England’s T20 World Cup Heroes Meet PM at Downing Street
England’s victorious Men’s ICC T20 Cricket World Cup squad rolled into 10 Downing Street today to meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and celebrate their epic win.
Stars and Future Talent Play in No10 Garden
- England stars Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Dawid Malan, Chris Woakes, and head coach Matthew Mott joined the occasion.
- Young hopefuls from the ACE programme, aimed at boosting black cricket talent, also took part – playing cricket right in the Downing Street garden.
- The team handed the PM a signed England shirt as a token of their triumph over Pakistan in November’s final.
PM Praises Team and ACE Programme for Inspiring Next Gen
Sunak congratulated the squad on their stunning victory and hailed their role in inspiring youngsters nationwide to pick up a bat and ball. He also lauded the ACE programme for “opening up the game” and creating new pathways for black cricketers.
Backed by the government and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), ACE operates in six inner cities and has helped many young players step up into professional cricketing ranks since its 2020 launch. The scheme also focuses on recruiting coaches and volunteers to boost community engagement.
“As both Prime Minister and a lifelong cricket fan, it was a pleasure to welcome members of the victorious World Cup winning side and young cricketers from the ACE programme to No10 today,” said Rishi Sunak.
“This is a hugely exciting time for English cricket, with success on the field across all formats and the Ashes taking place in England this summer.”
“Cricket is a sport for everyone and I know that the success of the team will inspire kids from all backgrounds to get involved in the game.”
“We’re backing that up with over £600 million for school sports and a new requirement for all schools to provide a minimum of two hours of PE a week.”
Government Boosts School Sport Funding and Fair Play
The visit comes hot on the heels of the government’s £600 million investment in school sports, aimed at ensuring all children get at least two hours of PE weekly. New rules will guarantee equal sports opportunities for girls and boys during PE and after-school activities.
England’s Men’s T20 World Cup win follows earlier successes including the Women’s 2017 ICC 50-over World Cup triumph and the Men’s 2019 ICC 50-over World Cup victory – marking a golden era for English cricket.
