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Sports News Tuesday, September 02, 2003 Compiled by SDNP Head lines Bangladesh want to overcome mistakes REUTERS, MULTAN, The Independent Sept 1: Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud Sujan hopes his side can build on their improved performance at Peshawar for the third and final Test against Pakistan, which starts in Multan on Wednesday. Although mercurial Pakistan will be expected to complete a clean sweep in the series, Bangladesh were heartened by their display in the second Test, where they earned a first-innings lead for the first time in 23 matches. "The Multan Test is very important for us," Sujan told the news agency on Monday. "We want to overcome the mistakes we made in the first two Tests and play much better cricket here. "We will try to be positive. "We were in the driving seat in Peshawar after two and half days, but then we let ourselves down in the second innings. Shoaib Akhtar also got back his rhythm and clicked for Pakistan. That was the deciding factor between both teams." Apart from taking a first-innings lead, Bangladesh also celebrated their highest Test batting partnership -- a second-wicket stand of 167 between Habibul Bashar Sumon and centurion Javed Omar -- plus their first hat-trick. Part-time leg spinner Alok Kapali took three for three to leave Pakistan 66 runs behind the touring side's first innings total of 361, but all that was later undone by Shoaib's raw pace and reverse swing as the home team regained control. "They (Bangladesh) have proved worthy opponents," Pakistan captain Rashid Latif said after the second Test. "They have shown improvement despite their limited resources. "In Peshawar, we were lucky that Shoaib Akhtar got into his rhythm at the right time and helped us win the match." A bonus for Bangladesh is that Pakistan will be without Shoaib for the final Test in the series, as the fast bowler has rejoined English county Durham. However the home team will be bolstered by the recall of experienced batsman Younis Khan and world-class off spinner Saqlain Mushtaq. Pakistan, who won the first Test in Karachi by seven wickets and the second in Peshawar by nine wickets, will be determined to complete their first series whitewash at home since 1997. "It is all about motivation," said captain Latif. "We have taken the series, but we made mistakes in them (the first two Tests). "I think we are a much better side than Bangladesh and we will be looking for a win by a margin which confirms this difference." Both teams arrived in a baking-hot Multan from Rawalpindi on Monday. Bangladesh do not have happy memories of the central city, having folded to Pakistan inside three days in the Asian Test Championship staged here in August 2001. Five batsmen scored centuries for Pakistan in that match. Since than, very little has changed in terms of results for Bangladesh, who are still seeking a first Test victory after 22 defeats in 23 matches. TEAMS Pakistan (from): Taufeeq Umar, Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Hameed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Rashid Latif (captain), Saqlain Mushtaq, Umer Gul, Shabbir Ahmed, Danish Kaneria, Farhan Adil, Salman Butt, Asim Kamal, Yasir Ali, Mohammad Khalil. Bangladesh (from): Khaled Mahmud Sujan (captain), Khaled Masud Pilot, Javed Omar Gullu, Hannan Sarkar, Habibul Bashar Sumon, Rajin Saleh, Mohammad Ashraful, Alok Kapali, Mashrafe Mortaza Koushik, Alamgir Kabir, Mohammad Rafiq, Manjurul Islam, Sanwar Hossain, Tapash Baisya, Anwar Hossain. MSC, Muktis look favourites SPORTS REPORTER, The Independent Muktijoddha Sangsad and Mohammedan Sporting Club look favourites to reach the final of the Nitol-Tata National Football League when they line up for their respective semifinals today. Moulvibazar Wanderers and Muktijoddha meet in the first semifinal at 3.30 pm at the Sher-e Bangla Mirpur Stadium while defending champions Mohammedans and their archrivals Abahani Limited compete in the second semis at 5.30 pm. The Bangladesh Football Federation will start selling tickets at the Bangabandhu National Stadium counters from 12 noon while the Mirpur counter will be opened at 1.30 pm. Gallery tickets will cost Tk 20 and VIP tickets Tk 50 for the two matches. Moulvibazar Wanderers are the surprise pack of the tournament and Muktijoddha will need all their experience and strength to cross the hurdle in the last four. The Moulvibazar league champions, a qualifier unlike the remaining three teams in the last four, held Dhaka Mohammedans in the previous stage and beat Dhaka giants Abahani to come this far in their maiden appearance. Now, they will be looking forward to complete the full circle by defeating the Muktis. However, with as many as nine national players in the Reds camp, it might not be easy for the Sylhet outfit. Muktijoddha coach Shafiqul Islam Manik, who has been very defensive in the last two games by picking six specialist defenders, may go with the same strategy ignoring quality midfielders. It could mean a tight match and less goals. Rating Wanderers as the best team outside the capital, Manik said, "They are definitely capable. They have stopped Mohammedans, beaten Abahani and fought well in the tournament. But we are playing for the championship and playing the final is our next target. Only one man, Wanderers captain Murad Ahmed Milon, can deny the Reds with his scoring record in big matches. Also, Nigerian pair Bode Baba and Lade Baba could turn the table for an upset. Coach Shafikuddin is also confident about the team's future. "We have done well against other Dhaka heavyweights in our first tournament at national level. Now we will go for the others. Who stands in our way, does not matter as playing the final is our main goal," he said. Whatever the result, soccer fans will be eagerly waiting for the second match. The clash of the titans before the final will no doubt make both the sides desperate but Abahani clearly appear the underdogs against the black and whites. The sky-blues have been so unimpressive that even a fanatic supporter would dare to bet on the inexperienced side. Even the arrival of Russian coach Anatoly could not inspire them and after booking a place in the semis with a hard fought solitary goal win over Chittagong Mohammedans in their first super-six match, they went down by same margin to Wanderers. Apart from Abahani, who also lost to Muktijoddha 2-1 in the previous stage, all remaining semifinalists are undefeated in the run. The four foreign recruits looked unconvincing but the coach rested two completely, giving the rest two less than 90 minutes together in the previous game. May be it was done to get fresh legs for today's important match but the main problem lies with the locals, who just did not look in proper shape even after six outings. "We know we are starting as underdogs. But the players are in good condition and there is no injury problem. If they can give their best, we can win," said manager Monem Munna. The former national captain believes that team work will be the key as neither side have one individual who can change fate of the game on his own. "There is not much difference between the two sides but if the players can cope with the pressure of an Abahani-Mohammedans match and can put the tension of the coming players' transfers out of their heads, we have a good chance," he added. Abahani, meanwhile, have been reinforced by the return of goalkeeper Apel from a holiday in England. Former Abahani striker Kennedy, the Ghanaian who played in the Dhaka second division league this year, also trained with the side but was not registered till filing of this report. Mohammedans coach Abul Hossain meanwhile, is worried about tired players, who will be playing three matches inside five days. But he will be boosted by the return of Iraqi defender Raid, who missed the last two matches due to hamstring injury. Abul hinted that Raid is likely to replace Pappu from the line-up that started against Muktijoddha in the last match and also, Nakib will make way for Uzbekistan's Turabikov. "This will be our final because we have not beaten Abahani in the national league so far in our three previous clashes," said Abul, who delivered the black and whites three titles last year including the national league. |
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