Bashar made Champion Ambassador
Sports Reporter
The International Cricket Council (ICC) named Bangladesh former skipper Habibul Bashar Sumon as Champion Ambassador for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy yesterday.
The apex body of world cricket announced Sumons name along with other seven stalwarts of the modern era as Champion Ambassadors for this summer edition of the ICC Champions Trophy.
The eight-nation competition will be staged at three different iconic venues of England and Wales from June 1-18.
The ambassadors are Shahid Afridi of Pakistan, Bangladeshs Habibul Bashar, Ian Bell of England, Shane Bond of New Zealand, Australias Mike Hussey, Indias Harbhajan Singh, Kumar Sangakkara of
Sri Lanka and Graeme Smith of South Africa. Bangladesh under the leadership of Habibul Bashar took part in ICC Champions Trophy for the first time 11 years ago in 2006.
Its a matter of great pride for me to be appointed as one of the Ambassadors for this years ICC Champions Trophy. Not many things can give you more satisfaction than promoting an ICC event,
that too one in which the top eight sides will be fighting for top honours. I eagerly await my role and also look forward to penning my thoughts, which I feel is a great opportunity for me, said Habibul Bashar.
Its more than a decade since Bangladesh played in this tournament and Im really looking forward to the event because Bangladesh is now a side that can beat top teams on a regular basis. The nice blend of youth and experience makes it a very balanced side, Bashar said.
The expectations from fans back home have been on the increase for some years now and Im confident the side will justify the faith shown in its players. I feel this is really the time for Bangladesh to shine on the big stage, and nothing better than the ICC Champions Trophy to do it, what with the ICC Cricket World Cup only two years away! he added.
The names of these stalwarts were unveiled as the Ambassadors with exactly 50 days to go before the first ball is bowled in the tournament opener between England and Bangladesh at The Oval. The eight Ambassadors between them have played 1,774 One-Day Internationals, scoring 51,906 runs with 48 centuries, and taking 838 wickets.
The Champion Ambassadors will be involved in the ICC Champions Trophy Nissan Trophy Tour and will also make appearances in the UK as part of an inspiring programme aimed at providing school children with an opportunity to meet and play with a legend at the Cricket For Good coaching clinics.
