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UK-India ties strengthen through Cricket Unites event with Barclays and the MCC Foundation

Posted: 9 April 2026

As part of the Marylebone Cricket Club Foundation’s (MCCF) Cricket Unites initiative, and supported by Barclays, approximately 100 young girls will take part in a cricket festival on the outfield of the Brabourne Stadium in central Mumbai today. The girls are beneficiaries of six MCCF cricket hubs in Mumbai and Pune, funded by the British bank.

The festival is taking place during a day of collaboration between Barclays, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), MCCF and the British Deputy High Commission, bringing together several key executives and partners across sport, business and diplomacy, and demonstrating cricket’s capacity to strengthen international ties on and off the field.

Cricket Unites is one of four core projects through which MCCF aims to use cricket as a vehicle for social impact, supporting young people in seven countries worldwide, working with delivery partners including Cricket Without Boundaries to enable cricket projects to take place somewhere around the world every day. This event in Mumbai and the six new India hubs are delivered in partnership with OSCAR and The Right Pitch.

Barclays has a strong heritage in sport, particularly supporting activities at a grassroots level and its support for the MCC Foundation in India comes as the bank looks to expand its footprint in the country where it has offices across six cities. Barclays made its first step in cricket last year when it became Principal Partner of MCC and is involved in funding all four of the MCCF’s core projects. As well as supporting MCCF’s Cricket Unites initiative, Barclays is also assisting with the coaching ambitions of graduates from MCCF’s Female Coaching Scholarship Programme, funding two recent graduates to develop their coaching skills in India.

Together with the MCCF, the British Deputy High Commission will be hosting a networking evening for guests across sport, diplomacy and commercial partnerships, helping to strengthen ties between interests in the UK and India through cricket. The sport is a common thread in the long history shared between the two countries and its popularity in India has an enormous impact on that country’s culture and economy. MCC has played a pivotal role in promoting that common thread and today’s event demonstrates its ability to develop these long-held connections.
 
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MCC is also touring India, playing matches in Mumbai against Bombay Gymkhana, the Global Cricket School and Cricket Club of India (CCI). The 13-man squad first visited Hong Kong before reaching India and is captained by Ireland men’s Test skipper Andy Balbirnie. MCC’s Overseas Touring Programme is vital to helping the Club strengthen connections wherever it travels, including to nations with limited tradition in cricket. For example, MCC men’s squads will travel to Luxembourg, Denmark and Botswana this year, as well as a women’s tour to Hong Kong. As is customary with MCC tours, coaching sessions are provided to local players, and the Club will use the opportunity to educate local umpires and officials on the Laws of the game, in its role as the Guardian of the Laws.

Rob Lawson, Chief Executive & Secretary of MCC, said: “It is a great pleasure to be in Mumbai and see up close the impact of Barclays’ support for MCCF cricket projects and the positive effect it has on young girls. At MCC, we want to harness our influence on a global stage for the good of the game and build ties off the field that brings the powerful impact of cricket to more people. Today’s event provides a perfect example of what is possible with such engaging commercial partners who support and trust the capabilities of the MCC Foundation, and our delivery partners, OSCAR and The Right Pitch.”

Praveen Kumar, CEO, Barclays Global Services, said, “Sport is a powerful enabler of aspiration and opportunity. Our partnership with MCC reflects Barclays’ belief that access to sport can help build confidence, resilience, and pathways for young people, while strengthening the communities around us. Through our global sports partnerships, we are proud to invest not just in iconic institutions, but in the next generation of talent and in experiences that bring our colleagues closer to our purpose, of working together to create a better financial future.”

Harjinder Kang, British Deputy High Commissioner for Western India, said: “The unique power of sports to connect people makes it a natural platform for collaboration between the UK and India. Initiatives like Cricket Unites reflect our shared Vision 2035 ambitions—bringing together sport, business, and communities to create lasting social impact. By investing in girls’ participation, leadership, and opportunity through sport, we are empowering the next generation, and deepening people to people ties that sit at the heart of the UK–India relationship.”