Funded by the UK government, the International Inspiration Programme aims to use sports as a medium to develop leadership, social harmony and connectivity.  Recently, England’s U-19 cricket team took part in a programme with local school children to take that mission a step further. Drenched in cricket inspiration, Towheed Feroze writes.

The sight was an unusual one – a young girl taking the cricket bat and tapping the field to get a feel of the pitch. The pitch was nothing special, just a thick mat over a field, but the makeshift nature of it did not deter the teenager from emulating the acts of her cricket stars. ‘Cricket is as much a sport for girls as it is for the boys,’ remarks Iti, a student from Dhanmondi Girls High School.  And as she strikes a pose with the bat, the bowler from the opposite side, a boy, prepares to make his delivery.

If there is anyone out there who still clings on to the idea that cricket or, sport in general, is mainly ruled by men, then it is time for them to wake up from a slumber of ignorance. This sense of inclusion in sports was remarkably illustrated on 24 October at the field of the Qamrunnessa Girls High School in Dhanmondi.

The visiting England U-19 cricket team came to the school and experienced a cricket carnival going on involving students of six schools:
Dhanmondi Qamrunnessa Government Girls High School, Motijheel Government Girls and Boys, IET Government High School, Dhaka Alia Madrasa, Banglabazar Govt. Girls High School and Dhanmondi Govt Girls and boys.

But the involvement of the students and the visit of the England team went far deeper than just playing a little pre-winter afternoon cricket.

The students from the six schools are part of the UK government’s International Inspiration programme that looks ahead to the 2012 London Olympics. The main objectives of the programme are to harness the power of sports to unite social groups, nurture leadership qualities among the young, instil a sense of confidence and inspire the young to transform their lives in 20 developing countries.

Since its launch in January 2008, the programme was at first successfully piloted in five countries: Azerbaijan, Brazil, India, Palau and Zambia.  Bangladesh, along with Ghana, Jordan, Mozambique and Trinidad and Tobago, are in the second stage of the programme.  The new funding is from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) with an additional £5.4 million and this backs up the £9 million already invested by DFID, the British Council, UNICEF, DCMS and the Premier League. In India, the programme has provided an impetus for a national drive for physical fitness in the run up to the Commonwealth Gams in 2010.

As the young professional English cricket players divided into small groups and got involved in training sessions with the school level players, the message of inclusion of International Inspiration, delivered by the British Council, stood out prominently.  ‘We are learning how to field and bat better,’ says a thrilled Shariful Islam, a student of class nine from Dhanmondi Boys. He hits the ball with his bat, runs to the end of a long queue to wait another chance to catch a ball hit high by an England player.

Though smiling and well integrated within the training session, the English players do not take their task flippantly. When someone misses, s/he has to do two sit-ups as punishment. But what happens when the coaching English player misses to catch a ball?  Well, just like others he goes down and gives ten push-ups on the ground. The school children stand by him and count all the ten presses. ‘That is what I call camaraderie’ comments Shariful.   Apart from getting crucial tips, what else is Sharif learning? The sweaty young teenager pauses, thinks for a second, and says: ‘encouragement and teamwork’ – two fundamental traits of the International Inspiration programme. 

Watching the whole spectacle was Monjurul Huq, founder of the Shoronika High School in Netrokona.  His view is that if children get such opportunities to mingle with established sports people, then it would be easier for them to pick up the positive and constructive aspects of sports. ‘But to make International Inspiration a total success, such initiatives should also be taken to the zilas, district towns and thanas,’ he added.

Ina, a student of class ten and an avid cricket follower, loves cricket but says that as part of the International Inspiration programme, she will put her love into action on the field rather than expressing it in front of the TV. ‘This programme and especially this interaction with young England players has whipped up my desire to play,’ she says, and also adds that to fulfil the leadership building goal, interactions with people from different nationalities is essential.

As the session came to an end, the England players handed out six gift bags containing cricket equipment to six schools. The equipment was paid for by the UK’s Richmond Cricket Club and the bags were donated by Sports World.  ‘The main aim is to ensure that everyone gets to be involved and play,’ commented Chris Austin, head of DFID Bangladesh.
   
Talking about the whole event, John Abrahams, manager of the England u-19 said, ‘We loved being here as this gave us a chance to interact with young people who, in the future, may play for Bangladesh.’ Terming the session ‘thoroughly enjoyable’ he also said that it was particularly important as it involved students, teachers, trainers, players and also managers.

In the carnival of bon-homie many possibly did not notice that the policemen provided by the Bangladesh government for the security of the cricket players were also enjoying the cricket extravaganza with claps and expressions of approval. Salman, a cricket lover but not a player, noticed this and made the ultimate comment: if someone looks for an all-inclusive inspiration then this has to be it. In all that frenzy of fun, frolic and friendship, no one seemed to dither.