Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the MCC Foundation are proud to announce the establishment of the Global Refugee Cricket Fund, an ambitious initiative to expand the work being undertaken by the Foundation to support refugees worldwide.

Building on the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to using cricket as a tool for unity, empowerment, and opportunity, this fund will enhance ongoing efforts to assist displaced communities, including Afghan refugees, and introduce new avenues of support across the globe.

The campaign’s initial focus will be to raise funds for Pitch Our Future, an Australian-led programme that empowers and supports players from the former Afghanistan Women’s Cricket Team. Following women’s cricket in Afghanistan being banned, the players faced severe threat, with the team being forced to disband and flee to countries like Australia, Canada, and the UK. Pitch Our Future will be instrumental in providing the majority cohort in Australia with safe training facilities, educational opportunities, and pathways to continue their cricketing journeys.

The MCC Foundation has a rich history of leveraging cricket to bring hope and opportunity to vulnerable populations. Its work, with partners including Cricket Without Boundaries and Alsama, includes programmes for displaced communities in Afghanistan, Rwanda, Serbia, Lebanon, Italy, and the UK. With the Global Refugee Cricket Fund, the Foundation aims to amplify this impact, providing life-changing support to individuals who have been forced to flee their homes.

Objectives of the Global Refugee Cricket Fund:

1. Empower Refugee Communities through Cricket: Harnessing cricket as a means of inclusion and personal development.
2. Support Women in Cricket Worldwide: Enabling access to the sport for women who face significant barriers.
3. Promote Global Awareness and Advocacy: Amplifying voices to champion equality and the importance of sports in rebuilding lives.

Through this initiative, the fund will:

1. Provide Access to Facilities: Ensuring displaced Afghan women cricketers can train, play, and develop their skills in secure environments.
2. Offer Education and Mentorship: Facilitating scholarships and guidance to build sustainable futures beyond cricket.
3. Promote Advocacy and Awareness: Highlighting the critical role of women in sports and advocating for global equality.
4. Build Strong High-Performance and Community Programmes: Supporting players, coaches, and administrators to develop their skills, education, and professional careers.

To ensure a structured and sustainable approach, a Steering Committee/Advisory Board will be established, including representatives from the MCC Foundation, MCC, ECB, Pitch Our Future, refugee organisations, and community leaders such as Afghan women’s advocates. The ICC is also invited to participate in this effort.

The initiative aims to raise an initial £1 million to support these initiatives. Funding sources will include contributions from the ECB, MCC, corporate sponsorships, government grants, other international cricket boards, and individual donations.

The MCC and MCC Foundation invite the global cricketing community, corporate partners, and individuals to join this transformative campaign. Together, we can harness the power of cricket to rebuild lives, foster inclusion, and promote equality on a global scale.

Global Refugee Fund

Rob Lynch, Interim Chief Executive and Secretary of MCC, said: “The Global Refugee Cricket Fund represents a vital step forward in our mission to use cricket as a force for good. Cricket has the power to inspire, unite, and empower, and through this initiative, we aim to bring hope and opportunity to those who need it most. We are proud to build on the MCC Foundation’s incredible legacy and extend our support to displaced communities worldwide.”

Dr. Sarah Fane, Director of the MCC Foundation, added: “Through the Global Refugee Cricket Fund, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting refugees, particularly Afghan women cricketers, who have shown remarkable resilience in the face of unimaginable challenges. With Pitch Our Future leading the way in Australia, we hope to amplify their efforts and inspire the global cricketing community to join us in making a difference.”

Clare Connor, Deputy Chief Executive of the ECB, said: "The cricket community must take action, to support the brave Afghan women, and to give hope that cricket can be a sport for any woman or girl. We hope the launch of the Fund will inspire other cricketing organisations to support this cause, and to unlock cricket's power to unite communities around the globe."

The women behind Pitch Our Future – a group MCC and MCC Foundation, including Fane and Lynch, have been working with for the last eight months – have played a pivotal role in supporting the former Afghanistan Women’s Cricket Team in Australia since their displacement in 2021. By providing safe training facilities, education, and pathways for development, the initiative will become a beacon of hope for these players. The MCC and MCC Foundation commend their unwavering dedication and look forward to collaborating to expand this critical work.