ANFA releases draw

LALITPUR: The fixtures of the Birendra Memorial Inter-municipality Central-level Football Tournament, to be held in Kanchanpur from March 31-April 9, were released by ANFA today. In all, 14 teams including hosts Mahendra Nagar Municipality qualified for the tournament. Biratnagar, Dharan, Mechinagar and Itahari (Eastern); Madhyapur Thimi, Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur (Central); Pokhara, Siddhartha and Baglung (Western); and Dha-ngadhi and Tikapur (Mid-western and Far-western) teams qualified from the regional tournaments held from March 10. — HNS

Seven Star Club enter final

BIRATNAGAR: Ganga Mandal scored a half century as Seven Star Cricket Club defeated Danfe Cricket Club by 95 runs in the semi-final match of Rani Cup Open Cricket Tournament. Batting first, Seven Star were bowled out for 180 runs in 29.3 overs. Ganga scored a quick fire 50 off 38 balls including two sixes and four boundaries. Jitendra Mandal scored 36 runs. For Danfe, Bibek Shrestha took five wickets. In reply, man of the match Kishor Pokharel took 5-14 off six overs as Danfe were packed off for 85 runs in 21.3 overs. — HNS

Barthez to retire in 2006

PARIS: France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez said on Thursday that he had decided to end his career as a professional footballer in 2006. “In 2006 my contract with Marseille will finish. I’ll be 35 years and that’s enough!” he said. But he admitted that he was not happy with next week’s World Cup qualifying trip to Israel. “When I see all that is happening it really worries me enormously to go there,” said Barthez. France host Switzerland on March 26 and play Isreal in Tel-Aviv on March 30. — AFP