Bangladeshi youth win NYPD Youth Cricket in New York

The Community Affairs Bureau is a unit of the New York Police Department (NYPD). NYPD Commissioner of Police 2023 Youth Football and Cricket League finals were organized by this bureau. In the game, Bangladeshi youth cricket team Sandeep Sporting Club won the NYPD Youth Cricket League title for the first time by defeating Bronx Royals by 7 wickets.

The final game of the cricket league took place last Thursday (August 24) at 9 am local time at South Jamaica's Baisley Pond Park Cricket Ground in Queens, New York. The previous day, the final match of the Football League was held at the same venue. A total of 10 youth cricket teams and 5 youth football teams from various countries of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, West Indies and Guyana, Hispanic, Middle East, Eastern Europe participated in the league.

Among the 10 teams in the cricket league, Bangladeshi under-19 cricket team Bronx Royals and Sandwip Sporting Club reached the final. After winning the toss and batting first, Bronx Royals scored 108 runs for 7 wickets in 20 overs. In response, Sandwip Sporting Club reached the threshold of victory by 3 wickets in 14.4 overs after playing with a target of 109 runs. Sandeep Sporting Club player Sabbir Ahmed was the Man of the Match in the final with 2 individual wickets and 35 runs and Safwan of New York Tigers was the Man of the Series in Cricket League.

Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Lions beat the Droglum Tigers 2-0 to win the Football League title. Ukrainian-born Arsalan was Man of the Match in the final of the Football League. The winners and runners-up teams, best players of football and cricket leagues were presented with trophies by special guests present on the occasion. NYPD Community Affairs Bureau Inspector Victoria Perry, Deputy Inspector McCall, Kevin Williams, Assistant Chief of the Patrol Bureau Queens South, Public School Athletic League Deputy Commissioner Besath, Youth Services and Community Engagement Director Aldin Foster were present during the award ceremony. NYPD Immigrant Outreach Unit's sole Bangladeshi-origin Sergeant Mohammad Latif, Detective Kwak, Police Officer Algahiti were on duty as event coordinators.

On behalf of the organizer, Supervisor Mohammad Latif said, Police Commissioner Youth Football and Cricket League organized by Immigrant Outreach Unit under NYPD Community Affairs Bureau started in 2007. 300 to 400 young players participate in the tournament held in July and August every year. Age range of participants is 14 to 19 years. They are children of immigrants from different countries. Since the start of the tournament on July 26, the officials of the Immigrant Outreach Unit have been continuously maintaining uninterrupted contact with the youth of various communities. Important tips on life, safety and the dangers of drugs are included to ensure that young people maintain a healthy lifestyle. Youth today is being destroyed by drugs. For this, in order to build a drug-free youth society, sports should play a major role.

Mohammad Latif said that there has been an interest among the youth to know how they can join the police themselves. It will act as an influencer to bring about positive change in the lives of people in the community. Besides, connecting the youth with various police programs like Cadet Police, Summer Youth Employment Program, Explorers was one of the reasons for the organization.

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