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20 SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, 2017 DT Sports MD MANIK OPINION What next for Mominul? • Ali Shahriyar Bappa 2013 -2015 Mominul Haque has been dropped from the first Test match squad against Australia. It must be hard for the fans to digest Mominul’s exclusion as he was compared with the legendary Sir Don Bradman just 12 months ago . The left-handed batsman’s recent loss of form is the reason behind his axing. But the question remains, did the Tigers team management carry out the proper approach for the batsman, who was once considered the most consistent and one of the best Bangladesh batsman in Tests? Let us consider Mominul’s situation. The start of his career was like a dream for him. He scored 10 consecutive Test half-centuries in his first eleven matches. At one stage of his career, in the late 2015, the average rose to 56. But from 2016 onwards, the scenario changed for Mominul. He played two Tests in 2016 and three this year. In fact, Bangladesh only played seven Tests in these two years. Mominul got injured ahead of the second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch in January, 2017, while he was dropped from the Colombo Test in March against Sri Lanka. So in two years, Mominul averaged only 23.2 as he scored 232 in 10 innings. Definitely a drop in standard from the top for Mominul. Among these five Tests, Mominul played two matches against England (scoring nought and 27 in the first Test and 66 and one in the second) at home Mats Inns Runs Ave HS 100s 50s 17 30 1456 56.00 181 4 9 2016 - 2017 Mats Inns Runs Ave HS 100s 50s 5 10 232 23.20 66 0 2 OVERALL Mats Inns Runs Ave HS 100s 50s 22 40 1688 46.88 181 4 11 while he contested one Test against New Zeland away (making 64 and 23). He played once against India (scoring 12 and 27) away and contested one against Sri Lanka (making seven and five) away. As a Test playing nation, question arises as to why Bangladesh play so less Tests compared to the other teams? That’s a topic for another day, but the point is when the Tigers’ best Test batsman (statistically until 2015) gets the opportunity to play only seven matches over the next two years, then it becomes extremely difficult for him to stay focused, both technically and mentally, in order to compete at the very top level of professional cricket. So it is the duty of the Tigers team management to keep the momentum right for a player like Mominul so that whenever a call comes up, he can perform well at the top level. One can’t just expect a guy playing Test cricket after eight-10 months and always score tons of runs straightaway. The problem for Mominul is that he was tagged as a Test specialist. If we look at other young players like Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain and Mehedi Hasan Miraz, they have been gradually introduced in the different formats of the game, while Mominul always has to wait between different Bangladesh Test series’. One fifty in the last six innings is not enough for a player like Mominul to retain his place in the Test team, such logic is legitimate enough. But the question remains, is he given 100% gametime and other facilities to score half-century in every two or three innings against top-quality opposition? Chief national selector Minhajul Abedin informed that the team management has specific plan regarding Mominul. He is also under consideration for the tour of South Africa in September this year, which is Bangladesh’s next Test mission after the Australia series. Lets say Mominul is selected for that tour; it is highly unlikely for him to go there and score fifties and centuries on fast and bouncy pitches against the likes of Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada, among others. But for Momnul, such kind of scenario is happening quite regularly as there was no “A” team tour for almost two years. So what next for Mominul? What is the solution? That answer must be solved soon but one thing’s for sure, the BCB has a tough task in its hand to preserve the talent and confidence of a player like Mominul. • ASCENT CORPORATE FIVE-A-SIDE SOCCER CUP Bando, Meena Sweets and City Bank win big • Tribune Report The action was fast and furious in the opening match of day three as IPDC and Gemsclip locked horns. This was a high intensity encounter as both teams were matched in every part of the pitch. Gemsclip took the impetus with