Gordon, a former West Indian great, who is now in his native Barbados on a month-long vacation, is expected to return to Dhaka next week.
Bangladesh will take part in a tri-nation tournament in India next month along with Kenya and then tour England as part of their preparations for the 1999 World Cup beginning in June. Besides, Bangladesh will also participate in the Commonwealth Games cricket, incorporated for the first time, to be held in Malaysia in September.
According to a source close to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), the primary focus at the conditioning camp will be on improving physical fitness of the players.
Named in the list of 39 are nine youngsters who played for Bangladesh in the World Youth Cup in South Africa earlier this year. They are: Fahim Mun-tasir, Tanveer Khan, Towhid Hossain, Ehsanul Haque, Hannan Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahman, Golam Mortuza, Manjurul Islam and Sabbir Khan.
Although many of the colts toured India and Pakistan last month while playing for BCB Eleven in the two Wills trophies, except for Manjurul, this will be their first acid test to get a berth in the senior. Left arm pacer Manjurul was a member of the Bangladesh team which toured New Zealand last winter.
Iqbal Hossain of BCB Eleven is the only omission from the 16-player squad that toured India while all the 16 player which toured Pakistan have been retained for the post-Eid camp.
The only new face in the call-up is Abahani's all-rounder Niamur Rashid while former national skipper Faruque Ahmed, who pulled out from the Independence Cup camp due to a groin injury, has been invited again to prove his worth. Also earning a recall are former national opener Harun-ur Rashid, all-rounder Mofizur Rahman and left arm spinner Sharfuddowllah Ibne Shaheed.
The following have been asked to report to BCB at 4 pm tomorrow with their passport: Akram Khan, Aminul Islam, Minhazul Abedin, Khaled Masood, Shafiuddin Ahmed, Naimur Rahman, Javed Omar, Morshed Ali Khan, Khaled Mahmud, Faruque Ahmed, Athar Ali Khan, Hasibul Hossain, Mohammad Rafique, Al-Shahriar, Sanwar Hossain, Enamul Haque, Atiar Rahman, Nasirul Alam, Fahim Muntasir, Anisur Rahman, Sajjad Ahmed, Niamur Rashid, Tanveer Khan, Towhid Hossain, Ehsanul Haque, Hannan Sarkar, Azam Iqbal, Shahriar Hossain, Mehrab Hossain, Zakir Hasan, Hasanuzzaman, Mushfiqur Rahman, Habibul Bashar, Golam Mortuza, Harun-ur Rashid, Sharfuddowllah Ibne Shaheed, Manjurul Islam, Sabbir Khan and Mofizur Rahman.
Khulna cricket
KHULNA, Apr 3: Abul Kashem Smriti Sangsad defeated Khulna Wanderers Club by six runs in the Senior Division cricket league played at the Khulna Stadium today, reports BSS.
Abul Kashem Smriti Sangsad won the toss and scored 187 runs in the stipulated 45 overs.
In reply Khulna Wanderers were all out for 181 runs.
In another match of the league played at the Khulna Circuit House ground National Welfare Association defeated Ulka Club by five wickets.
Ulka winning the toss decided to bat and scored 102 runs.
In reply National Welfare reached the winning target for the loss of five wickets.
In the last match of the league played at the Khulna Divisional Stadium Sapla Krira Chakra defeated Khulna Savior Club by six wickets.
Winning the toss Savior batted first and scored 139 runs for all in their allotted overs.
In reply Sapla KC reached the winning target for the loss of four wickets.
Hasan Masood retires
Usual Friday dose for The Daily Star
Sports Reporter
Poor but not unusual fielding let the Daily Star cricket team down once again when they were easily beaten by Banque Indosuez by 33 runs in a friendly match at the BUET ground yesterday.
Opting to bat first, the bankers piled up a huge (?) 143 for eight in the stipulated 25 overs, thanks to the Daily Star fielders who saw stars during the day and dropped as many as half a dozen lolly catches. Had the Stars held on to one or two of them, it would have been a pleasure to report.
Opener Talha (reportedly the best cricketer of Sunnydale School) hammered highest 53 inclusive of nine boundaries while middle-order Hassan chipped in with an unbeaten 41 which included a big sixer and three fours. Tamim (a BBA student of IUB) was the other notable batsman who added 16 runs.
Daily Star's pseudo-pacers Mahtab and Rabeed to their credit evenly shared six wickets.
In reply, the Daily Star were restricted to 110 for nine in 25 overs in the face of some inspirational pace bowling from Tamim who captured five wickets. He was well supported by Hassan who took two wickets.
After shining with the cherry, Rabeed also showed his strength with the willow scoring highest but 20 futile runs while opener Mahtab, who also took three wickets, and lower middle-order Lovell contributed 15 runs each. Besides, skipper Morshed and Tawfik scored 11 runs apiece.
Daily Star's umpire Hasan Masood announced his retrirement yesterday immediately after the disastrous match having officiated in three consecutive matches which resulted in as many defeats for his team.
Brief Scores
BANQUE INDOSUEZ: 143 for eight in 25 overs ( Talha 53, Hassan 41 n.o., Tamim 16; Rabeed 3 wkts, Mahtab 3 wkts)
THE DAILY STAR: 110 for nine in 25 overs ( Rabeed 20, Lovell 15 n.o., Mahtab 15, Morshed 11, Tawfik 11, Tamim 5 wkts, Hassan 2 wkts)
Result: Banque Indosuez won by 33 runs.