By Monitoring Desk
KARACHI: The Australian High Commission organised a girls’ cricket tournament and clinic in Karachi in collaboration with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Jalaluddin Cricket Academy (JCA) on Thursday. “Australia aims to achieve gender equality and empowerment by enabling females to play cricket, a popular sport in Pakistan.
Girls’ cricket in Pakistan
Addressing the players, Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan Neil Hawkins said that since 2016, “the Australian High Commission has sponsored girls’ cricket in Pakistan. We started with one annual tournament in Islamabad and later included Karachi and Lahore.”
“We are thrilled to support this event since “both countries share a passion for cricket. Gender equality is a key interest of Australia in Pakistan. Cricket and other sports can aid in reducing stereotypes and barriers. Every time these girls make a catch or hit a boundary; they are progressing towards equality by taking a small step,” Hawkins said.
Before participating in the competition, the players joined a five-day coaching clinic.
“We are delighted to have the first-class cricket coaches who helped to foster team spirit and encourage girls by building confidence,” he said and thanked all the participating schools, including the Aga Khan Higher Secondary School, Nasra Public School, Ismail Academy and Dawood.
The leading coach of the tournament is a former national player and now JCA Chairman, Jalal Uddin, congratulated the Australian High Commission on the initiative.
He said, “We always encourage the growth of grassroots cricket as a pioneer in cricket coaching. We anticipate the Girls Cricket Cup project with the Australian High Commission will significantly promote women’s cricket in Pakistan.”
