Lucknow/IBNS: South African speedster Kagiso Rabada and run-scorers like Quniton De Kock and Aiden Markram played a different ball game in Lucknow recently when at the BRSABVE Cricket Stadium their opponents were young girls with gusto.

The children met international cricketers as part of the Cricket4Good initiative. The Cricket4Good initiative is an ICC-UNICEF partnership to promote rights of girls across the world.

A global partnership between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and UNICEF calls on children, young people, and everyone to #BeAChampion for gender equality.

Cricket and sports more broadly can play a critical role in tackling some of the pressing issues of our time, according to UNICEF.

Cricket 4 Good is the ICC’s global community outreach programme, aimed at leveraging the vast power and reach of cricket to empower women and girls.

Dr. Zakari Adam, Chief UNICEF Uttar Pradesh, encouraged children to enjoy the game and learn lessons of leadership, team spirit to champion child rights and gender equality in their homes, schools and communities.