The Capital Complex Dree Festival Committee (CCDFC) 2023 successfully concluded the thrilling three-day Itanagar Dree Badminton and Table Tennis Tournament 2023, showcasing the extraordinary skills of the community’s finest talents on 22 May last. The tournament witnessed fierce competition among top athletes, leaving spectators on the edge of their seats.

In the enthralling final matches of the Table Tennis championship held yesterday, more than 20 teams and 75 matches showcased remarkable displays of agility and precision. The Badminton championship, on the other hand, witnessed over 50 teams battling it out in 98 matches across eight categories over the course of three days.

The Closing & Prize Distribution Ceremony was graced by esteemed senior citizens, Mr. Michi Kani, Deputy Director (IPR) (Rtd), and Mr. Tage Tado, Former Director (Transport) to do the honours to give away the prizes.

Tado acknowledged the contributions of Dree Ground Management Committee, Papu Nallah for bringing up such good infrastructures. Tado also thanked CCDFC for being inclusive for including programmes from children to Senior Citizens.

Kani addressing to the gathering encouraged to balance sports and career and he implored and said that time has changed and one can carry forward sports as a career to glorify our state and nation.

The winners are-

Open Men’s Single: Winner- Mom Nitin, Runner-up – Koj Tajang

Open Women’s Singles: Winner- Khoda Punya, Runner up- Michi Yamung

Super Veteran Men’s Singles: Winner- Dr. Subu Habung, Runner up- Bamin Grayu

Open Men’s Double: Winner- Duyu Tubing & Mom Nitin, Runners up- Hage Guro & Millo Tara

Super Veteran Men’s Doubles: Winner- Dr. Subu Habung & Hibu Dante, Runners up- Bamin Koyang & Habung Tapa

Veteran Men’s Doubls: Winner- Michi Buker & Tailyang Tatung, Runners up- Dr. Hage Tadii & Mihin Tapin

Open Mixed Doubles: Winner- Khoda Punya & Mom Nitin, Runners up- Michi Yamung & Millo Tara

Speaking to reporters, Chairman of CCDFC 2023, Dani Sulu, highlighted the significance of inviting senior citizens as Special Invitees, emphasising the committee’s commitment to honouring the elders and promoting inclusivity by providing equal chance and opportunity to every age and section of Tanw society.

General Secretary Hano Taka expressed contentment of overwhelming response by the participants from all corners of the state addressing to the media. Takka also extended his gratitude to the participants and invited everyone to partake in the upcoming events and competitions of CCDFC 2023, which will span over two months.

Games and Sports Secretary of CCDFC 2023, Ngilyang Lailyang Richo, shared that the next exciting events on the calendar were Volleyball and Archery Competition scheduled for 27-28 May 2023 at Dree Ground Papu Nallah, followed by a thrilling Marathon race.

The meticulously planned and executed tournament was spearheaded by the Games & Sports Department of CCDFC 2023, led by Ngilyang Lailyang Richo, with invaluable assistance from Assistant Secretaries Tasso Kobing, Hage Laji, and Nani Ankha.

The Championship received the expert guidance of renowned Badminton player of Arunachal Pradesh Mudo Ado, who served as the Chief Referee. Ado was supported by the Apatani Badminton Association of Ziro, led by Khoda Yubbey as the President and Tage Pugang as the General Secretary.

The Itanagar Dree Badminton and Table Tennis Tournament 2023 enthralled sports enthusiasts and showcased the immense talent present in the region.

The Capital Complex Dree Festival Committee 2023 aims to continue promoting and organising such exciting events that foster a spirit of sportsmanship and unity among the participants and spectators alike.

If everything goes well, then the end of the Bangladesh innings is supposed to be seen by 1,200 spectators at the Sher Bangla National Stadium. But Bangladesh was all out long before that. New Zealand's innings started then.

Even if the eyes are on the match, the Facebook page of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, which was on everyone's mind, can't be said anymore. A lot of speculation is about to end then. Bangladesh's World Cup team was supposed to be announced! But what BCB did then can be called 'anti-climax'. The announcement came on that Facebook page, not at 5.45 as previously announced, the team will be announced after the ongoing Bangladesh- New Zealand match. The ongoing speculation was prolonged a little more.

All the speculation started in the previous evening. According to media reports, Captain Shakib Al Hasan is uncomfortable with the team. If necessary, he wanted to give up the captaincy of the World Cup. After that, the meeting between Coach Chandika Hathurusinghe and captain Shakib at the residence of board president Nazmul Hasan Papon added fuel to the fire.

After that discussion, now the news is that Bangladesh is going to the World Cup without Tamim Iqbal. A BCB source confirmed this to Barta24. Who will join the team instead will be known after the announcement of the team.

