ACE organises first ever bankers’ cricket tournament

ACE, a sports management firm hosting various amateur level cricket tournaments, recently organised the first ever bankers' cricket tournament titled Bankers' Championship Trophy 2020.

The tournament's inauguration ceremony was held on Monday at a hotel in Dhaka, said a press release.

Governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr Fazle Kabir inaugurated the programme as chief guest, added the statement.

The tournament will commence on February 7 and end on March 14, 2020.

A total of 16 banks- Standard Chartered, HSBC, BRAC Bank, Mutual Trust Bank, Eastern Bank, Prime Bank, Bank Asia, United Commercial Bank, South Bangla Agriculture and Commerce Bank, The City Bank, NRB Bank, AB Bank, Islami Bank, Dhaka Bank, First Security Islami Bank, and Bangladesh Bank- are participating in the tournament.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Fazle Kabir said, "Entertainment has vast importance in the stressful lives of bankers as the lack of it can cease productivity. We thank ACE for organising such an event to help them break out of the tedium by creating a robust bond between banks and sports world. I hope the tournament will be arranged every year and I, myself will be able to participate in it."

Ali Reza Iftekhar, the managing director and CEO of Eastern Bank Ltd and also the chairman of Association of Bankers Bangladesh was present at the inauguration ceremony as special guest.

He said, "This is a very positive and timely initiative. Besides creating an amiable relationship between bankers and cricketers, this tournament will also avail the bankers to get along with the sports world."

The Founder and CEO of ACE Ishtiaq Sadek said, "We are very pleased to be able to organise this event for the bankers of the country. Cricketers are the country's pride. We hope they might take interest in roaming the banking sector to spend their post retirement time and contribute to the country's economy. We will keep taking up more such initiatives in future."