SPORTS

Tigers leave for Europe

ANOTHER FEATHER ON HIS CAP: Shakib Al Hasan (R) chats with Tigers teammate Tamim Iqbal at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport yesterday ahead of their flight to Belfast. Shakib has now remained the No. 1 ODI all-rounder for 432 matches, equalling Jacques Kallis's record at the top.Photo: STARSports Reporter

The Tigers left Dhaka yesterday to play five T20 internationals during their Europe trip as part of preparations for the upcoming ICC World Twenty20 to be held in Sri Lanka in September this year.

Mushfiqur Rahim's men will open the tour with a practice match against an Ireland XI at Belfast on July 16. They will play the three-match T20 internationals series against Ireland on July 18 and play the remaining two games on July 20 and 21.

Afterwards, they will travel to the Netherlands to play one T20 international against Scotland on July 24 and their last game against Netherlands on July 25.

Bangladesh's record in T20 cricket is not good and due to a lack of international matches they are not even in the ICC T20 international rankings. As a result, this tour is important for the Tigers as there is a chance for them to break into the table if they can win matches on this tour.

Bangladesh have so far played 18 T20 internationals, winning only four and having lost their only T20 match against Ireland -- a six-wicket defeat at Trent Bridge in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20s.

Meanwhile left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, who recently got married, will fly for Ireland on July 14 along with chief selector Akram Khan and head of delegation and BCB's vice-president Ahmed Sajjadul Alam.

Iniesta ties the knot in Barcelona studded affair

Andres Iniesta married his long-time partner – and mother of his daughter, Valeria – Anna Ortiz on Sunday in a relatively ‘Barca’ studded affair at the Tamarit Castle, a lovely tucked away venue he had booked months in advance. Felicitats!
Guests poured in to celebrate the phenomenal player’s big day with him and Gerard Pique, who drove into the venue which was surrounded by fences, couldn’t help but compare the spectacle of cheering fans to the ‘Tour de France’.
The ceremony was held in the castle gardens and Iniesta was escorted into the venue by his dear mother as the theme song from ‘Gladiator‘ (his favourite film) played out in the background. A few minutes later, Anna, accompanied by her dress designer, Teresa Helbig, walked in to the tune of the late Whitney Houston’s ‘I will always love you’ from the ‘Bodyguard’ film. Anna opted for the vintage look complete with her Amelia Earhart inspired headwear.
Wedding guests included many of Iniesta’s club team-mates including Leo Messi, Victor Valdes and partner Yolanda, Gerard Pique (alone, as Shakira is now recording her new song in Portugal),Cesc Fabregas and the stunning Daniella Semaan, Pedro and his girlfriend, Puyol and Gabi Milito. One of the first guests to arrive at the Tamarit Castle was Iniesta’s best friend, Xavi. Emotional!
Pep Guardiola did not attend the wedding ceremony but joined the banquet at the Mas d’en Ros restaurant with his wife afterwards, where he obviously offered a toast to the new couple.

Source : New Age