SHORT CORNER

Sayeed to run for BHF GS post

Even though the schedule of Bangladesh Hockey Federation's election is yet to be disclosed, the campaign took a new turn as Mariner Youngs Club's hockey committee chairman AKM Mominul Haque Sayeed became councillor of Mohammedan Sporting Club.

The game's local governing body asked its affiliate bodies to send their councillors' list by February 17 after the National Sports Council (NSC) formed a three-member election commission to hold the BHF polls.

13 Dhaka clubs together submitted their councillors' list to the BHF, with Sayeed declaring his intention to contest the polls as a candidate for general secretary post. He is a permanent member of Mohammedan. Current BHF general secretary Abdus Sadeque is also expected to compete for the general secretary position, being backed by Abahani.           -- Sports Reporter

Root draws praise for response to Gabriel sledge

Former England captain Nasser Hussain and football pundit Ian Wright have led praise for Joe Root after he stood up to alleged homophobic abuse while batting in the third Test against the West Indies.

Shannon Gabriel was warned by the umpires for using foul and abusive language towards England captain Root, who responded to the sledging by saying: "Don't use that as an insult. There's nothing wrong with being gay".

Now pundits and fans have taken to social media to praise his forward-thinking actions, with Hussain describing Root as a role model. Hussain said: "I don't know who said what to whom... but boy do I applaud Joe Root's reaction here. For me his twelve words as a role model will be in the end more important than a Test hundred or possible victory."

Former footballer and current BBC pundit Ian Wright said simply: "Joe Root. Well played and well said sir."           – Agencies

RTV to telecast Bangamata Gold Cup

Private satellite channel RTV has earned the rights to telecast matches of the Bangamata U-19 Women's International Gold Cup, which is scheduled to get underway in Dhaka on April 23 with the participation of six nations.

K-Sports, the official rights holders of the tournament, sold the broadcast rights to RTV. K-Sports' CEO Fahad MA Karim and RTV CEO Syed Ashik Rahman signed the agreement at the BFF House.   -- Sports Reporter

Minute's silence at CL, EL games for Sala

In memory of Emiliano Sala, a minute's silence will be observed at all Champions League and Europa League games this week, UEFA said on Tuesday.

Sala, who signed for Cardiff City from Nantes in January for a club record fee of 15 million pounds, died when the plane he was on crashed in the English Channel last month.           --Reuters

Feni SC Pip Baridhara

Feni Soccer Club registered a 1-0 win over Uttar Baridhara Club in the Bangladesh Championship League at the Birshrestha Shaheed Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur yesterday.

Shawon, who once played in the Bangladesh Premier League, scored the only goal of the match in the 47th minute. The day's first match between T&T Club and Agrani Bank ended in a goalless draw.   -- Sports Reporter

Inter-house sports end

Shahidullah House became champions while Dr. Kudrat-e-Elahi House became runners-up in the Birshreshtha Munshi Abdur Rouf Public College inter-house annual sports competition at the BGB Sports Board ground yesterday.

BGB additional director general Brigadier General AQM Shamsul Haq distributed prizes among the winners.     -- Staff Correspondent

YCL one-dayers begin today

The one-day version of the Youth Cricket League (YCL) begins today with East Zone taking on Central Zone at the Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi while North Zone battle it out with South Zone at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogura.

The four-day version of the tournament came to an end on February 9, when Central were crowned champions and North became runners up.

It is an initiative that helps cricketers compete with each other before they enter the big leagues. Bangladesh's top under-19 players will take part in this competition.         --Sports Reporter