MESSI CONSIDERS CASILLAS TO BE THE BEST GOALIE IN THE WORLD

Argentine soccer great Lionel Messi who has won the prestigious Ballon Di Or award three times, considers Iker Casillas, the Real Madrid and Spanish international to be the best goalkeeper in the world. Casillas is also the captain of the Spanish national team and his club side Real Madrid. Having due respect for the Spaniard, Messi says that he is surprised at the number of goals that Casillas has conceded. Messi has also commended the 31 year old Casillas for his efficient captaincy of both the national team and his club team. He says "I feel very proud to have been able to score against him in the El Classico, because the El Classico matches are always very exciting. I am really happy, because he (Casillas) is an extra-ordinary goalkeeper. He is one of the best goalies in the world. Sometimes I tell myself at the beginning of the match that I will have to score against Casillas." Recently in the first El Classico of the season Real Madrid and Barcelona played to a 2-2 draw with the two key players of the two teams-Messi of Barca and Christiano Ronaldo of Real scoring twice each for their respective teams. As a result of this draw, the Catalans are still atop the points table with 19 points, whereas Real are 8 points adrift Barcelona. Do you think Real would be able to overtake Barcelona and retain their title ? God knows.

WEST INDIES COMING TO BANGLADESH 5 NOVEMBER

Good news, the West Indians are coming to Bangladesh on November 5 on a 36-day tour to Bangladesh. The Caribbeans have recently won the t20 world cup cricket tournament held in Sri Lanka. Bangladesh will play two test matches, five one day matches and one t20 match against Chris Gayle’s team. BCB sources have informed that the first ever test match in Khulna venue is going to be held during this tour of the West Indians. ICC match referee ex-Sri Lankan opening batsman Roushan Mahanama has already visited the Khulna venue. The BCB officials have informed that Khulna’s recognition as a test venue is almost certain. The two tests, five ODIs and one t20 matches will be held in Dhaka and Khulna venues. In order to accustom themselves to the Bangladeshi conditions, the Windies will play a 3-day preparatory match in Savar before the first test match. No preparatory match will be played before the second test in Khulna. One test, three one day matches and the only t20 match will be held in Dhaka, while the other test and the other two one day matches are scheduled to be held in Khulna. According to the schedule received from the BCB sources, the visitors will arrive in Dhaka on November 5 and will practice on November 6 and 7 at Mirpur. The three day preparatory match will be held on November 8, 9 and 10 at BKSP at Savar. But it has not been decided yet who will face the visitors in the three day preparatory match. After two days, the first test match will be held at Mirpur from 13 to 17 November. The two teams will leave Dhaka for Khulna the next day (18 November). Practice will be held on November 19 and 20 November at Khulna venue. The second and final test will be held in Khulna from 21 o25 November. This will be followed by a single day practice on November 26. Now the two teams will have to get prepared for the one day matches. For ODI preparations, the BCB has arranged two preparatory matches for both the teams. In the first preparatory match, the Bangladeshis will play against the BCB eleven on November 27. The following day the Caribbeans will face the same BCB eleven in the second and final preparatory match. Both these matches will of 50 overs. This is going to be followed by a single day practice on 29 November. Then the first of the five one day internationals will be played on November 30. After this, there will be a single day practice on December 1. The second ODI will be played on December 2. The two teams will then return to Dhaka on December 3. This will be followed by practice on December 4. The third ODI will be played on December 5. Then practice again on December 6. After this the fourth ODI will be played on December 7. Then there will be practice for the final one day match the next day (December 8). And the final one day match is scheduled to be played on December 9. The following day (December 10) the only t20 match of the tour will be played at Mirpur in Dhaka. And the visitors will leave Dhaka on December 10. I hope that Bangladesh will play well against the t20 world champions. Good luck, Bangladesh