France into World Cup semis as England miss late penalty

France are now one win away from becoming the first back-to-back finalists since Brazil in 2002 and two from being the third team to retain the trophy after Brazil in 1962 and Italy in 1938.

Manager Didier Deschamps, who captained them to their first World Cup triumph in 1998 and coached them to their second title four years ago, described the victory as fabulous.

"It was a big game, we played a superb England team who are strong technically and physically," he said

"It's brilliant for the players to be in the last four again. We got a bit lucky although we gave away two penalties we kept our lead with our hearts and our guts."

France really did have to work hard for their win as the first major tournament knockout match between the old sporting rivals maintained the excitement and edge-of-the-seat drama that made it such an extraordinary quarter-final weekend.

PENALTY MISS

England was then given another lifeline via VAR when Theo Hernandez flattened Mason Mount but this time Kane sent his spot kick wildly over the bar in a painful reminder of Chris Waddle's effort when they lost the 1990 semi-final shootout to West Germany.

England pushed for an equalizer but when substitute Marcus Rashford's added-time free kick fizzed just over the bar it meant a seventh defeat in 10 World Cup quarter-finals and another 'four years of hurt' to tack on since their solitary triumph in 1966.

"We were here to try to win the tournament and we believed we could and I think that we showed with that performance tonight against the reigning champions that we've got a team that could have done that," said coach Gareth Southgate.

"It's fine margins and things at both ends that have ended up deciding the game but I think the way they've progressed as a group throughout this tournament has been fantastic."

France now faces the unlikeliest of semi-final opponents in Morocco, after they beat Portugal 1-0 earlier on Saturday and Deschamps was quick to recognize their worth.

"Morocco deserves praise," he said. "Maybe they were not expected to be here (in the semis), but they conceded only one goal, and seeing them here is not a surprise at all."

More News: thefinancialexpress-bd

Read More

Neymar the poster boy for the Games

Neymar scored his first goal of the Olympics as hosts Brazil beat Colombia 2-0 to reach the semi-finals of the men's football on Saturday. The Barcelona forward curled home a free-kick after only 12 minutes, and Luan added a second after the break. Brazil will now play Honduras in Wednesday's semi-finals after they won 1-0 against South Korea, thanks to Alberth Elis's winner.

Germany play Nigeria in the other last-four match. The Africans beat Denmark 2-0 in their quarter-final, while Germany won 4-0 against Portugal. Brazil's second pool win came after 0-0 draws with Iraq and South Africa, and a 4-0 victory over Denmark.

Neymar, the poster boy for the Games, finally got off the mark at the fourth attempt when he curled home from 25 yards out. Brazil made sure of a place in their third consecutive Olympic semi-final when Luan's effort from outside the area beat goalkeeper Cristian Bonilla.

News Source : The Financial Express

Read More

Arjun Tendulkar selected for Mumbai U-16

Arjun Tendulkar, son of Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar, has been selected for the Mumbai under-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy team after an all-round show in the Mumbai Cricket Association's Under-16 Payyade Trophy.

Arjun, who has played for the Under-14 Mumbai side in the West Zone leg matches of the BCCI tournament, smashed an impressive century (106 off 156 balls) for his side, Sunil Gavaskar XI.

On Day Two, the promising all-rounder shone with his left-arm medium pace and took four wickets for 73 runs against Rohit Sharma XI.

The youngster then went on to score 40 runs for his team in the second innings. The Payyade Trophy serves as a selection trial for Under-16 cricketers in Mumbai.

With no less than super dad available to give batting tips, Arjun has received bowling advice from Pakistan great Wasim Akram. Arjun has also been seen in the nets with the England national side, according to ndtv.com.

More News thefinancialexpress-bd

Read More

Dhaka Dynamites Win Against Comilla Victorians

Dhaka Dynamites made hard work of beating Comilla Victorians by six wickets in the second match of the BPL's opening day. The match was played in the same pitch as the high-scoring Chittagong-Rangpur fixture, but Comilla's batsmen simply imploded in the face of mostly disciplined bowling.

