MPs From Across The Globe Play Cricket in Chiswick
Bangladeshi joy at victory over Pakistan ends with defeat in final
Ecstasy for Bangladesh fans after victory over Pakistan. Picture Chris Heaton Harris MP
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Chiswick House was the venue for the Inter Parliamentary Cricket World Cup place this week when it hosted a series of games between politicians from across the globe.
The tournament featured parliamentary teams from the UK parliament, as well as from Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, and Pakistan with the games in Chiswick taking place on Wednesday 10 July.
Four matches were played featuring all eight teams in front of a reasonably sized crowd. However, suggestions that Sachin Tendulkar might be appearing were disappointed. The Indian cricket legend was obliged to undertake commentating duties when the World Cup match between India and Pakistan went into a second day due to bad weather. Despite his absence India still managed to beat the Lords and Commons team.
Influential MPs and politicians from around the world including Mashrafe Mortaza, captain of Bangladesh’s World Cup side and current MP, Mohammad Azharuddin, former Indian Test Captain and current MP, were participating.
There were wild celebrations when the Bangladeshi team beat Pakistan by 13 runs. Afghanistan proved too strong for the Australians.
The competition was arranged by Chris Heaton-Harris MP and took place in the final week of the Cricket World Cup. The eventual winners were Pakistan who got revenge over Bangladesh for their defeat in Chiswick with a nine wicket win in the final in Beckenham.
The UK parliamentary side, the Lords and Commons Cricket Club, was led by James Morris MP. The Lords and Commons Cricket Club has a long history of overseas tours, of important charitable social action and development work and of welcoming touring sides to the UK.
It was the first time that the Lords and Commons Cricket Club have played against their counterparts from Afghanistan, a situation made possible because the Lords and Commons have raised enough money to pay for their flights and subsidise their accommodation for the tour.
Chris Heaton Harris MP, organiser of the tournament, said, “It is wonderful to see the enthusiasm for this tournament, and the number of politicians, as well as excellent cricketers, coming to the UK for the Inter Parliamentary Cricket World Cup. I look forward to meeting and engaging with MPs from around the world, and welcoming them to the UK for this wonderful summer of cricket”.
The Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Theresa May MP, who has arranged a Prize Ceremony at Downing Street for the teams following the tournament, welcomed the players saying, “This tournament provides a great opportunity to bring together parliamentarians from across the competing nations, united by their passion for cricket. Sport is uniquely placed to connect people of different backgrounds and I hope this week’s tournament serves as a platform for building ever closer relationships between our countries.”
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July 14, 2019
