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As a former international cricketer and current coach of Sri Lanka Under-19s, Jehan Mubarak has more than one World Cup on his mind.<\/p>\n
While anticipation builds ahead of the battle for the top prize in the men\u2019s one-day game starting in India next month, Mubarak is also preparing for the equivalent under-19 tournament on home soil in 2024.<\/p>\n
Yet before either of those events take place, another international competition begins as Chennai hosts the second Street Child Cricket World Cup.<\/p>\n
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The tournament later this month features teams from around the globe comprised of children who have grown up, or are growing up, in acute poverty, living on the street or in slums.<\/p>\n
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And again Mubarak will have more than a passing interest having helped mentor and prepare the side that will represent his country.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s huge for them,\u201d Mubarak, who made 69 appearances for Sri Lanka across three formats, told the PA news agency. \u201cYou see the joy \u2013 pure joy \u2013 of kids playing a sport. It\u2019s fantastic.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of them are coming to Colombo for the first time \u2013 seeing a big city for the first time \u2013 and now they are going to get on a plane to go to India.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel so happy for them. It is just going to expand their horizons and the stories they will bring back to Sri Lanka can show to everyone that anything is possible no matter who you are.\u201d<\/p>\n
The tournament, a mixed-gender event played with a soft ball, features teams from unheralded cricketing outposts such as Mexico, Hungary and Rwanda as well as established nations like England, South Africa and Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n
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The Sri Lanka team is being run by the charity Child Action Lanka, a growing organisation which supports vulnerable children and has centres around the island.<\/p>\n
Mubarak\u2019s involvement is voluntary and part-time, when professional commitments allow, and came about by chance but has developed into a passion.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of my wife\u2019s cousins was volunteering at CAL and they were looking for some cricketers to have a cricket day for some of the kids,\u201d said the 43-year-old.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was there it was like, \u2018Wow\u2019 and I started to see things from a different point of view.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are stories from the city which you may have known but conveniently don\u2019t pay attention to.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, everywhere I go, I see things differently. I see people less advantaged than us.<\/p>\n
\u201cI spent a couple of days with the kids, which was great. It led to every time CAL did a cricketing thing, they would call me. Then this World Cup came about.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am not the coach of this team. It is more of a supporting role. I help whenever I can.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe purpose here is not just to put out your best team and win. It\u2019s to give everyone an opportunity to experience the sport and different communities through sport.\u201d<\/p>\n
A dream for Mubarak would be to see one of the youngsters involved go on to make their name in the game, although that is not an objective.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are stories of kids coming through programmes like this and going on to become superstars,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a couple who look good. Who knows? Something might come out of this. There is a girl now who is playing for her district team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have spoken to a couple of the district coaches and said these kids are here, have a look.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThey won\u2019t get an opportunity through their schools. Some of them don\u2019t even go to school, and those who do may not get highlighted because of their circumstances.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut everyone can play. Even if someone gets hit for six sixes the others are cheering them on all the time. It is really good. I love it.\u201d<\/p>\n