Dhaka took their time finishing the 111-run chase, as they stretched it to the final over, winning with four balls to spare. Not until the eighth-wicket partnership between Mashrafe Mortaza and Krishmar Santokie did the Comilla innings look to be going anywhere. They lost their top and middle-order in the first 13.3 overs, slipping to 67 for 7. Openers Imrul Kayes and Liton Das were caught at mid-off and mid-on in the first two overs before Shuvagata Hom and Marlon Samuels were undone by good deliveries. The top five didn't get to double-figures.

Darren Stevens' run out in the eighth over made it 36 for 5 and though Ariful Haque and Mahmudul Hasan stemmed the constant flow of wickets, they could only add 23 runs before Ariful was stumped off Mosharraf Hossain, who also took Mahmudul's wicket.

The best bowler on show was the Pakistan legspinner Yasir Shah who, despite going wicketless, played around with the Comilla batsmen with his flight and change of pace. Hasan took three wickets while Mosharraf Hossain picked up two.

Santokie struck three fours in one Mustafizur over before Mashrafe smoked sixes off Farhad Reza and Mustafizur, the second one landing in the second tier over midwicket. He top-scored with 25 but a total of 110 for 8 was never going to be enough to challenge a batting line-up like Dhaka's.

Shamsur Rahman made 19 off 17 balls before giving mid-off a catch off Mashrafe but Nasir Jamshed and Dhaka captain Kumar Sangakkara kept the short chase in control. Sangakkara swung but missed to give Abu Hider his first wicket.

They added 55 runs for the second wicket, before Jamshed fell for a run-a-ball 44 to Sunil Narine.

More News sportsa1.com

Read More

Mitchell Johnson retires from internationals

Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has retired from all forms of international cricket.

The 34-year-old took two wickets on the final day of the drawn second Test against New Zealand in Perth.

"I feel now is the best time to say goodbye," he said. "I have been lucky to have a wonderful career and enjoyed every moment playing for my country."

He is Australia's fourth-highest Test wicket-taker, with 313 in 73 matches, and also took 239 one-day wickets.

Johnson was given a guard of honour by the New Zealand fielders and an ovation from the crowd as he emerged for his last Test innings shortly before lunch on the final day in Perth.

The Waca was his home ground for Western Australia and he also played for his native Queensland.

"It's been an incredible ride," Johnson said. "But the ride has to come to an end at some point and to do so here at the Waca is very special.

"I've given the decision a lot of thought. Beyond this match, I'm just not sure that I can continue competing consistently at the level required to wear the Baggy Green," according to BBC. -amh

More Newsthefinancialexpress-bd

Read More

BPL T20 2015 FIXTURE

BCB has announced the BPL 3 full schedule. According to the schedule the tournament will start from 22nd November, 2015 with the six franchise. The tournament has been divided into three stage, where the first stage will hold on Sher-E-Bangla national Stadium in Dhaka. The first stage of the tournament consist of 12 matches from 22 November to 27 November, where 2 games will be played on a day.

The second stage matches will execute at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong from 30th November-3rd December.

And the last stage will hold again in Dhaka from 6th December and the Grand Finale will stand on 15th December.

Here we have presented the full schedule of the tournament.

1st stage match of Sher-E-Bangla national stadium, Dhaka

Match Between	Date	Time (Bangladesh Time)
Chittagong Vikings VS Rangpur Riders	22/11/2015	02.00 pm
Dhaka Dynamites VS Comilla Victorians	22/11/2015	06.45 pm
Chittagong Vikings VS Sylhet Superstars	23/11/2015	02.00 pm
Rangpur Riders VS Barisal Bulls	23/11/2015	06.45 pm
Chittagong Vikings VS Comilla Victorians	24/11/2015	02.00 pm
Sylhet Superstars vs Barisal Bulls	24/11/2015	06.45 pm
Dhaka Dynamites VS Rangpur Riders	25/11/2015	02.00 pm
Barisal Bulls VS Comilla Victorians	25/11/2015	06.45 pm
Sylhet Superstars VS Rangpur Riders	26/11/2015	02.00 pm
Dhaka Dynamites VS Chittagong Vikings	26/11/2015	06.45 pm
Comilla Victorians VS Rangpur Riders	27/11/2015	02.00 pm
Dhaka Dynamites VS Sylhet Superstars	27/11/2015	06.45 pm

