Taskin, Sunny cleared by ICC

Their bowling actions declared legal

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh fast-bowler Taskin Ahmed and left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny have had their remodelled actions cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and may resume bowling in international cricket immediately, with Taskin set to be announced as the yet unnamed 14th member in Bangladesh's ODI squad for their three-match One-Day International series against Afghanistan starting tomorrow in Mirpur.
After working closely with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to remedy their actions, the pair underwent a bowling test at the National Cricket Centre, an ICC-accredited centre in Brisbane, on September 8 and their elbow extensions on all deliveries were found to be within the legal limit of 15 degrees.
The pair had been reported during Bangladesh's first 2016 World T20 match against the Netherlands on March 9 and subsequently underwent a bowling test in Chennai, where their actions were found to be illegal. The players played no further part in the tournament and have since sat out of international cricket.
The BCB had contested the decision at the time and it raised a furore among Bangladesh cricket fans as well, but the decision was upheld by a judicial commission.
Fan favourite Taskin is likely to return to action tomorrow in the first ODI against Afghanistan, with chief selector Minhajul Abedin confirming earlier that a spot would be open for him in the event that he was cleared.
Although Sunny does not seem to have a place in the team at the moment, he will be raring to force his way back into the almost impregnable Bangladesh side through the kind of performances in domestic cricket which saw him on the flight to that ill-fated World T20.

Neymar, Brazil seek to bounce back: Rio Olympics

Neymar of Brazil on the floor during the match against South Africa. Photo: Reuters

AFP, Rio de Janeiro

Mercilessly cast as "greedy" and "missing" for failing to fire Brazil to victory in their Rio 2016 opener against South Africa, Neymar and his highly-touted teammates need a big response against Iraq on Sunday.
A 0-0 draw against a South African side reduced to 10 men for the final half hour on Thursday was met with a chorus of boos by a near 70,000 capacity crowd in Brasilia.
Brazil were expected to launch the Games in style as red hot favourites to land a first Olympic football gold thanks to the presence of Barcelona superstar Neymar.
However, he suffered the most severe backlash in the Brazilian press Friday after losing possession 27 times, more than double any other Brazilian player.
"Greedy Neymar becomes a problem in the Olympic team," said ESPN Brazil.
"Inexplicably, Brazil did everything contrary to what they rehearsed and preached for 17 days (in preparation)," added Rio newspaper O Globo. "Neymar was missing too."
However, Neymar, who still had Brazil's two best efforts brilliantly saved by Itumeleng Khune, defended his decision to act as more of a playmaker, comparing his role to that occupied by five-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi at Barcelona.
"Sometimes you end up playing according to a certain player. It's like how Barcelona play. We play according Messi, he is the guy who plays more on the ball and we end up moving off the ball," he said.
"It's why we don't get bothered by touching the ball into Messi, that's what many people do not understand."

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KATY PERRY (@katyperry) August 5, 2016

However, Brazil coach Rogerio Micale defended his star and captain, citing rustiness as Neymar hadn't been involved in competitive action since May 22 after skipping the Copa America in June.
"I think we have to see he is coming off a long holiday period and is regaining the pace of play," said Micale.
"He will grow a lot during the competition, I have great confidence in him."
Neymar didn't face the ire of the Brazilian press alone.
Manchester City's new £27 million ($36 million) signing Gabriel Jesus somehow managed to hit the post when presented with an open goal.
"I will not sleep tonight," admitted the 19-year-old.
Another slip-up against Iraq back in Brasilia is unimaginable for the hosts, but they will face a well-prepared and highly-motivated opponent who enjoyed the better of their opening 0-0 draw with Denmark.

It's lit
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Rio 2016 (@Rio2016_en) August 6, 2016

In contrast to Brazil's short preparation time, Iraq have been in training camps across Europe for months in the build-up to the Games with the aim of surpassing their run to fourth at the Athens Games in 2004 when they beat a Portugal side containing Cristiano Ronaldo.
"For us it is an honour to be here," said Iraq coach Abdulghani Alghazali.
"In Brazil, we have earned the sympathy of the local people. Our next game, against them, will be very important for us."
Brazil aren't the only big nation in need of quick turnaround in fortunes on Sunday.
Two-time gold medallists Argentina face Algeria after suffering a 2-0 opening defeat to Portugal.
Defending champions Mexico opened with a 2-2 draw against Germany, but are expected to pile more misery on Fiji, who lost 8-0 to South Korea on Thursday. Germany also face the Koreans in Salvador.
Nigeria's Oghenekaro Etebo was the star of the opening round with four goals in a thrilling 5-4 win over Japan as the Africans shrugged off the jetlag with ease having arrived in the Amazonian city of Manaus, nearly 3,000km from Rio, just hours before kick-off.
Another win for the gold medal winners 20 years ago in Atlanta against Sweden will seal their place in the last eight.
Japan look to bounce back against Colombia, Denmark meet South Africa with both in search of their first win, whilst Honduras and Portugal face off with both well-placed after opening wins.

Floating schools gear up education for underprivileged ‘Chalanbeel’ kids

Ahmed Humayun Kabir Topu, back from Chalanbeel

They do not go to school, the school comes to them.
Some 22 floating schools locally known as “Nouka School” moved in to the submerged Chalanbeel area spanning over three districts providing academic facilities to more than 2,000 underprivileged children in the last few years.
Floating Schools have now broadened their facilities, ensuring basic agricultural training for underprivileged women and also library and computer training facilities among people in Pabna, Natore and Sirajganj, thanks to ‘Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha’ (SSS), a non-government organisation for initiating better service enlightening Chalanbeel people.
The SSS first introduced floating schools for the underprivileged kids in Singra upazila of Natore district in 2002.
The school gained quick popularity among the people and there are now 22 floating schools in Chatmohar and Bhangura upazilas of Pabna, Gurudashpur and Singra of Natore and Tarash upazila of Sirajganj under Chalanbeel region, organisation sources said.
“Chalanbeel areas go under water for four to six months each year during monsoon. Maximum educational institutions mostly primary schools located in remote areas become inaccessible. A major portion of school going children drop out as they are unable to go to their institutions during the monsoon,” Suprokash Poul, program coordinator of floating school program, said.

“Floating schools go to the doorstep of the children. Carrying students from different points of the villages it reaches a certain point where classes are held. When classes end, the children are dropped to their villages again,” Suprokash said adding that each school holds three shifts a day with 30 students in each shift.
“We get training on crop cultivation in submerged land during monsoon. We learn how to cultivate paddy, jute and vegetables and how to protect the crops from pest attacks without using chemical pesticide,” Bulbuli Khatun, a housewife of Kalinagar village in Singra upazila of Natore district, said.
“There is no computer facility in our village. We would have to go to the upazila headquarters for this, which is 30 kilogremre away. But now, we get these facilities at our doorsteps,” said Abu Sayed, an HSC student of Singra.
A total of 39 boats--including 22 floating schools, 10 boats for library and computer lab and seven training centers have been moving in the five upazilas of Chalanbeel area but this is not enough to cover the vast area of Chalanbeel region,” Suprokash said.
The organisation is trying to increase the number of floating schools.