Bangladesh about to create the History

For Bangladesh's tireless supporters, starved of success but never lacking in passion, this is like finding an oasis in a desert. A sea of the darker shade of green will be cheering every run that Bangladesh score tomorrow and every Pakistan wicket that falls. Victory won't be demanded, though; an appearance in the final is already a windfall for the fan.

How will the Bangladesh players approach this game, probably the biggest in their careers so far? Apart from blanking New Zealand some time ago at home, this is the first time they have put together consistently solid performances for three games running against world-class opposition. Will the fourth time prove to be too much? Will the pressure of a final, something they have hardly experienced, restrict the freedom with which they bat? Will their bowling and fielding be able to hold together?

Whatever be the result, Bangladesh's surge to the final holds the promise of another close match. They will fight; if they go down, they will still be heroes. If they win, they'll become part of folklore in the years to come. Either way, a bit of history has already been created.

While tomorrow's contest pales before the fervour an India-Pakistan final would have generated, Pakistan won't mind running into Bangladesh. They have relied on their bowling, as they often do, for getting them to the final. The one time their batting appeared to have almost won a game for them, they ran into Virat Kohli.

Pakistan have underperformed in the Asia Cup, winning it only once compared to the four titles each won by India and Sri Lanka. A second title beckons tomorrow, unless Bangladesh can ride on the passion and momentum and play beyond themselves again.

Form guide

Bangladesh: WWLLL (most recent first)
Pakistan: LWWLL

In the spotlight

Had Shakib Al Hasan been playing for some of the bigger Test sides, he would have been given a lot more respect than he gets at present. He averages 54.50 with the bat and 22.29 with the ball in ODI wins. He carries the expectations of Bangladesh fans lightly and, more often than not, puts in a telling contribution. He was Man of the Match in the hosts' wins over India and Sri Lanka and would have got the award against Pakistan had the Bangladesh lower order not collapsed around him. The hosts have found Nasir Hossain, but for the moment, as Shakib goes, so do Bangladesh.

Umar Gul helped Pakistan avoid defeat against Bangladesh with a three-wicket burst that included the wickets of Nasir and Shakib. One new ball or two, Gul has found reverse swing. When asked how he was getting such movement with a lush green outfield in Mirpur, he pointed to the dry-looking square. Bangladesh were able to survive the threat of Lasith Malinga on Tuesday. Gul will come hard at them tomorrow, especially after going for runs against India.

Team news

Nazmul Hossain took three wickets against Sri Lanka on his comeback in place of the injured Shafiul Islam. Bangladesh could go in with the same side that beat Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh (possible): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Nazimuddin, 3 Jahurul Islam, 4 Nasir Hossain, 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), 7 Mahmudullah, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza, 9 Abdur Razzak, 10 Nazmul Hossain, 11 Shahadat Hossain

Pakistan played five bowlers against India, but Wahab Riaz, included in place of the specialist wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed, went for 50 in four overs. Sarfraz is expected to return for the final, freeing Umar Akmal of the additional responsibility of keeping wicket.

Pakistan (possible): 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Nasir Jamshed, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Umar Akmal, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Hammad Azam, 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 9 Umar Gul, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Aizaz Cheema

Stats and trivia

• Pakistan have made the Asia Cup final for only the third time. They won their previous final (in Dhaka in 2000) by 39 runs. Bangladesh, on the other hand, have made their first final of a multi-nation tournament since reaching the final of the tri-series at home in 2009
• If Bangladesh go on to win the final, they will become only the second team after Australia (in the 2003 World Cup) to beat India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in a single tournament

End of the inning for the "Great Wall"

BANGALORE: Indian superstar Rahul Dravidannounced his retirement from international cricket on Friday at the age of 39, ending a 16-year career that made him an idol at home and abroad. 

 "It is time to move on and let a new generation of players make their own history," Dravid told reporters at a crowded news conference in Bangalore alongside Indian cricket board (BCCI) president N Srinivasan. 

The stylish batsman is the second-highest scorer in Test cricket history behind compatriot Sachin Tendulkar, with 13,288 runs from 164 matches at an average of 52.31. 

"When I started, I could never imagine that this long journey will take me so far," said Dravid, who scored 36 Test centuries. "In the Indian team I was fortunate to be part of a wonderful era. 

"I leave the game with wonderful memories and great friendships," the once-time national skipper added, saying he looked forward to spending more time with his wife and children after years on the road. 

The man known as "the Wall" for his immaculate technique was also one of only 10 batsmen to score more than 10,000 runs in one-day cricket, which he quit last year to prolong his Test career. 

His career-high of 270 came in India's third Test against Pakistan in April 2004. Dravid's one-day tally stood at 10,889 runs from 344 matches at an average of 39.16, including 12 centuries. 

Indian cricket boss Srinivasan called Dravid "one of the finest cricketers India has ever produced" and a "great role model". 

"I would echo everyone's praise when we say 'Thank you Rahul.' Thank you for what you have given to Indian cricket and we wish you very, very well," he told reporters. 