2nd stage match of  Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong

Match Between	Date	Time
Barisal Bulls VS Chittagong Vikings	30/11/2015	02.00 pm
Sylhet Superstars VS Comilla Victorians	30/11/2015	06.45 pm
Rangpur Riders VS Chittagong Vikings	01/12/2015	02.00 pm
Barisal Bulls VS Dhaka Dynamites	01/12/2015	06.45 pm
Comilla Victorians VS Dhaka Dynamites	02/12/2015	02.00 pm
Chittagong Vikings VS Sylhet Superstars	02/12/2015	06.45 pm
Barisal Bulls VS Rangpur Riders	03/12/2015	02.00 pm

3rd stage match of Sher-E-Bangla national stadium, Dhaka

Match Between	Date	Time
Sylhet Superstars VS Barisal Bulls	06/12/2015	02.00 pm
Dhaka Dynamites VS Rangpur Riders	06/12/2015	06.45 pm
Comilla Victorians VS Barisal Bulls	07/12/2015	02.00 pm
Sylhet Superstars VS Rangpur Riders	07/12/2015	06.45 pm
Dhaka Dynamites VS Chittagong Vikings	08/12/2015	02.00 pm
Comilla Victorians VS Rangpur Riders	08/12/2015	06.45 pm
Dhaka Dynamites VS Sylhet Superstars	09/12/2015	02.00 pm
Chittagong Vikings VS Barisal Bulls	09/12/2015	06.45 pm
Comilla Victorians VS Sylhet Superstars	10/12/2015	02.00 pm
Barisal Bulls VS Dhaka Dynamites	10/12/2015	06.45 pm
1st semifinal (Qualifier 1st VS 2nd)	12/12/2015	02.00 pm
Eliminator 3rd VS Eliminator 4th Team	12/12/2015	06.45 pm
2nd semifinal (Qualifier Loser VS Eliminator Winner)	13/12/2015	06.45 pm
Grand Finale	15/12/2015	06.45 pm

Read More

Zimbabwe cricket team in city

A 16-member of Zimbabwe cricket team arrived in city Monday to play three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and two Twenty20 International matches against Bangladesh, reports BSS.

The visitors will play a practice match in Fatullah on November 5. They will also play three ODIs against Bangladesh on November 7, 9 and 11 while two T20s will be held on November 13 and 15, all at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city.

Zimbabwe squad: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva, Chamu Chib- habha, Tendai Chisoro, Graeme Cremer, Craig Ervine, Luke Jongwe, Neville Madziva, Wellington Masa-kadza, Richmond Mutum-bami, Taurai Muzarabani, John Nyumbu, Tinashe Panyangara, Malcolm Waller and Sean Williams.

More News thefinancialexpress-bd

Read More

Mominul's double ton guides Ctg Div to 423/8

One down top order national batsman Mominul Haque, who was in batting with 64 runs, made the double century hammering a polished innings 239 runs off 322 balls featuring 37 fours, before he was bowled by Monir Hossain, leaving the team total 411 for 8 in 117.4 overs.

Earlier, Mominul contributed 156 runs in the 2nd wicket partnership with another night watch batsman Nafees Iqbal (30), who scored 136-ball 56 runs hitting eight boundaries.

Besides, lower order Iftekhar Sajjad (not out 28), Sajjadul Haque (24) and Nabil Samad (not out 4) were the other notable scorer for Chittagong, apart from Abdullah Al Mamun's 37 runs, made Sunday.

Monir Hossain and national all- rounder Shohag Gazi grabbed three wickets each conceding 64 and 133 runs respectively.

Earlier on Sunday, Barisal Division scored a mammoth total 489 runs for all in 143.4 overs featuring two centuries by Shahriar Nafees (168) and Fazle Mahmud (133).

