The Maryland Youth Cricket Association (MYCA) is pleased to announce that the championship trophy for its statewide 16U competition will be renamed the Frank Islam Cup.
Frank Islam, head of the FI Investment Group, is a Maryland entrepreneur, philanthropist, civic leader and thought leader. He was a Maryland Entrepreneur of the Year award winner and serves on boards and advisory councils of many prestigious institutions such as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the University of Maryland Smith School of Business and the Brookings Institution.
Frank Islam speaks at the MYCA annual awards banquet, November 2017. Top photo, Future Stars School of Cricket from Gaithersburg lift the championship trophy after winning the Maryland state championship, June 2017.
When notified of the decision, Frank Islam said, “I believe in the power of youth sports to have a positive impact on the lives of our children. The work that is being done here in Maryland, in expanding opportunities for young people to play this great game, is wonderful. I am proud to have my name on this outstanding trophy and to be associated with such an outstanding organization.”
Jamie Harrison, President of the MYCA responded, “We at Maryland Youth Cricket are honored to have such a true friend as Frank Islam, and we are delighted to have our premier championship trophy named for him. His life’s work has been to improve the lot of his fellow man, and it is fitting that our players and coaches associate his name with high achievement. I look forward to seeing our teams giving everything they have this season in pursuit of the Frank Islam Cup.”
Maryland’s state 16U competition is entering its sixth year, and features teams from Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. As one of America’s most competitive junior cricket circuits, talented Maryland cricketers have pushed league standards ever higher, and this year will come together to represent the state in a national tournament for the first time.