Bat For a Chance (BFAC), the UK-based charity harnessing the power of cricket for social change, has announced a new strategic partnership with King’s Trust International (KTI) to launch a pioneering initiative introducing cricket into their education qualification “Achieve”.

Delivered in collaboration with PAGE (Pakistan Alliance for Girls Education) Foundation a leading non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing gender equity in education, the pilot initiative will be introduced in schools across Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Over 3 months, the programme will blend cricket coaching with life skills training and culminate in a celebratory six- a-side cricket festival.

This partnership marks a revolutionary step in the use of sport as a tool for social transformation, creating safe, inclusive, and confidence-building environments where girls can learn, play, and lead in Pakistan.

The initiative sits within King’s Trust International’s Achieve program, which equips young people with the confidence and practical skills to succeed in life. By integrating cricket into this framework, BFAC and PAGE are providing a powerful, hands-on platform for girls to translate classroom lessons like teamwork, communication, and leadership into real-world experiences on the field.

Will Straw, CEO of King’s Trust International, said the initiative reflects the Trust’s mission to use practical education to unlock potential:

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Bat For a Chance and Pakistan Alliance for Girls Education to empower young girls through sport. Integrating cricket into our Achieve programme allows participants to learn by developing critical life skills and building self-confidence that extend far beyond the classroom. It shows how inclusive, action-based learning can help young people to thrive.”

Developed by BFAC under the guidance of former Pakistan cricket player and current Test head coach Azhar Mahmood, the programme’s curriculum goes beyond sport. Coaching sessions also weave in lessons on gender equality, community leadership, and resilience, helping participants recognise their own agency and potential.

As Ebba Quershi, Trustee of Bat For a Chance and Founder of FemGames, explained, the project gives girls something many have never had before a safe, supportive place to play and belong:

“Cricket is more than a game it’s a vehicle for learning, growth, and empowerment. For many of these girls, this will be the first time they’ve had the chance to play sport in a safe, structured space.

We want them to feel confident, valued, and inspired to realise that the same teamwork and courage they show on the pitch can help them achieve their ambitions off it.”

In many parts of Pakistan, girls face limited access to sport due to cultural and social barriers. The BFAC–KTI–PAGE partnership directly addresses these challenges by creating secure, community-endorsed environments where girls can express themselves freely, gain confidence, and discover the joy of sport.

Each session is designed to nurture both athletic and emotional development, encouraging mutual respect, resilience, and friendship. Coaches and facilitators, trained through the programme, ensure every participant feels supported and celebrated, helping redefine what is possible for young women in their communities.

Dr. Tariq Cheema, chair of PAGE Foundation, emphasised the transformative impact of this approach: “This initiative is an exciting step forward in creating opportunities for girls to thrive. By combining sport with social learning, we are helping young women break barriers, realise their potential, and gain the confidence to lead both on and off the field. The sense of joy, safety, and pride that cricket brings is transformative; it empowers communities as much as it empowers the girls themselves.”

The pilot programme forms part of Bat For a Chance’s Cricket for Social Change Fund, launched in 2022 to harness cricket as a catalyst for global education, opportunity, and inclusion. The Fund supports projects that use sport as a vehicle for wider societal development, particularly in underserved communities.

The partnership with King’s Trust International and PAGE marks the fourth project under the Fund, furthering BFAC’s commitment to using cricket as a bridge between education, community development, and gender equality.

Following the pilot phase, the programme aims to scale nationwide in 2026, bringing this model of sport-based empowerment to hundreds more young women across Pakistan.