In another Tier-2 match of the league at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna, Rajshahi Division outplayed Sylhet Division by 10 wickets on the 3rd day of the four-day affairs Monday.

Sylhet Division, with first innings total 176 runs, resumed the 2nd innings Monday morning with 11 for no loss and were all out for 242 runs in 61 overs.

Two down Ruman Ahmed hit a century making 106 runs off 132 balls with 14 fours and four sixes, Alok Kapali made 41-ball 31 runs, including three fours, while lower order Enamul Haque Jr scored 47-ball 22 runs with three fours.

Sanjamul Islam claimed three wickets for 90 runs while Shafaq Al Zabir and Nihaduzzaman took two wickets each conceding 24 and 56 runs respectively.

In reply, Rajshahi Division, with first innings total 395 runs, featuring two centuries by Farhad Hossain (144) and Hamidul Islam (105), opened the 2nd innings with a winning target of just 24 runs, and easily reached their ultimate goal scoring 26 runs for no loss in only 6.2 overs.

Later, Farhad Hossain of Rajshahi was adjudged man of the match.

In a Tier-1 match of the league at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong, Rangpur Division resumed the first innings with 27 for 1 against Khulna Divisison scored 324 for 7 in 104.3 overs in the first innings when bails were drawn for the day, riding on a century by Tanveer Haider.

More News thefinancialexpress-bd

Read More

Imran Khan, his 2nd wife file for divorce

Pakistan cricket legend-turned-politician Imran Khan and his second wife Reham Khan are filing for divorce. Former television anchor Reham Khan says on Twitter that she and her husband are parting ways and filing for divorce. When contacted, a spokesman for Imran Khan's political party, Pakistan Tahrik-e-Insaf, confirmed the divorce, saying it was a mutual agreement. Imran and  Reham were married for nine months. He had lived alone for 11 years following his divorce from his first wife, Briton Jemima Goldsmith.

Reham Khan said on Twitter on Friday that she and her husband will file for divorce soon. Another spokesperson for Tahrik-e-Insaf, on Friday said that Khan and Reham have agreed in principle to divorce and it was a mutual agreement.

He said Khan and ex-BBC anchor Reham Khan were married for nine months. He had lived alone for 11 years following his divorce from Jemima.

Tahrik-e-Insaf, founded by Imran Khan, is the strongest opponent of Pakistan Muslim League-led government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, according to The Indian Express.

More News thefinancialexpress-bd

Read More

IPL 2015 contributed Rs. 11.5 bn to Indian GDP

The Indian Premier League T20 cricket tournament's 2015 edition that ran for 60 days contributed Rs 11.50 billion to India's GDP, according to the KPMG Sports Advisory Group, the Indian cricket board said. Earlier this year, the BCCI had commissioned the study to assess the economic impact on India of hosting the tournament. BCCI had appointed KPMG Sports Advisory Group to undertake this survey. The board said in a press release that IPL matches directly affected the country's economy in a variety of ways, with key stakeholder groups - participating franchisees, organisers and spectators — contributing through employment and purchasing. The study pegged the total economic output associated with IPL matches in India during the season at Rs 26.50 billion, which is aggregate value of all transactions that took place as a direct, indirect or induced effect of the economic activity of the matches. "Hosting an IPL match also adds value and revenue to the economy of the state," BCCI said, according to a news agency.

More news thefinancialexpress-bd

Read More

Windies, Zimbabwe arrive in Nov

West Indies cricket team will arrive in Dhaka in the last week of November, a reliable source at the Bangladesh Cricket Board said on Wednesday. The Caribbean cricketers will contest in a tri-series and also likely to play Test and One-Day International (ODI) series during their Bangladesh tour that will stretch from late November and mid-December Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe national cricket team will arrive in the first week of November to play a ODI and a Twenty20 series against the hosts and the tri-series, according to a news agency.

More Newsthefinancialexpress-bd

Read More

Cricketer Shakib, wife Umme Ahmed expecting first child

Top allrounder Shakib Al Hasan and his wife Umme Ahmed Shishir are expecting their first child – a baby girl. "Countdown begins for our princess," the Bangladesh cricket superstar wrote on Monday posting a photo of the couple’s baby shower celebration on Facebook. Shishir posted several other photos of the celebration in the social media.