Matiur, who displayed some stunning skills and scored a brace for the online stationary supplier. BRAC BANK 7-1 EUROVIGIL It wasn’t however, the best of starts for newbie Euro Vigil, who were on the receiving end of a 7-1 thrashing by Brac Bank. The banker’s experience was clear as they released a swarm of bees on the security firm’s goalkeeper. GE 0-7 MARICO Meanwhile, Marico also made their debut appearance memorable by hammering General Electric in a seven-goal rout. It was a splendid display by a newcomer in this tournament as they rampaged the GE goalkeeper in countless attacks. BONGO 3-4 ENERGYPAC This was a match for the neutrals as both Bongo and Energy Pac went at each other with hammers and tongs. In fact the two teams were so evenly matched that it took a strike by Shamim of Energypac in injury time to settle the score. LAL TEER 1-0 BITOPI Patience and perseverance always pay dividends in the end and Anik Action from the Ascent Corporate Soccer Cup in Dhaka yesterday COURTESY of Lal Teer scored literally with the last kick of the game. NEO ZIPPER 8-0 IDLC Neo Zipper are looking ominous in the group stage and could well be another dark horse emerging from Group K. They humbled IDLC in a 8-0 drubbing as Adnan of Neo Zipper netted six times while Joni and Rashed added to the goal spree. AAMRA COMPANIES 1-7 MTB Aamra’s miseries continued after they were systematically taken apart by the veteran Team MTB. CHEVRON 1-2 MULTIMODE Multimode looked a far better side after their defeat on Friday by Ascent as they narrowly beat Chevron in an enthralling 2-1 encounter. Raju and Mizan had an exceptional match for Multimode netting one each. CITY BANK 9-0 FOGG Fogg found out first hand how cruel the Ascent Cup can be to newcomers as they succumbed to a nine-nil hammering. However, their country director was in good spirit to see his team having a fun outing on the pitch and be a part of this prestigious tournament. STERLING 3-1 RAHIMAFROOZ Group E otherwise known as the “Group of Death” had the last remaining match as Sterling and Rahimafrooz went head to head. All three teams in this group have been evenly matched, even though Dhaka Tribune have topped the group. MEENA SWEETS 8-2 BAT BAT’s introduction to this year’s edition was not a kind one as Meena Sweets made small work of them. Punel had a glorious fivegoal haul and was seen running rings around the BAT defense. BANDO 11-0 ROBI Bando’s annihilation of Robi was made more spectacular by an exceptional performance from Shakil. He may well be a contender for the Most Valuable Player though it’s too early to tell.
Sports 21 SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, 2017 DT Man Utd hit four again, Mane lifts Liverpool • AFP, London Romelu Lukaku was on target again as Manchester United continued their fine early-season form with a second successive 4-0 win yesterday, this time at Swansea City. Eric Bailly, Paul Pogba and substitute Anthony Martial also found the net at the Liberty Stadium, giving Jose Mourinho’s side their second big win after last weekend’s 4-0 victory over West Ham United. RESULTS Bournemouth 0-2 Watford Richarlison 73, Capoue 86 Burnley 0-1 West Brom Robson-Kanu 71 Leicester 2-0 Brighton Okazaki 1, Maguire 54 Liverpool 1-0 Crystal Palace Mane 73 Southampton 3-2 West Ham Gabbiadini 11, Hernandez 45, 74 Tadic 38-pen, Austin 90+3-P Swansea 0-4 Man United Bailly 45, Lukaku 80, Pogba 82, Martial 84 Sadio Mane struck in the 73rd minute to give Liverpool a 1-0 home win over Crystal Palace and get Jurgen Klopp’s side up and running after their 3-3 draw at Watford. “The team was confident from the first minute,” said Mourinho after a result that means United have scored four goals in their first two DAY’S WATCH FOOTBALL STAR SPORTS SELECT 1 English Premier League 6:30PM Huddersfield v Newcastle United 9:00PM Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea SONY TEN 1 Italian Serie A 10:00PM Atalanta v Roma 1:00AM Inter Milan v Fiorentina SONY TEN 2 French Ligue 1 7:00PM Losc Lille SA v Caen Spanish La Liga 10:00PM Athletic Bilbao v Getafe 12:00PM FC Barcelona v Real Betis 2:00AM Deportivo v Real Madrid CRICKET STAR SPORTS SELECT 2 7:00PM West Indies Tour of England 1st Test, Day 4 SONY SIX 3:00PM India Tour of Sri Lanka 1st ODI Manchester United's Anthony Martial scores their fourth goal against Swansea City during their Premier League match yesterday in Wales league games for the first time in 110 years. Having