The Bangladesh men’s cricket team travelled to England with the ambition of playing the semi-final of the World Cup 2019.
However not known by many, Bangladesh has already achieved the feat – in a different kind of a cricket World Cup – meant for the street kids.
With the participation of nine teams representing countries, the competition was organized by British Charity Street Child United.
The Bangladesh team formed with eight underprivileged boys and girls made it to the semi-final stage in the grand surroundings of Lord's, the home of cricket.
In order to mark the achievement by the team, British High Commission in Dhaka had arranged a felicitation program at the BHC Club in Dhaka yesterday.
British Acting High Commissioner to Dhaka, Kanbar Hossain Bor and renowned singer Tahsan were present to encourage the street kids’ team to keep marching strong against the social odds.
“The experience has been unreal. I never thought of travelling to England and play cricket there. I would like to thank the concerned who made it possible for us, starting with our passports and travel arrangements. For most of us, this is the highest point of our life so far,” said one of the members of the street child team.
The program later saw a fun game of cricket between the British High Commission staffs and the streets kids, followed by screening of the World Cup match between Bangladesh and Afghanistan, held in Southampton on the day.
The street kids are in shelter of Leedo, a not-for-profit, voluntary-based development organization founded in 2000.
The organization was initiated by a group of educated social and human rights activists and educators aiming to improve the life chances of children forced to live in extreme difficulties on the streets, and also to address the needs of the growing number of vulnerable street children in Bangladesh.
