Bangladesh Team Begins Italy Mini Cricket World Cup with a Massive Victory

 Minhaj Hossain, Special Correspondent:

The expatriate Bangladesh cricket team made a fantastic start to the Mini World Cup Cricket Tournament in Rome, Italy, by defeating the Pakistan team by a massive margin of 123 runs in their first group stage match. Winning the toss and opting to bat first, the Bangladesh team scored 171 runs for the loss of one wicket in 10 overs. Chasing a target of 172 runs, the Pakistan team was bowled out for only 48 runs due to the Bangladesh team's superb bowling performance.

Bangladeshi expatriates in Italy were delighted with the team's brilliant performance. Many spectators came to the field to enjoy the match, and after the victory, the entire ground erupted with chants of "Bangladesh, Bangladesh!"

Sponsored by the Italian Cricket Federation, the A.S.D. Roma has been organizing this Mini World Cup Cricket Tournament for the past nine years, bringing together expatriates from various countries residing in Italy. The Bangladesh team, which has participated since the beginning, became champions in 2017. This victory marks a step forward in their quest to become champions again this year.

The team captain stated, "This victory is something special for us. We are playing to be champions, but we want to proceed match by match." The Man of the Match said, "This is not just cricket—it's a great opportunity to honor our country. We are proud as a team."

The Bangladesh team is participating in this tournament with the management of the Bangladesh Cricket Club and the Rack Roma Club, and with the overall cooperation of Dawat Restaurant and Sono Chef.

The management stated that although football is popular in Italy, interest in cricket is growing daily. Already, Bangladeshi players are representing the Italian national team. They believe that if they receive more opportunities, more players will get a chance in the Italian national team in the future. In this regard, cooperation from the embassy and related parties is crucial. The expatriate community believes that participation in such international tournaments enhances the country's reputation and encourages the younger generation.

Besides Bangladesh, the tournament features teams from Italy, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka. The Bangladesh team's next match is against the Italy team on November 19. This year's goal is to become Group Champions and reach the tournament's semi-finals. The Bangladesh team urged supporters to attend the next match to cheer for the team.