Dhaka: A nationwide T20 cricket tournament will be organized in memory of the late Arafat Rahman Koko, the younger son of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Koko, who also served as the chairman of the Development Committee of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), is remembered for his contributions to cricket development in the country. The tournament aims to discover talented cricketers from remote areas and offer them an opportunity to showcase their skills on a larger platform.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Arafat Rahman Koko Memorial Trust plans to kick off the tournament in mid-December, featuring teams from various districts. The competition will be held in 10 regional phases, covering the country's eight administrative divisions, with Faridpur and Cumilla designated as separate regions. The regional champions will advance to the final phase in Dhaka, where the semifinals and final will take place.
BCB director Sharforaj Ahmed, who also serves as the coordinator of the trust, unveiled the tournament plan at Mirpur. He emphasized the importance of providing opportunities for cricketers in remote areas to participate in a competitive environment. The tournament will not impose specific player-category restrictions, allowing players from the national team, Premier League, first division, and other levels to participate, depending on their availability.
The organizers have clarified that the tournament will not fall under the jurisdiction of the Bangladesh Cricket Board. Instead, it will be entirely managed by the Arafat Rahman Koko Memorial Trust, which has organized cricket tournaments in Koko's memory both in Bangladesh and abroad over the past 12 years, although activities were paused during the Covid-19 pandemic.
While the venues for the tournament have not been finalized, the organizers plan to select grounds based on their availability during the mid-December window. Further details regarding prize money and other arrangements will be announced later.
Arafat Rahman Koko, who served as the chairman of the BCB's Games Development Committee from 2002 to 2005, initiated several programs to enhance age-group cricket and the player-development structure. His efforts helped launch the careers of notable players like Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Mahmudullah Riyad, who have significantly contributed to Bangladesh cricket over the past two decades.
Sharforaj stated that the primary goal of the tournament is to honor Koko's memory and his contributions to cricket and sports by reaching out to players across the nation.