President-cum-selector

An over-enthusiastic Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan Papon (R) reads out the 15-man Bangladesh World Cup squad, pushing his chief selector Faruque Ahmed (L) on the sideline during a crowded press briefing at the BCB headquarters in Mirpur on Sunday.

An over-enthusiastic Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan Papon (R) reads out the 15-man Bangladesh World Cup squad, pushing his chief selector Faruque Ahmed (L) on the sideline during a crowded press briefing at the BCB headquarters in Mirpur on Sunday.

Faruque Ahmed was all set to make a small piece of history on Sunday by becoming the only Bangladesh chief selector to announce two World Cup squads. But with a poker face the former Bangladesh captain, who is well-known for his gutsy approach, sat on the dais at the press conference room of the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur and witnessed a drama.

The all powerful Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon read out the names of the 15-member final squad for the ICC World Cup.

Papon was not ready to finish with just the announcement. He further tried to expand by stating his technical knowledge on the selection issue, even though the person he hired to handle those issues (Faruque) was right there beside him.

That the BCB boss loves to talk about the technical aspects of the players is well known but what he did on Sunday was beyond anybody's imagination.

It's not like he broke the law. The constitution gives him absolute power to deal with any matter related to the board. There is however a norm in the gentleman's game that has been practised for years by every professional board.

The BCB itself has a committee with the technical persons to form the team and the general practice is that the board president approves the selections. As Faruque put it during the press conference, there is nothing wrong with the board asking the selectors about the selection of the team. If the president believes that the Faruque and company don't have the ability to form the team then he can be relieved of the job. But the way the discussions were made public was not the right way to go about it.

In a last-minute drama, the board delayed the announcement of the team by more than two hours. To everyone's surprise Papon himself revealed that the last minute discussion was regarding two bowling spots. He said that since a lot of the board directors, coach Chandika Hathurusingha and captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza were present in Mirpur, he wanted to know their opinions. In addition the BCB president further embarrassed the selection committee by stating that the panel virtually could not decide on a 15-member team and that they had submitted a 16-member side.

Firstly, the board's interference on such technical issues is an extremely odd practice; and even if there was a question of discussion, it could have been done internally, well before the announcement of the team rather than it being made public.

At the end of the press conference the question dominated the rounds was how a sturdy customer like Faruque managed to swallow a pill so sour.

A year to right the wrongs

Keep Smiling: If you are a sports fan and you want to enjoy your first morning of the new year with something pleasing from the year that has gone by, the Daily Star Sports presents you two fine sporting moments of 2014. (L) Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam is the toast of his teammates after becoming the only player to take a hattrick on ODI debut in a match against Zimbabwe in Mirpur on December 1.

For Bangladesh cricketers, the traditional 'look-back' throughout the last year won't be one that they would be too fond of. If it was not for a joyous series wins against Zimbabwe at the fag end of the year, pictures of a gloomy Mushfiqur Rahim with his head down during each of the post-match press conference would have probably been the ideal 'iconic collage' of the year for the Tigers.

With Bangladesh hosting two major global cricketing events in consecutive months, one would have expected 2014 to be a golden year for Bangladesh cricket. A long winless streak, however, spoilt all the fun. And make no mistake, the Tigers faced plenty of heat; so much so that Mushfiqur 'apologised to the nation' on more than one occasion.

Keep Smiling: Bangladesh U-23 midfielder Sohel Rana slides on the greens of Army Stadium after his winning goal against Nepal U-23 on August 26. Photos: Star File

The Twenty20 World Cup and the Asia Cup brought Bangladesh fans from all over the world on a single platform and made them dance to the same song. The Tigers', unfortunately, were not on the same tune.

It was a year of transition too with a complete reshuffle in the team management. From the head coach to the physio, almost every position of the national team management saw a new face.

The changes might not have been ideal, especially with the 50-over World Cup months away, but they were required nonetheless.

In came Chandika Hathurusingha, an inexperienced coach at the international circuit, yet one with a laudable profile in Australia's domestic competition.

A seemingly shrewd tactician, some of the strategies Hathurusingha employed were quite rare in Bangladesh cricket. Preparing pacey wickets to run through India's strong batting line-up in the second and third matches of the three-match ODI series, was one of them. While it did end up backfiring, it displayed a new line of thought and to a certain extent depicted the Sri Lankan's aggressive mindset.

There were changes in the personnel too as far as the national team is concerned, Abdur Razzak was left out of the India series; Shakib Al Hasan was banned after an argument with the coach while Nasir Hossain was dropped for the Zimbabwe series. It just showed that the Sri Lankan is a no-nonsense tactician.

