Lahore, February 2,2026: The Australian High Commission (AHC), in partnership with Kinnaird College for Women and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), hosted the 7th AHC–Kinnaird Girls’ Cricket Cup, reaffirming its support for access, teamwork, and opportunity for Pakistani girls through sport.
The tournament brought together students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, using cricket as a platform to build confidence, foster leadership skills, and promote inclusion. It also highlighted the depth and value of people-to-people ties between Australia and Pakistan.
Australia’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Timothy Kane, congratulated the young players for their courage and determination in challenging barriers to women’s and girls’ participation in sport.
“Sport is a powerful medium through which women and girls challenge societal perceptions and champion the economic and social value of equality. Supporting girls’ cricket in Pakistan reflects our shared love of the game and commitment to creating opportunities to advance equality and inclusion for the current generation and generations to come,” he said.
Referring to the presence of Australia’s men’s team in Lahore ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, the High Commissioner added that the focus of the tournament was on investing in Pakistan’s future women champions by giving girls the chance to dream big and create pathways to represent their communities and the country.
In preparation for the competition, participants attended a three-day coaching clinic supported by the PCB and led by members of Pakistan’s national women’s and U-19 teams, who provided technical training, mentorship, and inspiration.
Since 2016, Australia’s support for girls’ cricket in Pakistan—implemented with the PCB and other partners—has expanded from Islamabad to Lahore and Karachi, helping identify and nurture emerging talent. Several former participants of the AHC–Kinnaird Cup have gone on to represent Pakistan at the U-19 national level.
Head of Pakistan Women’s Cricket, Rafia Haider, emphasized the tournament’s significance, saying platforms like the AHC–Kinnaird Cup are vital for talent identification and confidence-building, adding that with sustained support these girls can become the future of Pakistan women’s cricket.
Principal of Kinnaird College for Women, Dr Iram Anjum, highlighted the broader social impact of the initiative. “When girls play sport, they gain confidence, leadership, and a strong sense of belonging. We are proud to partner with Australia in creating opportunities where young women can excel,” she said.
Teams participating in the tournament included Government Shuhda-e APS Memorial Girls High School, Government Central Model School, Government Tehzeeb-ul-Binat Model Girls School, Government Yasmeen Islamia Girls High School Mughalpura, and the Kinnaird Cricket Academy.
