The 4th Sheikh Kamal Memorial T20 Cricket championship was held at the Woodley Cricket Fields in suburban Los Angeles recently.

The tournament was introduced in 2017 in memory of Shaheed Sheikh Kamal, a freedom fighter and a pioneer sports organiser in post-independence Bangladesh.

The Sheikh Kamal Cricket Championship was held under the auspices of the Southern California Cricket Association during September 4-6, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Wednesday.

Twelve teams from different states of the US participated in the Sheikh Kamal Cricket championship.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the US M Shahidul Islam attended the prize distribution ceremony on the final day of the tournament as chief guest.

Ambassador Shahidul expressed his appreciation to the Southern California Cricket Association and the members of the organising committee for dedicating the T20 cricket championship to the memory of Shaheed Sheikh Kamal.

The ambassador hoped that holding cricket tournaments regularly in the US would promote people to people contact and cultural exchange between communities and countries.

Pradeep Patel, president of the Southern California Cricket Association; Ahmed Sajjadul Alam Boby, director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board; Dr Rabi Alam, chief coordinator of Sheikh Kamal Memorial Cricket Championship, were present during the prize distribution ceremony.

Minister (Consular) Habibur Rahman, Deputy Consul General Md Waliur Rahman and Commercial Counsellor SM Khurshid Ul Alam were also present.  

Expatriates, including California State Awami League President Shafiqur Rahman, attended the event.