How a partnership between Bat for a Chance, PAGE Foundation and King’s Trust International is using cricket to transform the lives of girls in Pakistan with the support of Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) and Prime Minister Youth Programme (PMYP)
Islamabad, 5 May 2026 — Girls from government schools across Islamabad came together for the finale of a pioneering cricket programme that has changed lives, built confidence, and for five of its participants opened the door to regional cricket trials. The Achieve Inter-School Cricket Tournament, held at IMCG I-9/1 under the Federal Directorate of Education, marked the culmination of a girls empowerment pilot project run by Bat for a Chance (BFAC) in partnership with PAGE Foundation and King’s Trust International, as part of the Achieve programme, with the support of the Prime Minister Youth Programme (PMYP).
Each girl completed six dedicated coaching sessions across the programme before arriving at today’s tournament, trained by coaches affiliated with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), including former PCB certified Pakistan women’s cricket team captain Nida Dar and PCB certified coaches Shehla Bibi, and director Waseem Yousafi. Two teams each from IMCG I-9/1 and IMCG Punjgran competed on the day, with IMCG I-9/1 emerging as worthy champions.
Former Pakistan Cricketer and Pakistan Test Head coach Azhar Mahmood attended as guest of honour alongside MNA and PMYP focal person Amnah Batool and squash player Noreena Shams, with representatives from the Federal Directorate of Education, Alight, the British Council, UN Women, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the PCB, and the Rural Support Programmes Network also in attendance. Special thanks to the Director of Sports, Federal Directorate of Education, for joining the event to support girls. Moreover, Cheezious also contributed to the event by sponsoring meals for the young players.
“What I witnessed today was something truly special. These girls played with skill, determination and courage that would make any coach proud. Cricket has always had the power to transform lives — and today we saw exactly that. Pakistan has extraordinary talent waiting to be discovered, and programmes like this are how we find it. I have no doubt that some of the girls we saw on the field today will go on to represent their country.”
Azhar Mahmood, Former Pakistan Cricketer and Pakistan Test Coach
“It is so heartening to see girls playing cricket with confidence and showing their skills. Through the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Shahbaz Sharif, and Chairman PMYP, Mr. Rana Mashhood Ahmad, are determined to support girls and young women across Pakistan to hone their skills and excel in life.’’
Amnah Batool, Member of the National Assembly and Focal Person of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme
The impact of the programme has extended well beyond the boundary. Five girls have progressed to regional cricket trials as a direct result of their involvement a remarkable outcome for a pilot initiative in its first iteration. While coaches and teachers have received transformative testimonials from the girls around changes in confidence, communication, and leadership among participants. For many, this was their first sustained engagement with organised sport; for others, it has become a platform from which they are beginning to dream bigger.
“At Bat for a Chance, we have always believed that cricket is so much more than a sport — it is a vehicle for social change. What this programme has shown us in Pakistan is that when you give girls the opportunity, the coaching and the belief, they flourish. Five girls progressing to regional trials from a pilot programme is not just a statistic; it is proof of what is possible. Today was a celebration of those girls and everything they have achieved. We cannot wait to scale this in September.”
Ebba Qureshi, Trustee, Bat for a Chance
The programme was run by Bat for a Chance in partnership with PAGE Foundation and King’s Trust International as part of the Achieve project — an initiative that delivers educational and skills-based interventions for young people across Pakistan.
BFAC’s involvement sees cricket integrated into the Achieve model for the first time, adding a sport-based dimension that builds life skills alongside academic development. The collaboration with PMYP has ensured direct reach into government school communities that have historically had little access to organised sporting opportunities.
“The girls in Pakistan have immense potential and enthusiasm for sport. With proper support and guidance, we are confident they will have a bright future. We are grateful to all the stakeholders for their remarkable support in making this possible — especially the Federal Directorate of Education and the Prime Minister Youth Programme. Adding cricket to the Achieve programme has brought a new energy and a new set of possibilities for the young women we work with, and today’s tournament was a powerful demonstration of that.”
Wajeeha Ahmad, COO, PAGE Foundation
Following the success of this pilot, the partnership is now planning a expanded programme launching in September 2026. The ambition is to reach more schools, more communities and more girls across Pakistan building on the foundations and the infrastructure developed through the Achieve model.
Media Enquires
Maleeha Zaidi | PAGE Foundation | [email protected] | www.page.org.pk