The likes of Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell may have had the spotlight, but the game’s elite have not been the only players parading on the Indian World Cup stage these past few weeks.
Away from the crowds and the TV cameras another tournament was taking place, where the significance of the runs scored and wickets taken mattered less and where the empowerment of children from impoverished backgrounds was the aim.
The Street Child Cricket World Cup brought together teams of youngsters from around the world, comprised entirely of children who grew up, or have been living, on the streets or in slums.
Taking place in the grounds of the Amir Mahal palace in Chennai, 19 mixed-gender teams representing some of the sport’s powerhouse countries including India, England and South Africa, and unheralded cricketing nations such as Mexico, Hungary and Rwanda, showcased their skills.
At the end of the event it was Uganda who emerged victorious after beating Zimbabwe in the final.
That in itself was an achievement for those involved to celebrate but the wider picture was all about providing a great experience for the teams and in changing perceptions of street children.
“These are kids that are nobodies who are suddenly somebody,” said John Wroe, founder and chief executive of tournament organisers Street Child United, a British-based charity which runs and co-ordinates a number of programmes globally to empower young people living in street situations.
“These are kids that are normally last that are suddenly first. In the process of a Street Child World Cup they just grow and grow and grow.
“We’re saying these people matter, their voices are important. They are people just like us but they haven’t had the opportunities.
“When we first did this we had no idea how far it could reach. Street children had never travelled and never met other street children.
“Wearing a national jersey makes them feel very different, and also changes the way people see them.
“Now when they go home, because they’ve been playing at a World Cup where the World Cup was, their countries are suddenly proud of them and not ashamed of them.”
The tournament was the second Street Child Cricket World Cup after a successful first event in England four years ago. The concept was the logical extension of the Street Child Football World Cup, which was first held in South Africa in 2010 and really gathered momentum after Brazil 2014.
Street Child United works with organisations in each of the participating countries to bring the children to the events.
It is a complicated logistical undertaking, with many of the children having no official documents, but it is something that is approached with enthusiasm and the future ambitions are strong.
The latest cricket event has come quickly on the back of a football contest to coincide with Qatar 2022 and thoughts have already turned to the 2026 edition. Miami could be a potential host to mirror the FIFA tournament being held in the USA, Canada and Mexico. There will then be another Cricket World Cup in Africa the following year.
Each event is held alongside a congress on children’s rights which further progresses the conversation, and hopefully leads to better treatment of those affected.
“They face a huge amount of stigma and you can see that in different countries,” Wroe told the PA news agency.
“We thought if we could change the way that people saw street children, we could begin to change the way that people treated street children.
“It is what it says on the tin, it’s a World Cup for street children. It is something about the magic of sport, sport reaches people.
“These young people are determined, resilient but simply haven’t had the opportunities. When they have them, they seize them. They cherish them and they make the most of them.”
Inglis hails 'hard to stop' Stoinis after ruthless knock
Josh Inglis lauded "hard to stop" Marcus Stoinis as Australia signed off their T20I series against Pakistan in style, claiming a whitewash.
The hosts raced to a seven-wicket victory with almost nine overs remaining in Monday's third match.
After Australia's bowlers had limited Pakistan to just 117 runs, Stoinis ensured they signed off their final white-ball assignment in style, with his unbeaten 61 doing the damage.
Only twice has he bettered that knock in T20Is – versus New Zealand in 2021 (78) and against Oman at the World Cup earlier this year (67*).
"It's been a great week. We've had a lot of fun as a group," Inglis said. "It's been really nice.
"When Stoinis is going like that, he is really hard to stop. One of those sixes was probably the biggest I've ever seen!"
Stoinis, who was named player of the match, added: "Nice to score some runs on a beautiful wicket but credit to the bowlers who kept the total down.
"Yeah, I actually told [Haris] Rauf that this is the first time any of us got the better of him! No, he's a brilliant bowler, bowled well this series."
During their white-ball tour, Pakistan won the ODI series, their first time doing so in Australia in 22 years, but got whitewashed in the T20Is.
Despite the heavy loss, captain Agha Salman chose to focus on the positive effect the experience will have on their young players.
"I think in the middle overs, we didn't capitalise on the start," he said. "But lots of positives.
"The way Usman [Khan] batted, the way Jahandad [Khan] bowled. These youngsters will come good.
"It's obviously a big achievement winning the ODI series, but we could have done much better in the T20Is."
Salt century gives England winning start to West Indies T20 series
Phil Salt hit a superb century as England drew first blood in their T20 series against West Indies, with a commanding eight-wicket victory at the Kensington Oval.
Salt's unbeaten 103 off 54 balls was the highlight for the tourists, who successfully chased down their target of 183 with 19 balls to spare.
The West Indies endured a difficult start and were reduced to 18-3 and later 117-8, with Saqib Mahmood (4-34) and Adil Rashid (3-32) doing the damage.
However, the hosts managed 65 runs in the last 5.2 overs to finish at 182-8, with Gukadesh Motie knocking 33 off 14 balls along the way.
Salt kick-started England's chase with 50 off just 25 deliveries taking them to 73-1 after six overs, with Will Jacks (17) dismissed with the final ball of the powerplay.
Jos Buttler's first match after four months out lasted just three minutes, as the skipper was caught by Motie for a golden duck.
However, it proved a false dawn for West Indies, with Salt and Jacob Bethall (58 from 36 balls) safely steering England to victory.
Data Debrief: Salt completes hat-trick of hundreds as Bethell makes historic half-century
England put their disappointing ODI series behind them, making history with the highest T20 chase at the Kensington Oval.
Salt was the hero with his third T20I century, all of which have come against West Indies in the past 12 months.
Bethell also made history on Saturday. Aged 21 years and 17 days, he become the youngest England player to score a 50 in a T20I.
Asalanka leads Sri Lanka to ODI series win over West Indies
Sri Lanka wrapped up the ODI series against the West Indies with a five-wicket victory in Pallekele.
The hosts successfully chased down their opponents' total of 189, giving them an unassailable 2-0 in the three-match series.
Sri Lanka controlled the early powerplay - Asitha Fernando (3-35) and Maheesh Theekshana (3-25) took two wickets apiece to leave the tourists at 31-4 in the ninth over.
Wanindu Hasaranga (4-40) then claimed three of his four wickets as Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh and Alzarri Joseph were all dismissed in the space of 14 balls.
However, Sherfane Rutherford (80 off 82 balls) and Gudakesh Motie (50 not out) steadied the ship to take the Windies from 58-8 to 189.
Although Joseph claimed Avishka Fernando (9) in the fourth over, Nishan Madushka and Sadeera Samarawickrama both chipped in with contributions of 38 to get the hosts to 112-4.
Skipper Charith Asalanka (62 not out) led the charge thereon, while Kamindu Mendis (11) comfortably got them over the line with 34 balls remaining.
Data Debrief: Rutherford-Motie historic stand proves academic for tourists
West Indies were looking to level the series, but their hopes were not aided by Sri Lanka's impressive bowling.
Rutherford and Motie did their best. Their partnership brought 119 runs, which is their nation's highest ninth-wicket stand in ODI history, breaking the previous record of 85 between Yannic Cariah and Alzarri Joseph.
However, it ultimately proved in vain as the hosts secured the series with a game to spare.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