Having failed to beat a Test nation throughout the year, the Zimbabwe series, Bangladesh's last series before the World Cup, was always going to be crucial. In fact, nothing less than perfect result would have pacified the fans and detractors alike.

After eking out a hard-fought win in the first Test, the cog wheels suddenly seemed to be churning again. From Shakib's double to Taijul Islam's hattrick on debut, from Mominul Islam's ninth-consecutive 50-plus score to Tamim Iqbal's batting out a day for just 70-odd runs; suddenly everyone was having a bite of the cherry.

While the year did end well, the Tigers know there is a lot more that they need to do before they can put on the blanket. If 2014 is considered as a year of wasted opportunities, 2015 can be dubbed as the year to rectify those mistakes. Because there will be plenty on the menu for the Tigers as they host Pakistan, India, South Africa and Australia after the World Cup.

At the end of the Test series against Zimbabwe, Hathurusingha was asked if he was happy with the 3-0 win. His reply seemed slightly ambitious enough. “We play Pakistan, Australia and South Africa next year. If we can remain unbeaten after that, I'll be happy.”

As pushy as it may sound, maybe that's the sort of result that Bangladesh cricket needs. If the victories against Zimbabwe provided an ounce of hope, wins against these top-ranked nations will perhaps even erase some of the painful memories of last year; like the defeats at the hands of Hong Kong and Afghanistan.

Blow to Pakistan! Saeed Ajmal pulls out of 2015 World Cup

December 27, 2014 | UPDATED 21:39 IST

The Pakistani off-spinner was recently suspended by the ICC for his illegal bowling action

Suspended Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has withdrawn from the World Cup squad because he has no chance of getting his action cleared before the tournament.

Pakistan Cricket Board officials met on Saturday and decided that all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez, who is also suspended from bowling in international cricket, will travel to Chennai, India for a test.

"If Hafeez clears the informal test than we will apply to the International Cricket Council to hold his official test for his bowling action to be cleared," the PCB said in a statement.

The 37-year-old Ajmal, who was named in the preliminary squad, will continue remedial work on his action and play domestic cricket until he has satisfied himself he can take the ICC test.

"Ajmal withdrew himself," PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan told reporters.

"We didn't want to take a risk with Ajmal's career because latest reports suggested his elbow extension was not still within the 15 degrees allowed by the ICC despite all the remedial work on his action.

"We were aware that if he took the official ICC test in a bid to make the World Cup squad and failed it he could be suspended from playing for one to two years and that would mean the end of his career," Khan said.

Ajmal, Pakistan's top spinner and wicket taker in all formats of the game for the last three years, was suspended from bowling in September after failing the ICC test. Hafeez was banned last month.

Teams have to name their final 15-man World Cup squads by January 7.

Neymar It's Back !!!

Neymar Jr • Is Back!!! •2014•

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Online Update 1.16 "F*cks My Musket"

Community Shield: Arsenal v Manchester City

Player reaction - Arsenal 3-0 Man City


Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey, speaking to BT Sport: "The atmosphere in the camp is great. We really want to work hard for each other and the club is on the up. Everyone is excited, the arrival of Alexis Sanchez has made everyone excited. After the FA Cup win I really feel this club is on the up and I hope we can go on to be very successful in the coming years."

Arsenal goalscorer Olivier Giroud, speaking to BT Sport: "I felt I could shoot, I was a bit lucky but I did what I really wanted to do and score.

"We came back to pre-season a few weeks ago and I had a really good feeling about our understanding on the pitch, especially with the new players. I think we will be stronger this year. We are getting better and better and I think we will do very well."

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, speaking to BBC Radio 5 live: "I think the message we wanted to send out was we are ready, it is the biggest game of pre season and we passed the test. Just because we beat the champions doesn't mean we will be champions because it doesn't work like that but we are ready.



"We have got a great team ethic here and I hope we can take that into the season.

"It's s big season for me, last season was a bit stop start but I have had my first proper pre season and I am feeling good."

Scottish football latest

A late goal from Chris Erskine means it is Dundee United who are top of the Scottish Premiership with a 3-0 win away to Aberdeen.

St Johnstone also put their midweek Europa League disappointment behind them with a 2-1 win over Ross County.

When He’s 64: A Nimble Tom Watson Has Head and Heart in the Game

Tom Watson’s slacks were covered by dark rain pants on a wet Friday morning at Valhalla Golf Club, but his shirt and golf glove were yellow. That look would have been at home during the 1970s, when Watson was forging his reputation as one of the best golfers born after World War II.

