Sports

MNA Sports Desk: Mick Schumacher, the teenage son of stricken Formula One legend Michael Schumacher, was crowned 2018 Formula Three European champion on Saturday to claim the first key title of his career, reported news agency. With one race left this season, the 19-year-old Schumacher finished second in the day’s second race at Germany’s Hockenheim circuit to leave him with an unassailable lead in the drivers’ championship. Before Sunday’s final race, Schumacher had 347 points, 51 ahead of Britain’s Daniel Ticktum, who was second in the table and the only driver who could have caught the German. Schumacher had finished ...

MNA Sports Desk: Palestine for the first time clinched the title of Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football Tournament defeating Tajikistan, reported news agency. The only goal came through a penalty shootout after a goalless play in the stipulated and extra time at Bangabandhu National Stadium on Friday. Palestine reached the final eliminating hosts Bangladesh by 2-0 goals in the hard fought second semifinal at the Birshrestha Ruhul Amin Stadium in Cox’s Bazar while Tajikistan made final berth eliminating the Philippines also by 2-0 goals in the first semifinal at the same venue. In the group stage, both Palestine and Philippines ...

MNA Sports Desk: Bangladesh’s hope of playing final of the prestigious Bangabandhu International Gold Cup Football tournament vanished into blue as they suffered a 2-0 goal defeat to strong Palestine in their second semifinal held on Wednesday at Birshreshtha Ruhul Amin Stadium here, reported news agency. With the win Palestine confirmed their final spot and they will meet first semi-final winners Tajikistan in the title deciding battle scheduled to be held on Friday at country’s premier venue Bangabandhu National Stadium in the capital. In the day’s match, Mohammed Balah opened an account for Palestine early in the 8th minute while ...

MNA Sports Desk: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Tuesday announced a 15-member final squad of Bangladesh for the ICC Women’s World T20 beginning in West Indies on November 9. Bangladesh will play hosts West Indies in one of the three opening day matches, reported news agency. Bangladesh squad: Salma Khatun, Rumana Ahmed, Jahanara Alam, Fargana Haque, Khadija Tul Kubra, Fahima Khatun, Ayesha Rahman, Shamima Sultana, Nahida Akter, Panna Ghosh, Ritu Moni, Sanjida Islam, Nigar Sultana, Lata Mondol and Sharmin Akter Supta. Besides, four more cricketers are in the standby lists. They are Sharmin Sultana, Surya Azmin, Shaila Sharmin and ...

MNA Sports Desk: Hong Kong’s left-arm spinner Nadeem Ahmed and seam-bowling all-rounders Haseeb Amjad and Irfan Ahmed have been provisionally suspended for breaching the Anti Corruption Code for a total of 19 counts, the ICC said in a statement on Monday. Nine charges have been levelled against Irfan and five each against Nadeem and Haseeb. The allegations relate to “fixing or contriving or otherwise influencing improperly, or being a party to an effort to fix or contrive or otherwise influence improperly, the result, progress, conduct” of matches” and the “failure to disclose full details of any approaches or invitations received ...

MNA Sports Desk: The Bangladesh U-18 national women’s football team made the nation proud as they won coveted title of maiden SAFF U-18 Women’s Championship beating Nepal by 1-0 goal in the final held on Sunday at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan. After the barren first half, Musura Parvin finally broke the deadlock scoring the all-important goal in the 49th minute and Bangladesh maintained their lead till the final whistle of the match. After conceding the goal, Nepal however tried to stage a fight back in the remaining proceeding but failed to restore the parity. Earlier on the day, India ...

MNA Sports Desk: Shakib Al Hasan fears his finger will never fully recover from an infection despite a planned second surgery in Australia, reported news agency. Shakib underwent an emergency operation on his finger on 27 September in Dhaka after it became affected by a bacterial infection while he was playing in the Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates. Physicians cleared a large amount of pus from his infected finger and advised him to undergo a second surgery once the infection has cleared. “The main point is how I can cure the infection because my finger will never get ...

MNA Sports Desk: Pakistani batsman Ahmed Shehzad has been banned for four months over a failed drug test, authorities said Friday, after he pleaded guilty to violating anti-doping rules. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) punished the 26-year-old after he tested positive for a “prohibited substance” during the domestic Pakistan Cup earlier this year. Shehzad “has been banned for four months effective from 10th July 2018… for violating the board’s anti-doping rules”, the PCB said in a statement. He “accepts that he has committed the violations of the PCB rules, but had no intent to cheat or enhance his performance”, it ...

MNA Sports Desk: Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday denied accusations by a former American model that he raped her in a Las Vegas hotel in 2009 and said his conscience is clear, reported news agency. But lawyers for his accuser Kathryn Mayorga later hit back, saying their client had been “very consistent” in her reporting of the incident. The case has threatened to tarnish the reputation of the Portuguese superstar, arguably the world’s best footballer. “I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me,” he tweeted in Portuguese and English. “Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I ...