“Life has never been so meaningful and cheerful, until Allah decided to give us all the happiness in world by blessing us with the most merciful gift for us to receive in Sha Allah! Everyday is precious,” she wrote. Thousands of fans congratulated the couple on the revelation. Shakib, now with Shishir in the US, is scheduled to return in the first week of November to play the limited-over matches against Zimbabwe from Nov 7, according to a news agency--Aminul.

More News thefinancialexpress-bd

Read More

Pakistan beat England by 178 runs in 2nd test

Pakistan took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series against England after winning by 178 runs in the second test. England was chasing a record target of 491 at Dubai International Stadium for an unlikely win but was bowled out for 312 with 6.3 overs to spare in the final session. “On a final day of a test match in a place like Dubai with the ball turning so much, two of our really good spinners are bowling, I thought they showed great character,” Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said. “Overall, I thought our spinners bowled really well, especially under pressure in the final session.” England counterpart Alastair Cook said the third morning was the one that cost his team after losing seven wickets for 36 runs to finish 136 behind at the end of the first innings. “Those two or three hours put us right on the back foot,” Cook said. “But the character we showed today - I think it is the longest Pakistan has ever bowled in the fourth innings. It was a good day for us but it was disappointing we didn’t quite get over the line.” England started the final day at 130-3 and was reduced to 193-7 when Ben Stokes was out in the 35th over of the day. That left Pakistan with what seemed like an easy task of taking the last three wickets with more than three hours remaining.  But Adil Rashid showed off his ability as a batsman after a forgettable match as a leg-spinner. His technique was immaculate on a pitch taking plenty of turn and he found able partners in Stuart Broad (30) and Mark Wood (29). Rashid made his maiden test 50 in a career that is only two matches old. However, he will rue the expansive cover drive he attempted off Yasir Shah that was caught by Zulfiqar Babar. He added 60 runs for the eighth wicket with Broad (30) and then 55 for the ninth wicket with Wood (29), which defied Pakistan for 29.2 overs, according to a news agency--Aminul.

More News thefinancialexpress-bd

Read More

Sehwag calls it a day

Former Indian opening batsman Virender Sehwag has called it quit. Sehwag, the only Indian batsman ever to score a triple century in Test match, announced his international retirement on Tuesday. More than two years after last appearing for his country, Sehwag accepted that there would be no emotional comeback as he became the latest member of India's World Cup-winning team to call it a day.

However, Sehwag will continue to play first-class cricket for his state side Haryana in the domestic Ranji Tropy competition. After making his debut against South Africa in 2001, Sehwag became one of the most feared batsmen in world cricket, forming part of a formidable line-up that also included Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly. Sehwag is widely credited with transforming the role of opening batsman in Test cricket with a hard-hitting style that brought him a top score in Test

matches of 319, against South Africa in Chennai in 2008, according to a news agency.

More News thefinancialexpress-bd

Read More

South Africa beat India by 18 runs

RAJKOT: Quinton de Kock hit 103 and Morne Morkel claimed four for 39 as South Africa brushed aside India by 18 runs in the third one-day international in Rajkot on Sunday.

De Kock, the 22-year-old left-handed opener, took advantage of a flat pitch to notch up his seventh one-day century -- the fourth against India -- that lifted the Proteas to 270-7.

India were restricted to 252-6 in reply, despite half-centuries from Rohit Sharma (65) and Virat Kohli, who returned to form with 77, his first substantial knock after 12 barren one-dayers.

The win handed the tourists a 2-1 lead in the five-match series with the last two games to be played in Chennai (October 22) and Mumbai (October 25).

South Africa had won the opening game in Kanpur by five runs and India drew level at Indore with a 22-run victory, according to Times of India---Aminul.

