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ICC and UNICEF partner to promote gender equality through cricket

Published

4 years ago

2022/10/16

The ICC and UNICEF have launched a global partnership to empower women and girls and promote inclusion and gender equality through cricket.Initiatives to drive greater gender equity along with advocacy campaigns involving some of the world’s best players will form the basis of the partnership which aims to mobilise the power of cricket to drive positive social change.Later in the year, as part of this collaboration, UNICEF and the ICC will launch Criiio 4 Good, a cricket for development curriculum giving girls and boys the opportunity to have a fun first experience of the game whilst learning gender-based life-skills essential for gender equity.

The Criiio 4 Good programme, which will be available free on the ICC and UNICEF websites, delivers an eight-week lesson plan on the fundamentals of batting, bowling and fielding. Whilst each lesson plan has a life-skill module attached to teach participants core life skills that will promote greater gender equity. These skills include leadership, problem-solving, self-esteem, negotiation, empathy, decision-making, teamwork and goal setting.The ICC will also use its global platform to drive greater awareness of the importance of empowering women and girls and gender equity, giving some of the world’s best players the opportunity to get involved in driving greater social change.

Australia men’s T20I captain Aaron Finch is leading the call for every cricket fan to #BeAChampion. He said: “I am so proud, as the dad of a daughter, to #BeAChampion for girls and support the partnership between the ICC and UNICEF to promote gender equity through cricket.

“Cricket has more than one billion fans and we have a huge platform to empower women and girls through our sport. The Criiio 4 Good programme gives young girls and boys the chance to get active whilst learning life skills that are essential for gender equity. Every single cricket fan can join me and #BeAChampion and together we can harness cricket to build a better future.”

The partnership will continue throughout the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 in South Africa and Proteas Captain, Dané van Niekerk, said, “What an amazing initiative by the ICC in collaboration with UNICEF, aimed at fostering an equal future for women and girls from all walks of life through the shared passion for the game of cricket.

“It’s an honour and a privilege to #BeAChampion for this worthy cause as cricket has played an immense role throughout my life and I truly believe that this sport has the power to affect real positive change in many young people’s lives, especially girls, whose place on the field of play cannot be disputed.

“I would like to encourage all sports lovers, cricket fans, parents, guardians and coaches to play their part, no matter how significant, to promote gender equity through the Cricket 4 Good campaign which will help smash the existing biases for six while providing an enjoyable, lesson-filled experience.

“On behalf of the South African national women’s cricket team and Cricket South Africa, I pledge to further advance the message and potential impact this programme will have on future generations, and I trust many of my colleagues in the cricket fraternity will follow suit,”

Speaking on the partnership, Geoff Allardice, ICC CEO, said: “Harnessing the power of cricket to build a better future is a central part of our global growth strategy. So, I am delighted to be continuing our partnership with UNICEF to empower women and girls through cricket.

“The Criiio 4 Good programme is a wonderful tool for anyone around the world to use to get young girls and boys active having fun with a bat and ball and also learn vital life-skills that will help shape a more gender equal world in the future.”

Elaborating on the partnership, Karin Hulshof, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, said, “The partnership with ICC is fantastic and powerful. It reaches more than a billion cricket fans with the message to be a champion for girls. When girls’ do better, we all do better. We know that the benefits of gender equality go beyond their direct impact on children. With gender equality, we create a world of tolerance and shared responsibility – a world that is fit for children.”

Through this initiative ICC will use its global platforms, including its broadcast and digital channels to support UNICEF’s work and highlight girls around the world in gender equitable situations. All 16 competing nations will also hold Cricket 4 Good Coaching Clinics at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup venues during the tournament with up to 40 school children taking part in each one. The players will introduce the children to the Criiio 4 Good curriculum so as well as fun cricket drills, the participants will also learn more about gender equity and get to meet their cricketing heroes.The ICC events the partnership will be activated at include: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Australia, Oct-Nov 2022, ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, South Africa, Jan 2023, ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, South Africa, Feb 2023, ICC World Test Championship Final, England, June 2023 and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, India, Oct-Nov 2023

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Pakistan naval trio leaves Colombo after goodwill visit

Published

8 hours ago

2026/06/6

Priyan

Wrapping up their goodwill and replenishment visit, the Pakistan Navy ships ‘PNS Taimur’ and ‘PNS Aslat’, along with the submarine ‘PNS/M Hangor’, departed the island on 04 Jun 26. The naval units, which arrived in Sri Lanka on 01 June, were accorded a traditional naval send-off by the Sri Lanka Navy at the Port of Colombo, upon their departure.