MNA Sports Desk: Bangladesh U-18 women’s football team emerged group champions in the SAFF U-18 Women’s Championship beating Nepal football team by 2-1 goals Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan, on Tuesday. Bangladesh will now meet group A runners-up host Bhutan in the second semi-final following the first semi-final between group A champions India and group B runners-up Nepal on October 5 at the same venue. In the day’s match, Sirat Jahan Shawpna put Bangladesh ahead in the 16th minute while Khrisna Rani doubled the lead for Bangladesh in the 32rd minute, reported news agency. Earlier, Bangladesh rode on Mossammat Sirat ...

MNA Sports Desk: Bangladesh have launched their Bangabandhu Gold Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Laos. Midfielder Biplo Ahamed scored the winner for Jamie Day’s team at the Sylhet District Stadium on Monday. It is the first victory for Bangladesh over Laos, who had won one match and drawn the other against Bangladesh in their previous two ties. Bangladesh will play the Philippines in their last Group B match on Friday.

MNA Sports Desk: Bangladesh U-18 Women’s team Pakistan by 17-0 goals at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan on Sunday evening to reach the semifinal of the maiden SAFF U-18 Women’s Championship from Group B. They led the first half by 8-0 goals. Siraj Jahan Shopna made double hat-trick scoring seven goals in the 10th, 30th, 44th, 62nd, 73rd , 76th and 90th minute minutes, Marzia made hat-tricks scoring four goals in the 7th, 13th, 22nd, and 71st minute while Sheuly Azim struck twice in the 32nd and 69th minute respectively, reported news agency. Besides, captain Mishrat Jahan Mousumi, Akhi ...

MNA Sports Desk: Bangladesh national cricket team, led by proud skipper Mashrafe Mortaza, returned home after a ‘successful tour’ in the final of the Asia Cup against India in UAE. The team on Saturday night reached the Hazrat Shah Jalal International Airport in Dhaka at 11:30pm by a special flight, reported news agency. Soon after arrival at the airport, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza expressed his opinion over the tour saying, ‘I have seen a strong mentality among the players which is a good sign.’ ‘I am not frustrated. I am proud of the boys. But, I will be frustrated later if ...

MNA Sports Desk: India beat a spirited Bangladesh by three wickets in a last-ball finish of the final in Dubai on Friday to retain the Asia Cup. They lost the third Asia Cup final with this, but given the way they made Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka toil, they can hope the day they will be champions is not so far. Liton Das scored a maiden one-day international hundred as Bangladesh were bowled out for 222 in 48.3 overs before India survived a middle order slump to chase down the target for the loss of seven wickets in 50 overs ...

MNA Sports Desk: Mushfiqur Rahim and Mustafizur with their brilliant performance guide Bangladesh into the Asia Cup final defeating Pakistan by 37 runs in a virtual semifinalin Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. The former skipper missed out a deserving century but still lifted Bangladesh from a precarious 12-3 to 239 all out in 49.5 overs before they kept Pakistan down to 202-9 in 50 overs at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Mashrafe Mortaza’s team will now face defending champions India in the final in Dubai on Friday, with an opportuntiy to win the continental title for the first time, reported news agency. Bangladesh’s ...

MNA Sports Desk: Stockily built Mohammad Shahzad knocked a brilliant hundred as spirited Afghanistan pulled off a last over tie against India in the Super Four match in Dubai on Tuesday. Shahzad’s 124 laid the foundation of Afghanistan’s fighting total of 252-8 in 50 overs before bowling out India in 49.5 overs for the same total at Dubai stadium. Needing seven to win off the final Rashid Khan over, Ravindra Jadeja hit a boundary off the second ball before taking a single off the next. Last man Khaleel Ahmed then took a single but Jadeja holed out off the fifth ...

MNA Sports Desk: Luka Modric and Brazil’s Marta have been named as the male and female players of the year at the Fifa Best Awards in London, reported news agency. The midfielder has enjoyed arguably the best year of his career, having secured a third consecutive Champions League trophy with Real Madrid in May before going on to reach the World Cup final with Croatia. In Russia, the Croatia picked up the tournament’s Golden Ball for his exploits on the pitch, scoring in his side’s opening two matches and later providing an assist. This is the first time since 2007 ...

MNA Sports Desk: Mustafizur Rahman conceded just four runs in the final over to secure a three-run victory in their 2nd Super-Four game of the 14th Asia Cup at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Sunday night. Having been behind the required run rate for much of their innings, the Afghans entered the last 5 overs needing 51 to win with 5 wickets in hand – if there was to be a charge at victory, this was it. Afghanistan ended the innings on 246 for 7 in 50 overs where number-four batsman Hashmatullah Shahidi [71 off 99b; 5×4] and ...