Meanwhile, before Tamim's absence from the team was officially announced, another incident happened in the team. Team manager Nafees Iqbal also left the team, just as the team was playing a match against New Zealand.

Ish Sodhi undoubtedly, the Bangladesh-New Zealand second ODI is the most talked about name. He scored 35 valuable runs with the bat. The big highlight of the New Zealand innings was Hasan Mahmood's Mankaded and Liton Das's exemplification of the 'Spirit of Cricket' bringing him back to the crease.

Sodhi didn't stop there. He brought himself to the center of discussion with the ball. The career-best bowler crushed Bangladesh's batting lineup almost single-handedly. Bangladesh lost by 86 runs in the second ODI of the three-match series against New Zealand at the home of cricket in Mirpur. As the first match was abandoned, the third and final ODI next Tuesday (September 26) is now a battle for Bangladesh to save the series.

Kiwi captain Lockie Ferguson won the toss and elected to bat on Saturday (September 23). New Zealand was in some danger after finding 3 wickets in 36 runs. However, Henry Nicholls (49) and Tom Blundell (68) handled the initial shock by batting responsibly for the fourth wicket. However, the tourists were not completely safe. When Cole McConchie, the last recognized batsman in the XI, returned for 187 runs, New Zealand had not capitalized on the fight.

However, at the end, due to the tenacity of the tail ender batters, New Zealand got a fighting capital of 254 runs. Ish Sodhi led the tail-enders' defense with the bat. He played an important innings of 35 runs.

But Sodhi's innings could have ended in 17 individual runs, if Bangladesh captain Liton Das had not become the embodiment of 'Spirit of Cricket'!

His main job of spreading light with the bat is bowling or why stay behind! Ten years later, Sodhi bowled a career-best ODI against the country that started his journey in international cricket. After bowling 10 overs, he took 6 wickets for 39 runs.

On the day of Sodhi's bowling excellence, Bangladesh's batting has once again lost its bones. Apart from the two seniors Tamim Iqbal (44) and Mahmudullah (49) who returned to the team after a long time, only Nasum Ahmed (21) of the tail row has reached the quota of 20. Soumya Sarkar returned to the team after two and a half years before opening the run book.

Bangladesh were all out for 168 runs in just 41.1 overs due to batting failure. Bangladesh must win the last match to save the series.

Bangladesh Cricket Board has announced the squad for the ODI series against New Zealand. Skipper Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehdi Hasan Miraj, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmood and Shariful Islam have been rested as expected. In other words, regular XI cricketers will be rested in this series before the World Cup. In-form Nazmul Hossain Shanto is not in this series due to injury. Liton Das is leading the team.

Mahmudullah Riyad returned to the team after more than six months. Regular opener Tamim Iqbal returned to the team after recovering from injury. Soumya Sarkar got a place in the ODI squad after three and a half years. Also, two wicketkeeper-batters Nurul Hasan Sohan and Zakir Hasan have returned to the ODI team. Pacer Syed Khaled Ahmed, who is in the preliminary squad of the World Cup, has received a call. Leg spinner Rishad Hossain has come to the ODI team for the first time.

 Afif Hossain Dhruba, Shamim Patwari and Mohammad Naeem Sheikh have been dropped from the Asia Cup squad. It is more likely that they will not be in the World Cup squad.

There is a rumor in the cricket village that Soumya Sarkar and Sheikh Mahedi Hasan can board the plane for the World Cup. Along with this, Tanjid Tamim, who entered international cricket with the Asia Cup, is also likely to be in the fifteen men squad of the World Cup.

 Bangladesh has announced the squad for the first two ODIs of the series against New Zealand. Tamim Iqbal has returned to the team after a long break. Apart from this, Mahmudullah and Soumya Sarkar also got a chance in the first two ODI teams.

Regular captain Shakib Al Hasan has been rested in this home series before the World Cup. ODI vice-captain Liton Das will lead the side against the Kiwis in his place.

 Apart from Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehdi Hasan Miraj, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmood and Shariful Islam are not in the New Zealand series squad. The selectors have decided to rest all of them in this series.

As many of the regular faces of the ODI team are resting, the fortunes of several people who were left out of the team have returned. This list includes experienced Mahmudullah Riyad, Soumya Sarkar, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Zakir Hasan, Rishad Hossain and Khaled Ahmed.

Bangladesh team for the first two ODIs

Liton Das (Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Enamul Haque, Tawhid Hriday, Mahmudullah, Nurul Hasan, Mehdi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Mostafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan, Tanjid Hasan, Zakir Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Khaled Ahmed.