had to work hard to break Swansea down, United went in front just before half-time when Bailly stabbed in his first goal for the club after Lukasz Fabianski had pushed Pogba’s header against the bar. Henrikh Mkhitaryan teed up Lukaku for his fourth goal in three United games in the 80th minute and then freed Pogba to beat Fabianski with a delightful dinked finish before Martial tucked in a fourth. At Anfield, Liverpool manager Klopp made five changes to the team that won 2-1 at Hoffenheim in their Champions League play-off round first leg in mid-week. Dortmund: Dembele can join Barca for right price • AFP, Berlin Borussia Dortmund will sell wantaway winger Ousmane Dembele to Barcelona if their price is met, the German club said yesterday. “We have a clear position and a clear idea (of the price). If this idea is met, then he will transfer this summer,” Dortmund director of sport Michael Zorc told Sky before their match at Wolfsburg on the first weekend of the new Bundesliga season. “Otherwise he will stay with us - it’s as simple as that.” The 20-year-old Dembele attempted to force Dortmund into selling him to the Spanish giant by boycotting training last week, which led to him being indefinitely suspended, after Borussia rejected an initial bid. Barca are eager to sign Dembele and Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho to replace Neymar, who left for top-flight side Paris Saint-Germain. Frenchman Dembele has a contract until 2021 with the German club. Reports claim Dortmund want 130m euros ($152m) for the player they paid Rennes 15m euros for last year, after rejecting an initial offer of 80m, plus a 40m bonus. Should Barcelona fail to meet the asking price, Dembele will have some bridges to build at Dortmund. “Of course there is a way back and that will be on September 1 when a transfer is no longer possible,” said Zorc. “The decision will not be met on transfer deadline day, it will be before that. “The situation is very challenging, we haven’t said it was easy.” Zorc confirmed reports Dembele has left Dortmund. “We know where he is, he’s in France. We had contact with his staff and his advisors,” he added. • Beaten 3-0 at home by Huddersfield Town on the opening weekend, Palace produced a much more solid display, but were undone with 17 minutes to play when Mane seized upon a loose ball to fire home. Narrowly beaten 4-3 by Arsenal in the season’s opening match, 2016 champions Leicester City hit REUTERS back to beat Brighton and Hove Albion 2-0 at the King Power Stadium. Shinji Okazaki broke the deadlock after just 52 seconds, tapping in after Mathew Ryan saved from Riyad Mahrez, and Mahrez’s corner set up Harry Maguire to head in Leicester’s second early in the second half. • Anderson and Roland- Jones dominate Windies • Reuters, Birmingham James Anderson took three wickets and pulled off a fine run-out as England tightened their grip on the day-night Test match by reducing the West Indies to a sorry 145 for eight at lunch on the third day yesterday. Toby Roland-Jones also continued the fine start to his Test career by chipping in with two wickets as only Jermaine Blackwood showed any resistance with an unbeaten half-century in the visitor’s response to England’s mammoth 514 for eight declared. Anderson, who had set the ball rolling with the first wicket on Friday, continued where he left off after a false start when the players had to come off after just one ball because of rain. On the resumption, England’s all-time leading wicket taker produced a sharp, rearing delivery off a length that had Kyle Hope helplessly steering the ball to Ben Stokes at gully. Anderson then ran out Kieran Powell, who had embarked on a calamitous quick single, with a direct hit before he got rid of Roston Chase, inducing him to play on. Roland-Jones bowled Shai Hope and trapped Shane Dowrich lbw in quick succession before Moeen Ali had captain Jason Holder caught behind on review and Stuart Broad sent Kemar Roach’s off-stump cartwheeling to cap the seven-wicket session. Only Jamaican Blackwood, who struck a six just before lunch to go with his seven fours, stood firm, his counter-attacking unbeaten 60 coming off just 56 balls. •
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Page 13 and 14: When water is a weapon Is the flood
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Page 19: AUSTRALIA TOUR OF BANGLADESH Sports
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