During their stay, the Commanding Officers of Pakistan Navy ships and submarine called on the Commander Western Naval Area and the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Fleet at the Western Naval Command Headquarters, where discussions were held on several matters of mutual interest.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Navy personnel had the opportunity to visit the visiting Pakistan Navy ships and submarine. Furthermore, the crews of the visiting vessels explored the rich heritage of Sri Lanka, taking time to tour several culturally significant landmarks across the island.

News

China, Lanka intensify cooperation to fight cross-border crimes spreading across Asia and beyond

Published

13 hours ago

2026/06/6

Thilina Walpola

China and Sri Lanka have intensified joint law enforcement efforts to combat cross-border online gambling and telecom fraud, crimes that authorities warn are increasingly spreading across Asia and beyond.

The Chinese Embassy in Colombo said both countries are working closely to dismantle scam centres and fraud networks that have relocated to Sri Lanka from other parts of Southeast Asia. The Embassy noted that such operations often intertwine with human trafficking and other serious crimes, posing grave risks to public security and social stability.

China’s position on cross-border gambling remains firm: Chinese capital is prohibited from investing in overseas casinos, citizens are barred from operating them, and foreign casinos are forbidden from soliciting Chinese nationals. The Embassy stressed that gambling “almost invariably leads to financial ruin,” with tens of thousands of Chinese citizens suffering losses and harm. Recent amendments to China’s Criminal Law have criminalised cross-border gambling activities.

The Embassy pointed out that Sri Lankan authorities have carried out multiple raids in recent months, dismantling gambling and fraud dens and arresting suspects from several countries. Several Chinese nationals, involved in fraud-related crimes, have been handed over to Chinese authorities, producing what officials described as a strong deterrent effect.

The Chinese Embassy praised the efforts of Sri Lanka’s ministries of Foreign Affairs, Finance, and Public Security, particularly immigration and police officials, for their cooperation.

It warned that without firm and immediate measures, the spread of illegal gambling and fraud could damage Sri Lanka’s international image, undermine social stability, and harm the safety and security of its people.

China has already conducted similar law enforcement cooperation with countries including Spain, the UAE, Myanmar, and Cambodia, leading to arrests and repatriations of overseas fraud suspects. It has also proposed the creation of an international alliance against telecom and online fraud to coordinate global efforts, it said.

Going forward, China pledged to actively implement the Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, while continuing to deepen law enforcement and security cooperation with Sri Lanka.

The Embassy said these efforts aim to safeguard lives and property, protect financial security, and build a “clean, safe, and beautiful Sri Lanka,” while contributing to a new global framework for combating transnational crime.

News

Asst. Manager, security officer arrested over Rs 30 mn snatch at Horana PB branch

Published

13 hours ago

2026/06/6

Thilina Walpola

An assistant manager and a security officer, attached to a state bank branch in Horana, have been arrested in connection with the robbery of more than Rs. 30 million that was being transported to replenish automated teller machines (ATMs), Police said.

The two suspects were taken into custody on Friday after statements were recorded from them regarding the incident, which occurred on Wednesday afternoon at the Horana branch of the People’s Bank.

According to Police, a bank employee was carrying two bags containing cash through the rear entrance of the bank at around 2.45 p.m. when an individual, who had arrived on foot, allegedly snatched the bags and fled the scene.

The stolen money, amounting to approximately Rs. 30.5 million, had been prepared for distribution to ATM machines and transportation to other bank branches. Earlier reports had estimated the loss at around Rs. 35 million.

Investigators subsequently arrested a suspect believed to have been directly involved in the robbery and recovered Rs. 17 million of the stolen cash.

Police have not disclosed the exact circumstances that led to the arrest of the assistant manager and security officer but said investigations uncovered information linking them to the incident.

The Western Province North Crime Division is conducting further investigations to determine whether additional suspects were involved and to recover the remaining stolen money.

The daring daylight robbery has raised concerns over security procedures employed during transportation of large sums of cash to/from banking institutions.Further investigations are continuing.

by Norman Palihawadane