Javed Omar Initiative: A New Journey for Children, Youth, and Grassroots Cricket

Former national cricketer Javed Omar Belim has taken on a significant new responsibility off the field. He has launched the Javed Omar Initiative, which focuses on improving the mental health of children and adolescents, supporting emerging cricketers at the grassroots level, and providing cricketing equipment to underprivileged and orphaned children.

The initiative was formally announced at a restaurant in the capital today. The event was attended by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President, former cricketers, and leading sports journalists of the country.

BCB President Faruk Ahmed was the chief guest at the event. He said, "Javed's vision and mine are very much aligned. In our society, many people struggle to move forward in life. The BCB is also running a similar initiative. As a cricketer, I will stand beside you in this new journey. We will all try our best to ensure its success."

Javed Omar has been involved in various social initiatives since his time playing for the national team. He mentioned that his desire to serve the people of his country was the primary reason he decided to return to Bangladesh rather than settle in Canada.

The Javed Omar Initiative aims to not only introduce the new generation to the culture of cricket but also provide them with opportunities for healthy recreation. Javed explained, “If a child wants to play cricket but lacks the necessary equipment, we will provide it. Our goal is to ensure no child’s dream is stopped due to the lack of a bat, ball, or stumps. I have seen many orphanages with open fields but no equipment for play. We are not just focusing on cricket; we can provide football equipment as well. Mental health and education are also part of our plan. My organization, Plasticity, will support this initiative.”

Former national team captain Habibul Bashar Sumon welcomed the initiative, saying, "Javed’s effort is extremely important. Ensuring that underprivileged children have access to sports equipment is truly a commendable initiative."

Another former national captain, Mohammad Ashraful, described the initiative as "noble" and expressed his belief that everyone would support it.

This initiative represents a significant step toward providing underprivileged children with the opportunity to engage in sports and support their holistic development.