Eight children, consisting of four boys and four girls, from Bangladesh are set to take part in the first-ever Street Child Cricket World Cup Tournament 2019, scheduled to be held on April 30.
Sopna, Arju, Nijam, Sania, Rubel, Rasel, Jasmine and Kasem, who are between the ages of 14 and 17, will play for Bangladesh team. Each team will consist of eight players.
Street Child United, in association with Marylebone Cricket Club (the MCC) and International Cricket Council (ICC), are organising the tournament ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
The Local Education and Economic Development Organization (LEEDO), a not-for-profit since 2014, is supporting the Bangladeshi children.
The information was revealed at a reception ceremony of the children at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the capital on Wednesday, organised by Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF).
Joint secretary of Ministry of Women and Children Affair Md Abu Taleb was present at the function as the Chief Guest.
BSAF Chairperson Khawaja Shamsul Huda chaired the programme. BSAF Director Abdus Shahid Mahmood and Forhad Hossain, Executive Director of LEEDO, among others, were also present.
The children introduced themselves at the reception and expressed their gratitude for the function ahead of the tournament.
They said the reception will embolden their confidence to win the upcoming Street Child Cricket World Cup.
The aim of the world cup is to unite the street children from around the world to play in their own international cricket tournament.
This will raise awareness and tackle the widespread stigma and negative treatment these children face in their lives.
Eight participating countries are Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, England, India North, India South, Mauritius, Nepal and Tanzania.
Countries taking part in the Street Child Cricket World Cup 2019 are represented by an organisation/organisations supporting street-connected young people in that country.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is also supporting the team.
The world cup tournament will end on May 9.