MNA Sports Desk: Experienced batsman Shoaib Malik hit a six and a boundary to pull off a sensational last over three wicket win for Pakistan against a spirited Afghanistan in the Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi. Malik pulled the second ball of the final over by paceman Aftab Alam over the deep square leg boundary and then whacked the next to deep fine leg for a boundary as Pakistan pulled off a nerve-wracking win in 49.3 overs at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Pakistan, cashing a stiff 258-run target, were home and dry to start the Super Four Stage with a much ...

MNA Sports Desk: India beat Bangladesh by seven wickets in the Super Four match of the Asia Cup 2018 in Dubai on Friday, reported news agency. After the Tigers were restricted to 173, Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan made 61 in the opening partnership to set the platform for an easy chase. Dhawan made 40 from 47 balls before being trapped leg before by Shakib Al Hasan and Ambati Rayudu (13) also fell cheaply to Rubel Hossain, but Sharma and MS Dhoni then took the team towards victory. Dhoni hit 33 off 37 balls before giving a catch in a Mashrafe ...

MNA Sports Desk: Scheduling blunders in the Asia Cup have angered Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza. His complaints were two-fold: that Bangladesh, if they topped their group following Thursday’s match, would not have the advantage of playing the second-placed team from the other group in their opening Super Four match on Friday; and that their two matches on consecutive days would be in two different cities, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Until Wednesday, oddly, only India had been designated a label – A1 – in the tournament handbook. No other team, in the handbook at least, had labels assigned to them. The ...

MNA Sports Desk: Having survived against Hong Kong, India came back with a near-perfect bowling performance to register their most contented chase against arch-rival Pakistan with 126 balls remaining. Going through a patch of uninspiring performances, the bowlers returned with a thorough show, exposing Pakistan’s hardly-used middle order, which showed its lack of experience of batting through 50-over innings by going for big shots every time they were tied down. Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned to form after 35.2 wicketless overs in ODIs, and Kedar Jadhav’s return to the side – that cushion of the sixth bowler – showed just what India ...

MNA Sports Desk: India survived a scare against Hong Kong after Shikhar Dhawan’s hundred as they battled to a 26-run win over the minnows in the Asia Cup on Tuesday, reported news agency. Chasing a big 286-run target, Hong Kong gave their illustrious opponents a run for their money with an opening stand of 174 runs before collapsing to 259-8 in 50 overs. India were lifted to 285-7 by a punishing 127 by Dhawan — his 14th one-day international hundred — and an attractive 60 by the recalled Ambati Rayudu at Dubai Stadium. The Group A match was expected to ...

MNA Sports Desk: Afghanistan continued their rise in international cricket with an upset 91-run win over Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Monday, knocking the former champions out of the Asia Cup. Sri Lanka needed to win the Group B match to stay in the tournament but were outwitted by smart batting from Afghanistan who put up a fighting total of 249 all out at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. The fighters then laid into Sri Lankan batting with spinner Rashid Khan (2-26), Mohammad Nabi (2-30) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2-32) sharing wickets as the five-time former winners were bowled out for ...

MNA Sports Desk: Former champions Pakistan thrashed an inexperienced Hong Kong by eight wickets in a one-sided match to open their Asia Cup campaign in style on Sunday. Pakistan’s bowling attack was too hot to handle for Hong Kong in Dubai as Usman Shinwari finished with 3-19 and Hasan Ali took 2-19, while leg-spinner Shadab Khan managed 2-31 to bowl Hong Kong out for 116 in 37.1 overs. Pakistan then completed the chase comfortably for the loss of opener Fakhar Zaman (24) and Babar Azam (33), while Imam-ul-Haq finished on 50 not out after just 23.4 overs. It proved another ...

MNA Sports Desk: Mushfiqur Rahim hit 144 as Bangladesh thrashed Sri Lanka by 137 runs in the opening match of the Asia Cup in Dubai, reported news agency. Lasith Malinga struck twice in the first over to leave the Tigers 1-2, but Mushfiqur’s sixth ODI century took them to 261 all out from 49.3 overs. Sri Lanka were 124 all out in the 36th over, Dilruwan Perera (29) top-scoring. The second match of the competition sees Hong Kong, who are yet to beat a major nation in their 24 ODI matches since 2004, face Pakistan on Sunday. Bangladesh’s problems worsened ...

MNA Sports Desk: Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will have an eye fixed firmly on the 2019 World Cup when they get the Asia Cup underway in Dubai on Saturday. Defending champions India, who have won the Asia Cup six times, are led by dashing opener Rohit Sharma as regular captain and world-class batsman Virat Kohli is rested after a gruelling tour of England. Sri Lanka, hot on India’s heels with five titles, two-time winners Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and qualifiers Hong Kong complete the line-up. Sharma said although a lot cricket is to be played between now and the World Cup, ...