MCC brings cricket to Afghan girls

Date released: 26 August 2010

Afghan girls enjoying the camp MCC helped deliver the first ever girls cricket camp in Afghanistan, helping keen young female cricketers learn more about the game.

Fifty girls participated in the cricket camp that was held in the Karte Naw District of Kabul City last weekend.

It was the first time that a girls camp has been held, and there was a huge level of interest, as part of the work Afghan Connection has been delivering in partnership with the MCC.

Pakistani female cricket coach Salma Faiz came to Kabul to assist in the training.

Building for the future

Raees Ahmadzi from the AYCSO (Afghan Youth Cricket Support Organisation) charity helped organise the girls camp.

It was the sixth cricket camp held in Afghanistan this year as a joint venture between MCC Spirit of Cricket and Afghan-Connection.

Each camp is for 50 children but 12,000 turned up for one camp. The fact that the Afghan team members have helped with the coaching attracts huge crowds as they are now National heroes after a string of excellent results in ICC competitions.

Afghan Connection and MCC Spirit of Cricket are planning their next camp to mark Peace Day in September and will be teaming up with UNICEF.

Afghan Connection will fund a coaching camp for 100 girls and UNICEF will find a camp for 100 boys. There will also be more camps next year.

The project has also built 10 cricket pitches in schools this year and each school also received funds for repairs and new facilities at their schools.

Love of cricket

Pakistan coach, Salma Faiz (right), with a budding cricketer Shahzia Rakhman, 12 and in the 8th class, participated in the camp and said: "I love cricket, that is why when I heard that there was going to be a cricket camp at this school I was so happy.

"I know a few things about cricket, but I want to know more things about cricket. We were in Peshawar, my cousins were always playing cricket and I was always watching.

"I learned a lot from this camp and I hope to play more cricket in the future."