India tour likely this year: BCB

Tigers are likely to have the first fully-fledged tour to India this year, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president A H M Mustafa Kamal has said.

Speaking at the board's meeting on Monday, Kamal said his Indian counterpart N Srinivasan had assured him in his recent visit to the country about the tour by the end of 2012, a BCB media release said.

Kamal's meeting with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Srinivasan during the inauguration of Indian Premier League was fruitful, the release said, quoting Kamal as saying in Monday's meeting.

Bangladesh played the first Test on Nov 12, 2000 against India at home ground but has not had a fully-fledged tour to the neighbouring country.

BCB is being criticised for its failure to keep a tour to India in the current future tours programme of Bangladesh cricket team.

After meeting Srinivasan during his recent visit to India to join IPL inauguration, Kamal said they had discussed the issue.

"The national team will tour India soon," he had said.

Naeem propels BCB Green on day one

BCB Green team scored 254 for six on the first day of their four-day practice match against BCB Red at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Monday.

BCB Green lost both openers Shahriar Nafees (0) and Junaed Siddique (10), and one-down Sahagir Hossain (12).

But all-rounder Naeem Islam cracked a gritty 95 not out and Mominul Islam scored 72 off 89 balls to stabilise the side.

The pair added 126 runs for the sixth-wicket. Besides, Alok Kapali contributed 29 runs.

Pacers Shafiul Islam and Rubel Hossain captured two wickets each for BCB Red.

BCB CUP Mahmudullah steers A team to title

Bangladesh A chased down a target of 186 with four wickets to spare against Bangladesh in the BCB Cup final on Wednesday.

The win was set up by an unbeaten knock of 78 from Mahmudullah, who was the day before named vice-captain of the national side, reports ESPNcricinfo.

Batting first, none of Bangladesh's batsmen, apart from Alok Kapali, managed to build an innings. Kapali, batting at No 6, struck a positive 68 to take his side close to a respectable total.

His knock was studded with ten boundaries, and came after his side had been reduced to 74 for 5 in 20.1 overs.

Bangladesh A's bowlers shared the wickets around, but Farhad Reza was the pick - he claimed Tamim Iqbal early in the innings, before returning to clean up the tail in the 46th over.

The chase was off to a dismal start, with Abdur Razzak and Rubel Hossain knocking over Bangladesh A's top three for next to nothing .

They were reduced to 6 for 3 in the seventh over, before Raqibul Hasan and Mahmudullah steadied the innings with a half-century partnership.

Hasan was run out for 32 and Kapali knocked over a couple in quick succession with his leg-spin.

However, Reza struck a quick 27 as Mahmudullah remained solid at the other end, to finish the match with an over in hand.