Impressive array of ICC Ambassadors

There are two official knights and one self proclaimed `Sir' in the list of 24 ambassadors announced by the International Cricket Council as part of the Cricket Week celebrations. While, Sir Garfield Sobers and Sir Richard Hadlee have been knighted by the Queen of England, Geoffrey Boycott likes to proclaim himself as `Sir' and is immensely pleased when somebody addresses him as Sir Geoffrey.

The others who are in the list of cricket ambassadors announced by the Chairman of the ICC Jagmohan Dalmiya in Calcutta on Thursday are Alan Border, Viv Richards, Ian Botham, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Ian Chappel, Imran Khan, Graeme Pollock, Barry Richards, Martin Crowe, Michael Holding, Asif Iqbal, Tony Greig, Bishen Singh Bedi, Mushtaq Mohammed, Mike Procter, John Reid, Ravi Shastri, Duleep Mendis, David Houghton and the world famous umpire Dickie Bird.

Dalmiya stated that the ambassadors will tour countries where the game is at a developing stage. "This is another step taken to globalise the game of cricket," said Dalmiya. He also added that the term for the 24 ambassadors will be for one year and their work will be reviewed by the ICC. "The basic idea is to use the expertise of these people to develop an awareness for the game."

The ICC Chairman also informed that the United Nations and the ICC will be working jointly during the Cricket Week celebrations. "We have the blessings of the UN with us," said Dalmiya. "We had invited the secretary general of the UN, Kofi Annan to attend the match at Dhaka. However, because of prior arrangements, he has informed us that he will not be available. Instead, he has sent a very warm message for the match. However, he has permitted us to use the flag of the UN. On the day of the match at Dhaka on April 8, the UN Flag and the ICC flag will fly side by side at the Bangabandhu Stadium."

The ICC and the Bangladesh Cricket Board will also take up a number of programmes during the Cricket Week from April 2 to April 9. The BCB will organise a under-10 cricket tournament featuring local youngsters. There will also be a clinic for under-13 cricketers and an inter-school quiz competition in Dhaka.