From kolkata streets to Lord’s, SCCWC2019 is finally going to start!
Within this IPL season a new cricket related surprising news is now spreading in all over the cricket fans. Some of us already listened about the Cricket World Cup for street children.Being held before the ICC World Cup in England and wales — May 30 to July 14 — the tournament is organised by Street Child United, which has previously conducted football tournaments and Olympic events for street children. As a patron of the Street Child Cricket World Cup 2019, Former Prime Minister Sir John Major has been announced that, in 7th May the finals of this world cup tournament will be played at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. There’s are millions of child who have a dream to be a good cricketer in future. To support their dreams and to help improve the lives of street children worldwide it’s a great step from street child United which is a UK based organisation.
Team India North with actress Rukmini Maitra
10 national teams with both boys and girls will represent their team. The age criteria for the world cup tournament of children between ages 14 to 17. There are nine countries take part in this tournament. The countries are India, Sri Lanka, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Nepal, Bangladesh, UK, Mauritius and Pakistan.India is set to send two teams, with India North being put together by Save the Children and The HOPE Foundation. PTC India Financial Services Ltdis supporting the children’s participation along with creating national and international visibility of Children in Street Situation.
Already we have seen some excitements among the child players for the upcoming tournament. JABIR Ali, 14, can’t hide his excitement, as he talks about learning how to negotiate a formal dinner. A Class-4 dropout, his mother employed as a cleaner, Jabir Ali used to spend his nights under the Gariahat flyover in Kolkata. Soni Khatoon, 15,sack-tent near Calcutta Port didn’t have electricity, and the nearest drinking-water tap was 15 minutes away on bicycle. she wants you to know that Lord’s is the home of cricket. Mohammad Waris, 13, son of a rickshaw-puller, had to leave school after Class 3 to work at a local cap-manufacturing unit from 10 am to 10 pm, earning Rs 200 per week. he is back in school, in Class 8, and wants to become an allrounder like England’s Ben Stokes. 13-year-old Lusi Sharma said, “I want to play like Virat Kohli.” His father is a carpenter, and his mother is a homemaker. They lives in a Kolkata slum with her brother and four sisters. Now, the tournament will give Sharma and her teammates a chance to show their skills to the world. She said, “We are really lucky that we got this opportunity, not everyone does, and coming from our background, it’s especially wonderful.” Sharma is actually specialises in batting. But, in training camp she is practising all-round cricket over the past two months. Her teammate 17-year-old Mili Singh said, “We do free-hand exercises, catching practice and then we have practice matches.” Mili Singh is also an all-rounder and she said it makes her feel proud that she is representing her country in a World Cup tournament.Then there are Ayushman Choudhury, Anjali Paswan, Tarak Sardar and their teammates. All of them will represent one of the two teams from India — Team North India and Team South India — at the first ever Street Child Cricket World Cup in England.
Team India North created a beautiful artwork for opening ceremony of Street Child World Cup Cricket 2019
Bidisha Pillai, CEO of Save the Children said, “These children just need the right platform and the mentoring to help them voice their problems. Sport is a real enabler in this context.” She added the children will now get a platform to show their skills infront of world’s audience.
Maureen Forrest, Founder Director, The Hope Foundation, said, “We are excited and all set to send off our India team to take on Lord’s. All these children come from very humble backgrounds and this is going to be a never before, enhancing experience. We wish them all good luck, not just for the match, but also, to voice their concerns on an international scale. These select children are representing many others who have to face the apathy of living in street conditions and seek an equal access to opportunities to build a brighter future.”
The captain of the Indian women’s cricket team in Tests and ODI ‘Mithali Raj’ named as the ambassador of Indian team for the Street Child Cricket World Cup. Ace cricketer Mithali is very excited and she said, “I am excited to join the Street Child Cricket World Cup as a goodwill ambassador for Team India. As an athlete, I know the true potential that sports can play in not just changing a child’s reality, but also garnering public support for children who live on the streets. India has over 20 lakh street-connected children and there lies our nation’s untapped potential. As a woman cricketer, I am super thrilled to see that this tournament is gender equal – boys and girls will play together.”
photo : Geeta Venkadakrishna
