Sri Lanka celebrates National Day of Bahrain with mega cricket tournament

The Sri Lanka Club in Bahrain and the Embassy of Sri Lanka, along with Cricket Bahrain Association, Bahrain Olympic Committee and key Sponsors including that of the Telecom Company VIVA, organised and coordinated an eight-a-side Cricket Tournament on 16 December coinciding with the 44th National Day of the Kingdom of Bahrain. 

The major Cricket Tournament included a total of 16 professional cricket teams sourced from different parts of the region as well as from different non Sri Lankan associations, clubs and countries. The cricket matches were played in four different grounds for the Championship. Sri Lanka Club of Bahrain President Mohamad Muneer, in his opening remarks stated that the eight-a-side Cricket Tournament, known as VIVA Super Max-8, was played after a lapse of four years. The respective teams, he added, had been practicing for this high profile tournament for couple of months with all concomitant cricketing gear as if they were practicing for a First Class Cricket Tournament. The umpires too were professionals with a number of years of experience of umpiring cricket matches, in the past. A large number of Sri Lankans domiciled in Bahrain and cricket enthusiasts from other countries living in Bahrain as well as nationals of Bahrain were present to witness this unique cricket tournament played in four different grounds. Each Team was allocated six overs in order to enable all teams to compete and vie for the championship.

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Bahrain Dr. A Saj U Mendis who was the Chief Guest, in his address, stated that most of cricket loving Sri Lankans in Bahrain as well as from other countries were eagerly and fervently looking forward in their sporting calendar to witness the tournament consisting of 16 professional teams playing for the championship. He further added that the quantum of coordination, organisation, orchestration and synchronization of having 16 teams from different nationalities, profiles and capacities would have been a daunting and overwhelming task for the key organisers of the tournament. Dr. Mendis further accentuated that hosting a unique and distinctive tournament of this nature and of this scale on the National Day of Bahrain manifestly and patently reiterates the support and commitment the Sri Lankans domiciled in Bahrain as well as the Sri Lanka Club of Bahrain extend towards the Kingdom of Bahrain.

 The guests of honour included the Diplomatic Corps of cricket playing countries based in Bahrain as well as corporate leaders and business personalities who had extended support and sponsorship for the tournament, played on the National Day of Bahrain, to be a resounding success. The winning teams were awarded cash prizes and trophies, especially imported from Sri Lanka. The cricket team which had defeated all other cricket teams and clubs was awarded the VIVA Super Max-8 Trophy as well as generous gifts and a cash voucher. The Tournament began at around 7a.m. and ended around 4p.m., followed by refreshments.