Cricketers banned over 'irresponsible' fireworks

A national cricket organisation has been banned from a club after setting off fireworks days after a UK-wide wildfire alert was issued.

The Cricket Players' Association of Moulvibazar United Kingdom (CPAM UK), which promotes British Bangladeshi cricket, held its annual City Cup tournament at Cheltenham Cricket Club (CCC) on Wednesday.

A club spokesperson said it was "irresponsible and completely unacceptable" for fireworks to be set off, and said the organisation has been banned from using its ground in the future.

CPAM UK has said it takes the concerns "very seriously" and is "reviewing the circumstances surrounding the event".

The fireworks were set off in the evening after tournament winners Bradford Warriors were presented with their trophy.

It came five days after a serious wildfire alert for the UK was issued by the government, and in the wake of the fifth heatwave of the summer.

CCC said it had not given CPAM UK permission to use fireworks and had no warning they would be let off.

"We want to be completely clear, Cheltenham Cricket Club had no prior knowledge that fireworks were going to be used," a club spokesperson said.

"No permission was sought, no permission was given, and their use was absolutely not organised, approved or sanctioned by the club."

The club apologised to local residents who raised concerns on social media about the fire risk and to people and pets affected by the noise.

"As a direct consequence of their actions, the group responsible has been banned from Cheltenham Cricket Club," the spokesperson added.

An Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh attended the tournament, along with Gloucestershire County and Cheltenham Borough councillor, Martin Horwood.

Horwood said: "I'm not sure having loud fireworks in a heatwave was a good idea, but we shouldn't lose sight of the fact we have had a national competition held in Cheltenham.

"It was a tremendous honour to welcome CPAM UK and host the Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh, and we should continue to celebrate the contribution of the Bangladeshi community to our town and the rest of the UK."

A CPAM UK spokesperson said it is "committed to organising events responsibly" and it never intended to "put anyone or the surrounding area at risk".

"We are currently reviewing the circumstances surrounding the event, including the use of fireworks, to establish exactly what happened," they added.

"We also want to be clear that there was no deliberate intention on the part of CPAM UK to disregard any safety instruction, restriction or requirement."

The organisation promised to "cooperate fully" with any review by the club.

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