Dravid's retirement puts the focus on India's other ageing stars, Sachin Tendulkar, 39 next month, and VVS Laxman, 37, who are under pressure to consider their future after the team's just-concluded disastrous tour of Australia. 

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men, who won the limited-overs World Cup in April last year, crashed to a 4-0 Test defeat against Australia after an identical whitewash in England last year where they also failed to win the one-day series. 

Dravid was one of the few players to emerge with any credit after the tour of England where he defied the years to crack three centuries in four Tests. 

Former England captain Michael Vaughan joined the chorus of tributes worldwide from players past and present who said goodbye to one of the game's leading ambassadors. 

"The world's most respected cricketer over the last 20 yrs," Vaughan wrote on Twitter. 

Australia all-rounder Shane Watson, who played with Dravid for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League ( IPL), described him as "the nicest guy" in world cricket. 

South African great Jacques Kallis said Dravid possessed "one of the best techniques in the game and was always a prize wicket to get." 

Dravid's unhappy Australia tour will mark his last appearances in an Indian shirt where he managed just 194 runs in eight innings. He was bowled six times, indicating perhaps that his reflexes were slowing down. 

"I had thought about it (retiring) even before the tour of Australia," he said. "I knew in my heart... I knew deep down that the time was right. For the past year, I had assessed my future after every series. 

"My approach to cricket has been reasonably simple - it was about giving everything to the team, it was about playing with dignity and it was about upholding the spirit of the game. 

"I hope I have done some of that. I have failed at times, but I have never stopped trying. It's why I leave with sadness, but also with pride." 

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, a fellow debutant with Dravid in the 1996 Lord's Test, said it will not be easy to replace him. 

"He was a perfectionist. His determination, technique and commitment towards the game was something special," said Ganguly. "It's really tough to become another Rahul Dravid. It will not happen overnight." 

Dravid will continue playing in the lucrative Indian Premier League Twenty20 event where he will lead Rajasthan Royals this year after the retirement of Australian spin legend Shane Warne.

More Jobs in the Country says--US Labor Department

The unemployment rate of 8.3% is still the lowest in nearly three years and comfortably below the level of much of last year.

The US economy created 227,000 jobs in February, while the unemployment rate stayed at 8.3%, official figures have shown.

The rise in jobs added was above forecasts of an increase of 210,000 jobs, the Labor Department said.

Separately, the trade deficit reached the highest in more than three years.

US employment has been steadily rising over the past six months.

The number of new jobs being created has picked up pace to be consistently above 200,000 in each of the past three months, fuelling hopes that the US economy recovery is gathering pace and is less likely to need further economic stimulus.

Earlier, the head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, said the US may exceed a previous forecast of 1.8% growth as the recovery picks up speed.

On Friday, new figures showed the US trade deficit higher than expected in January.

High oil prices and renewed demand helped to push imports to a record high of $233.4bn, according to the Commerce Department, with imports from China rising 4.7% to $34.4bn.

The trade gap was $52.6bn in January, the highest since October 2008, and its estimate of December's trade deficit was revised up to to $50.4bn from a previous figure of $48.8bn.

Expansion

Employment in February rose in professional and businesses services by 82,000, with half of that in temporary help services.

Jobs growth also occurred in health care and social assistance, leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, and mining.

Manufacturing added 31,000 jobs, with most car makers been taking on new workers and adding shifts and overtime to meet pent-up demand after production was disrupted early last year following the tsunami and earthquake in Japan.

Another positive note was provided by a revision to data showing that the economy had created 61,000 more jobs in December and January combined than was previously estimated.

Paul Ashworth, chief US economist at Capital Economics, said the figures added to evidence that the US jobs market had turned a corner: "Overall, another very strong payroll report and there's every chance that March will bring more of the same."

The number of people without a job remained all but unchanged last month, at 12.8 million, and the number of those working part time because their hours have been cut back or because they have been unable to find a full-time job was also stuck at 8.1 million.

Unemployment is one of the most hotly contested topics among the candidates battling to win November's presidential election.

An improvement in the figures is seen as favourable to the incumbent, President Barack Obama.

Akhilesh Yadav will be the Next CM of Uttar Pradesh According to the TV Reports

  NEW DELHI: Akhilesh Yadav will be the next chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, according to TV reports. Sources say that Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav has convinced senior leaders of the party on Akhilesh's candidature.

At 38, Akhilesh Yadav will be the youngest CM of Uttar Pradesh. The SP parliamentary board will meet on Saturday March 10 to formally decide and announce the CM of Uttar Pradesh. Even, Akhilesh Yadav added to the suspense today by evading questions on the chief ministership issue. 

Ever since the election results were out on Tuesday, there has been speculation as to who would be the chief minister. A section of party leaders wanted Akhilesh as the new CM, crediting with the party's change of fortunes with his spirited campaign before and during the elections.

"We don't have anything to say today. The legislature party will meet tomorrow where the leader will be chosen. All MLAs and MPs will take part in the meeting," Mulayam Singh Yadav said earlier in the day.

The SP got a majority in the state assembly by securing 224 seats out of the total 403 seats.