More News thefinancialexpress-bd

Read More

Neymar scores 4 for Barca; Ronaldo leads Real

Neymar scored four goals and set up another in Barcelona’s 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish soccer league on Saturday, while Cristiano Ronaldo led Real Madrid with a goal and an assist in a 3-0 victory over Levante. The results left the Spanish powerhouses provisionally atop the league standings with 18 points from eight matches, with Madrid ahead on goal difference. Villarreal is two points behind but can regain the lead when it hosts fourth-place Celta on Sunday.

Neymar converted penalty kicks in the 22nd and 32nd minutes after twice being brought down inside the area, then added two more from close range in the 69th and 70th after assists by Luis Suarez. The Uruguay striker netted Barcelona's fifth goal with a shot from inside the area after a cross by Neymar in the 77th. Javi Guerra had opened the scoring for the visitors at the Camp Nou in the 15th, and Jozabed Sanchez scored Rayo's second goal in the 86th. Neymar said it was one of his best games with Barcelona since joining the Catalan club two years ago.

"I'm very happy because of the victory and because of the way we played," the 23-year-old Brazilian star said. "It's never easy to play against a quality team like Rayo. We did our job and it was a great victory." It was Neymar's first four-goal performance since Brazil's 4-0 win over Japan in a friendly just over a year ago.

He now leads the Spanish league with eight goals, two more than Ronaldo and his Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema. "Impressive, unstoppable, electric," Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said of Neymar. "Almost impossible to stop without committing penalties."

Remaining News  thefinancialexpress-bd

Read More

Mashrafe leaves hospital

Bangladesh national cricket team captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza, recovering from dengue, has left hospital. The ODI skipper was admitted to the Apollo Hospitals in Dhaka on October 9 after being diagnosed with dengue, a high fever. He said he had mostly recovered but doctors advised him to rest at home for a few more days

“I’m better now but still feeling weak,” he said. “I hope to recover within the next few days.” He was scheduled to play in the third round of the national cricket league from October 10 but was diagnosed with dengue fever a day ahead. His one-year-old son ‘Sohel’, too, was also hospitalised with fever.

“He’s recovered completely,” Mashrafe said, according to bdnews24.com.
More News thefinancialexpress-bd

Read More

India beat South Africa in 2nd ODI

India defeated South Africa by 22 runs in the 2nd match of their one-day international (ODI) cricket series to square the series 1-1. Three more matches are remaining to be played between the two teams. The 5-match ODI series began on Monday. Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the hero in India’s victory today in Indore. South Africa’s batsman could not pull off a successful chase of what seemed to be a below-par target as India, led by their spinners and MS Dhoni's unbeaten 92, leveled the series with a win and maintained their 100 per cent record at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, according to cricinfo.

More News thefinancialexpress-bd.com

Read More

Bangladesh, India, Pak tri-series likely

Three SAARC countries – Bangladesh, India and Pakistan – are likely to play a tri-series in the coming winter. A reliable source at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) told a news agency that the three neighbouring countries will play the series in India and Bangladesh. Te BCCI is considering the three-nation cricket meet in case the planned series between Pakistan and India is not held.

According to the source, BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur and Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shahryar Khan sat in a meeting in Middle-Eastern city of Dubai where they discussed the possibilities of holding a tri-series involving three Test-playing countries of the eight-nation South Asian regional group - SAARC.

The series will be held if Pakistan-India series is not held in December, the sources said in Dubai on Wednesday.

Earlier, the PCB chairman had written a letter to BCCI seeking confirmation on the series to which the Indian board did not reply; however, the sources said, a reply was expected in this (October) month, according to a news agency.

More News thefinancialexpress-bd

Read More

De Villiers guides S Africa to win over India

Captain AB de Villiers struck an undefeated 104 as South Africa beat India by five runs in Kanpur on Sunday in the first one-day international (ODI) of a five-game series. De Villiers propelled his team to 303 for five wickets, smashing six sixes and five fours in his 73-ball knock. Faf du Plessis (62) and Farhaan Behardien (35 not out) also chipped in to help register the first score of more than 300 at the ground. For India, Rohit Sharma struck a fine 150 as they finished just short at 298-7, according to a news agency.

More News thefinancialexpress-bd

Read More