AFGHANISTAN / CRICKET

In a city where girls are rarely seen on the streets without burquas, there were glimpses of a different future on the cricket field. One hundred and forty girls donned cricket whites took to the pitch to learn the basics of batting and bowling in Jalalabad. The unusual sporting event was part of a three-day UNICEF sponsored cricket camp run by the an Afghan NGO aimed at engaging Afghanistan's youth in positive activities. UNICEF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:50
• Production Date: 27 November 2010
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: WOMEN'S RIGHTS; LEISURE; SPORTS
• Geographic Subject: AFGHANISTAN
• MAMS Id: U101127b

Description

STORY: AFGHANISTAN / CRICKET
TRT: 1.50
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 14 OCTOBER 2010, JALALABAD, AFGHANISTAN

Shotlist

1. Med shot, two men with guns in the back of a pick up truck
2. Wide shot, helicopters flying overhead with girls milling about below
3. Various shots, girls and boys playing cricket
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Peter Crowley, Representative in Afghanistan, UNICEF:
“Sport is a wonderful way of enabling children to learn many important values that will inform their lives and help make a better society in Afghanistan.”
5. Wide shot, low angle, girls wearing burqas walking in the cricket field
6. Med shot, girls in burqas walk into a room
7. Wide shot, girls in cricket whites
8. Wide shot, girl being taught how to hold a cricket bat
9. Wide shot, girl batting
10. Wide shot, Governor talking with trophies in the foreground
11. Med shot, Governor presenting trophy
12. Wide shot, boys playing cricket
13. Wide shot, boys playing cricket
14. Med shot, Coach Kabir Khan with his back to the camera
15. Wide shot, boys listening to Kabir Khan
16. Med shot, boy receives trophy
17. Med shot, boys sitting and watching the presentation ceremony
18. Wide shot, girl hits a six
19. Med shot, girls applauding

Storyline

Against a background of conflict and war, with a constant stream of helicopters, drones and Hercules flying overhead, 200 boys and girls gathered in Jalalabad to spend three days in UNICEF-supported cricket camps, enjoying their right to play while celebrating the International Year of Youth.

SOUNDBITE (English) Peter Crowley, Afghanistan Representative, UNICEF:
“Sport is a wonderful way of enabling children to learn many important values that will inform their lives and help make a better society in Afghanistan.”

Opening day was a historical one. 140 girls between the ages of 10 and 18 exchanged their burqas for cricket whites.

For many of the girls it was the first time they had thrown a ball or picked up a bat, but that didn’t deter their competitive spirit.

The governor of Nangahar, Gulagha Sherzai came to watch the final matches between the girls and presented the closing ceremony trophies.

The last two days of the camp were focused on finessing the cricket skills of young boys. Bowling batting and fielding techniques were taught on the first day.

Using experienced coaches such as Kabir Khan and Raees Ahmadzai, the youth had an opportunity to interact on a personal level with their heroes while improving their skills.

Sport and cricket promotes the development of important skills and attitudes that are key to the future of youth. In Afghanistan it also holds the key to encouraging a safe and prosperous future for a country whose children have already suffered so much.