on Saturday to take part in the eleven-nation qualifying round of the meet to be held between August 29 to September 2.
Bangladesh Men’s team : Asim Gope, Sarowar Hossain, Mahbub Hossain, Shafiul Alam Shishir, Deen Islam Imon, Sarowar Morshed Shawon, Raju Ahmed Topu and Abed Ullah.
ICC World Cup 2023 Warm-up Schedule: Full fixture list, match timings and venues
With less than 40 days remaining until the ICC World Cup 2023, teams are currently busy in the last phase of their screening processes. As part of the final preparations, the countries participating in the World Cup will have the opportunity to play multiple matches in India, the main venue of the World Cup. It was already known that Bangladesh would play at least two matches in India before the World Cup. Now, the complete schedule of the warm-up matches for the ICC men’s cricket World Cup 2023 has been published.
Schedules and fixtures of ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up matches
Table: ICC cricket World Cup Matches 2023: Schedules and fixtures
Date
Match
Venue
Time (Bangladesh Time)
Friday, September 29
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka
Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
2:30 PM
South Africa vs Afghanistan
Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
2:30 PM
New Zealand vs Pakistan
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
2:30 PM
Saturday, September 30
India vs England
Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
2:30 PM
Australia vs Netherlands
Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
2:30 PM
Monday, October 2
England vs Bangladesh
Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
2:30 PM
New Zealand vs South Africa
Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
2:30 PM
Tuesday, October 3
Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka
Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
2:30 PM
India vs Netherlands
Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
2:30 PM
Pakistan vs Australia
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
2:30 PM
.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Schedule, Fixtures, Venues, Team List
ICC will organize a total of 10 warm-up matches in 4 days before the World Cup. The matches will be held in three stadiums in India. Each team will get two matches to familiarize themselves with the conditions. According to the ICC, all the preparatory matches will be in the day and night schedule. Each match will start at 2:30 pm Bangladesh time. All 15 players are allowed to play in these warm-up matches. The World Cup Captain's Day will be held on October 4 after the October 3 matches. The captains of the participating teams will be introduced on this day. On the 5th, the main event of this World Cup will begin with the match between the two finalists of the last World Cup, England vs. New Zealand.
South Africa, Afghanistan, New Zealand, and Pakistan will play World Cup preparation matches on September 29. The Proteas vs. Afghanistan match will be played at Greenfield International Stadium and the Pakistan-Kiwis match at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium. Bangladesh will play Sri Lanka on the same day at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati.
India-England and Australia-Netherlands will play the next day, on September 30. The first match will be played in Guwahati, and the next match will be played at Greenfield Stadium.
The Tigers' second opponent is the mighty England. The warm-up match will be played at Barsapara Cricket Stadium on October 2. New Zealand will play against South Africa on the same day at Greenfield Stadium.
On the last day of the warm-up schedule, 3 matches will be held on October 3. Afghanistan vs. Sri Lanka in the first match of the day, India vs. Netherlands in the second match, and Pakistan vs. Australia in the third match.
All the warm-up matches will be played 50 overs per side. However, these matches will not carry ODI status as the teams can send all their 15-player squad to the field.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Venues: Cities and Stadiums in India
Venues for World Cup 2023 Warm-up Matches
Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
The Assam Cricket Association Stadium, commonly referred to as ACA Stadium or Barsapara Cricket Stadium, is located in Guwahati, Assam, India. Serving as the home field for the Assam cricket team, the stadium is under the Assam Cricket Association. Nestled amidst Assam's natural beauty, this stadium is a modern masterpiece that has hosted numerous thrilling matches. With a seating capacity of around 50,000, it offers an electric atmosphere for cricket enthusiasts.
Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
The Greenfield International Stadium, also known as The Sports Hub and previously called Trivandrum International Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in Kerala, India. The stadium was built on 36 acres of land. This stadium is special because it's the first one in India that followed the DBOT (design, build, operate, and transfer) model. The stadium is an important venue for the Kerala cricket team.
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
With 55,000 capacity, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium will host three World Cup matches. But it will only host two warm-up matches. People sometimes call it Hyderabad Cricket Stadium. The Hyderabad Cricket Association and the Sunrisers Hyderabad team in the Indian Premier League use this stadium as their home ground.
Final Words
ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up matches will play an essential role in preparing teams for the grand stage of the tournament. These matches will give teams a chance to fine-tune their strategies, assess their strengths and weaknesses, and get accustomed to the conditions of the host country. They provide valuable insights into team dynamics and player form, helping captains and coaches make crucial decisions before the actual tournament begins.
Warm-up matches also generate excitement among fans, offering a glimpse of the intense competition that awaits in the World Cup. While the results of these matches may not officially count, the lessons learned and the experience gained will be invaluable as teams strive for success in the World Cup.
Read more: Bangladesh's Fixtures for ICC World Cup 2023
28th National School Handball begins Tuesday
The Polar Ice Cream 28th National School Handball (Boys & Girls) Tournament begins here on Tuesday.
Twenty four teams, split into eight groups will compete in the boys competition while 19 teams, divided in six groups, will participate in the girls group.
Read: Tigers land in Sri Lanka for Asia Cup
Initially, the matches will be held in two city venues ---Shaheed Capt ( Retd) M Monsur Ali National Handball Stadium and Sheikh Russel Roller Skating complex here.
Final matches of both the boys and girls groups will be held on September 4.
General Secretary of Bangladesh Handball Federation (BHF) Asaduzzaman Kohinoor disclosed the details of the meet at a press conference at the federation meeting room on Sunday.
BHF vice- president and tournament organizing committee chairman Golam Habib and tournament secretary Salim Mia Babu also spoke on the occasion.
Read: World’s Largest Women’s Marathon: Window open till Oct 31 to compete in virtual race
Out of the tournament's total budget Tk 17.50 lakh, the meet's sponsor Polar Ice Cream will provide Tk 15 lakh.
Team Jersey of the tournament were also unveiled on the occasion.
Tigers land in Sri Lanka for Asia Cup
The Bangladesh national cricket team has touched down in Sri Lanka, marking their arrival for this year’s Asia Cup.
The forthcoming Asia Cup is set to unfold in venues spanning Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Bangladesh’s campaign commences in Kandy on August 31st with a match against Sri Lanka. Subsequently, the team will travel to Pakistan for their second group match against Afghanistan on September 3rd.
The Tigers departed from Dhaka on Sunday noon.
Read: Afghanistan Football team in Dhaka to play two FIFA Int'l Friendlies with Bangladesh
Unfortunately, right-handed top-order batter Litton Das could not accompany the team due to an ongoing fever that has afflicted him for the past two days.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed that Litton will rejoin the team as soon as he recovers from the illness.
Another absentee, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, the uncapped pacer, is expected to link up with the team on Monday. His travel arrangements were finalized later due to his subsequent call-up to the team.
Bangladesh’s initial objective in the Asia Cup is to secure a berth in the Super Fours, a goal echoed by the team's head coach, Chandika Hathurusinghe, and Captain Shakib Al Hasan.
However, right-arm pacer, Taskin Ahmed, expressed his belief saying that Bangladesh has the ability to clinch the title of this year’s Asia Cup.
Read: Bangladesh Cricket Team Departs for Asia Cup Without Liton Das
Bangladesh squad for the Asia Cup: Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Naim Sheikh, Shamim Hossain, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Tanzim Hasan Sakib