He played in his first P.G.A. Championship in 1973, tying for 12th place and earning $3,975 at Canterbury Golf Club in Ohio. His appearance here in this year’s P.G.A. — because he is captain of the United States Ryder Cup team that will square off against Europe in late September — was his 33rd and probably final berth in the only major championship he never won. It is the same hole in his record that another golf luminary, Arnold Palmer, has in his.

The closest Watson, who won five British Opens, two Masters and one United States Open, came to possessing the P.G.A.’s Wanamaker Trophy was in 1978 at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. He led after each of the first three rounds and was still in control in the final round.

“I have to play a different golf course than a lot of these kids,” said Tom Watson, referring to his longer approach shots during the 96th P.G.A. Championship, at the Valhalla Gold Club.CreditMike Ehrmann/Getty Images

“I had a good lead going to the last nine there and kind of frittered it away,” Watson said. “It would have been nice to have all four of them, without question.”

As he has often done in his senior years — most spectacularly in the 2009 British Open, when at 59 he led going to the 72nd hole before losing a playoff to Stewart Cink — Watson played capably at Valhalla less than a month before he will turn 65.

Despite giving up a lot of distance off the tee to younger and stronger competitors, he shot 72-73 to miss the cut by two strokes on a soggy course playing longer than its second-round setup of 7,328 yards.

“Nice tee placement,” Watson said Friday to Ted Bishop, the president of the P.G.A. of America, after his drive on the 450-yard 17th hole failed to reach the fairway cut 250 yards away. In typical Watson fashion, he still made a par.

“I have to play a different golf course than a lot of these kids,” said Watson, referring to his longer approach shots. “I felt like I played it pretty well. When I was 35 years old, I said I was going to retire when I was 45, and here I am playing at 64. I’m grateful.”

Most aging athletes — unlike artists, actors, writers or musicians — cannot approximate their prime selves regardless of pedigree. Yet a cadre of special players, including Watson, Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Hale Irwin (who shot better than his age, 69, three consecutive times in a Champions Tour event this month), have been able to slow the clock.

“Tom is one of the most competitive individuals I’ve ever seen,” said Andy North, a two-time United States Open champion and longtime friend of Watson’s. “Like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, he is definitely in the echelon of people who gives it his max every single time.”

Watson’s tenacity will be used another way at the Ryder Cup, where he will captain the team two decades after his previous turn at the helm.

“I’m excited for the guys who get to play for him,” said the Americans’ 2012 captain, Davis Love III, who was on Watson’s team in 1993, the last time the United States won a Ryder Cup in Europe. “Guys have a lot of respect for what he’s done in the game and his passion for it. He’s always been strong-willed and serious. Guys are going to have to play hard for him.”

The roster of the United States team was in flux at the P.G.A., the last opportunity to qualify on points, because of injuries to Woods, Matt Kuchar and Jason Dufner. Another top golfer, Dustin Johnson, has taken a leave of absence from the tour and will not participate.

“Yes, it is a concern,” Watson said. “We’re falling like flies right now, some of the players that are either on the borderline or on the team.”

Regardless of which dozen golfers end up on his squad at Gleneagles in Scotland — the top nine players in the points standings and three captain’s picks he will select on Sept. 2 — Watson has been steadfast about what they will need to do to alter the team’s mojo in the biennial competition. The Europeans have won seven of the last nine Ryder Cups, most recently thanks to a huge final-day comeback at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago in 2012.

“The main thing is right here,” Watson said Friday at Valhalla, tapping his chest a couple of times. “Who’s got the heart? Who’s got the guts to make the five-footer when the chips are down, to be able to grind it out and make that one point. That’s what I’m looking for. The most important attribute for the player is how much heart can they have.”

In observing and competing occasionally the last two years with players young enough to be his children or even grandchildren, Watson has been pleased.

“There have been some heartwarming surprises,” he said. “I like the attitudes of the players. It’s kind of a lot of me that I see in the players, a lot of me. The main thing is you do anything possible to win. If you are not hitting it well, you find a way. My caddie Bruce Edwards always said to me when I was playing lousy: ‘All right, come on, find a way. Find a way.’ ”

If the United States is to succeed on European soil next month, the golfers who will be making the swings will need the flinty mind-set that has served their captain so well for so long. But a leader’s lifetime example can go only so far.

“In the last bunch of years,” said North, one of Watson’s vice captains, “the Europeans have made more putts and hit more quality shots when they’ve needed to. The key is to have 12 guys playing well.”