Bangladesh Parliamentarian Cricket Team is set to participate in the first ever Inter-Parliamentary Cricket World Cup (IPCWC) from 9-14 July in England. In parallel to ICC World Cup 2019, parliament members from eight cricket-playing nations-Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri-lanka, Afghanistan, Australia, South Africa and the host England will compete with bat and ball for the glory of their respective country. A team consisted of seventeen members of parliament led by Naimur Rahman Durjoy former captain of Bangladesh National Cricket Team will reach London by 7th July. The State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam MP, himself is coordinating with the host parliament in collaboration with Bangladesh Cricket Board. Bangladesh team met the Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury at the last day of budget session before their departure for the tournament. A four members technical team under coach Dipu Roy Chowdhury has been preparing Bangladesh team and they will also accompany the team.
The tournament will take place in different cricket venues in London dividing the eight teams in two groups. Bangladesh belongs to the Group-B with Pakistan, South Africa and New Zealand. Group-A is consisted of India, England, Australia and Sri Lanka. However, in four practice six-a-side matches, each team will face the team of other group on 9 July before the beginning of group-stage matches on 10th July. Two teams will proceed from each group to the semi-finals and then final. In group stage the match will be of 15 overs and the semi-final and final would be of 20 overs.
During the tournament, parliamentarian of those countries are invited to attend receptions to be hosted respectively by the Speaker of House of Commons John Barcow at his Parliament Residence on 8th July, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt at Durbar Court at the British Foreign office on 9th July and the Prime Minister Thersea May at the Rose Garden in 10 Downing Street on 14th July.
It is expected that the tournament using the soft power of sport will help building friendship among MPs of the participating nations which could be termed as “friendship in pitch”. Bangladesh team is looking forward to the main spirit of the tournament while they are very upbeat about their success by virtue of their an army of young parliamentarian.