Bangladesh PM opens Wills International Cup (25 October 1998)
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally opened the Wills International Cricket Cup Tournament, the biggest ever cricket extravaganza in the country, at Bangabandhu National Stadium on Saturday
25-Oct-1998
25 October 1998
Bangladesh PM opens Wills International Cup
by Zahid Newaz in Dhaka
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally opened the Wills
International Cricket Cup Tournament, the biggest ever cricket
extravaganza in the country, at Bangabandhu National Stadium on
Saturday.
"I hereby declare the Wills International Cup Tournament open," was
her brief announcement amidst thunderous cheers and claps from
thousands of crickets fan at the stadium in the sunny afternoon.
Releasing a white pigeon and a bunch of coloured balloons the Prime
Minister declared the gala tournament open at 1:50 pm.
She was later introduced to the players and officials of the New
Zealand and Zimbabwe teams, playing the lone pre-quarter final in the
opening match of the cricket carnival.
After opening the tournament, the Prime Minister took her seat in the
VVIP gallery tastefully decorated with flowers and enjoyed the match
for nearly one hour. The smiling Hasina enjoyed both batting and
bowling and typically expressed her joy as a head of the government
does over the good bowling of the New Zealand team and good batting of
the Zimbabwe team.
Earlier, ICC President Jagmohan Dalmiya handed over a cheque of Tk 50
(US Dollars 100,000) for the Prime Minister's relief fund.
"On this occasion, the cricket fraternity of the world extends its
good wishes to the Bangladesh community," Dalmiya said. " The ICC
wishes to make a token participation in the Prime Minister's appeal
fund."
He said the ICC must thank Bangladesh as this exciting tournament is
the first of its kind across the world and the ICC extends its warm
greetings to the sports-lovers of Bangladesh.
The ICC President also termed the gala cricket show as the first real
step of the ICC towards realisation of its noble objective to
globalise the game.
"The choice of Bangladesh as a venue symbolises the ICC's commitment
towards spreading the gospel of this great game far and wide," he
said.
About ICC's bid to raise funds through this tournament, he said it is
imperative to generate necessary resources in order to translate the
ICC's vision of globalisation of the game into reality.
" ... Wills International Cup promises to transcend newer heights of
competition in cricket - nine nations, one chance," said Dalmiya who
reached Dhaka here on Friday afternoon and later handed over the
trophy of the tournament to Bangladesh Cricket Board. He also highly
praised the superb hospitality and creativity that hosts the mega
cricketing spectacle of the decade - the Wills International Cup.
BCB President and Deputy Minister for Shipping Saber Hossain Chowdhury
and State Minister for Sports Obaidul Quader were also present on the
occasion. Ministers, MPs, political leaders, journalists and
thousands of cricket fans were present at the stadium to the enjoy the
opening match.
Source :: CricInfo365