After hosting the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2007, West Indies now plays the proud host to the Lawyers’ Cricket World Cup. In a one-of-its-kind venture, the International Lawyers’ Cricket Cup Ltd. (ILCC Ltd.) regulates the biennial International Cricket Competition for all the lawyers representing Commonwealth nations of the world. India, West Indies, Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Bar of England & Wales Cricket Club (BEWCC) are the major contenders at the game.

The first Lawyers’ Cricket World Cup was played in Hyderabad, India, in January, 2008. Teams from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Australia and Barristers from England and Wales took part. And surprisingly enough, India won the Cup! The Cup was considered to be so successful, that it was determined, to hold the Cup on a permanent footing.

This unusual Cricket World Cup aims at raising money for England Cricket Foundation’s Chance to Shine Campaign, which aims to educate young people through a school cricket programme. It aims at regenerating competitive cricket in state schools in England. It is a 10 year programme, and the single biggest sports development programme ever seen in England. 

Santhaan Krishnan, the Head of the Indian Committee of the ILCC Ltd., has been taking teams of Indian Advocates on tours for many years. It all started with a conversation in England where he put forward the idea of holding a Lawyers Cricket World Cup. With the enthusiastic backing of an English Barrister, Santhan managed to get together 6 teams from England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Australia and, of course, India. The event was also heavily sponsored by LexisNexis, Standard Chartered Bank and Gulf Oil.

From then on, the Organization has been continually regulating the World Cup biennially. The Second Cup was held in Cambridge, England, between July 26, 2009 and August 4, 2009, and the final match was held at the Oval. A game of great tension and interest decided the last over. 

Presently, the Cup is being held in Barbados between August 7, 2011 and August, 21 2011. Enquiries are being made to hire the Oval for the final match. The theme of this year’s World Cup is ‘Cricket for Friendship,’ with participants aiming to promote friendship between all those who play cricket and their well-wishers and to use their professional skills, contacts and other resources to develop and increase participation in the game of cricket among players of all ages around the world. 

Bar & Bench had earlier covered the Turf Twenty-20 cricket tournament for law firms in New Delhi and the Lawyers’ Cricket World Cup here.

Any lawyer who is interested to play Lawyers’ Cricket World Cup for the coming years, may contact the Country Committee Head for India, Santhaan Krishnan at santhaan_krishnan@yahoo.com.