A nationwide T20 cricket tournament will be organised in memory of late Arafat Rahman Koko, younger son of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. The tournament aims to unearth cricketers from remote areas and provide them with an opportunity to showcase their talent on a bigger stage. The Arafat Rahman Koko Memorial Trust is planning to launch the tournament in mid-December, with teams from different districts taking part in the competition.
Tournament Structure and Format
The tournament will be organised in 10 regional phases, covering the country's eight administrative divisions, with Faridpur and Cumilla treated as separate regions. The champions from each region will qualify for the final phase in Dhaka, where the semifinals and final will be held. There will be no specific player-category restrictions for the tournament. Players from the national team, Premier League, first division and other levels will be eligible to participate based on their availability during the competition.
Objective and Significance
BCB director Sharforaj Ahmed, also the co-ordinator of the trust, disclosed the tournament plan at Mirpur today. 'There are many cricketers in remote areas of our country who do not get opportunities to play. Through this tournament, they will get a chance to participate in a good competition,' Sharforaj said. The tournament is not being organised under the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) jurisdiction, Sharforaj clarified. 'This will be entirely under the Arafat Rahman Koko Memorial Trust. The organiser is the Arafat Rahman Koko Memorial Trust,' he said.
Legacy of Arafat Rahman Koko
Arafat Rahman Koko, the youngest son of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia served as chairman of the BCB's Games Development Committee from 2002 to 2005. During his tenure, several initiatives were taken to improve age-group cricket and the player-development structure. He was the first one to take the initiative of enriching BCB's players pipeline and unleashed players like Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad who shaped Bangladesh cricket for over the last two decades. His contribution to building Bangladesh cricket's pipeline has also been recalled by the BCB in recent times.
Why This Matters for Bangladesh
The main objective of the tournament is to honour Koko's memory and his significant contribution to cricket and sports. By providing a platform for cricketers from remote areas, the tournament aims to foster talent and promote the growth of cricket across the country. This initiative not only celebrates Koko's legacy but also supports the development of grassroots cricket in Bangladesh.
