ICC launches '100 per cent Cricket Year of Women's Cricket' campaign on International Women's Day

In a bid to empower women and girls through the sport of cricket and amplify the cause of gender equality, the International Cricket Council (ICC) launched its ‘100 per cent Cricket Year of Women’s Cricket’ campaign on March 8th, celebrated across the world as International Women’s Day.

As per a recent statement by the ICC, the campaign is being initiated to develop the women’s game further and bring about the much-needed transformation. Cricket’s global governing body has urged fans to use the hashtag #IDeclare so as for them to play their part in promoting gender equality and women empowerment through cricket.

Though it has seen growth in the recent past, there is still plenty to be achieved in terms of the attention the women’s game gets. Also, the commercials and branding surrounding it are nowhere close to men’s cricket with steps being taken to make it more mass appealing to further stimulate its growth.

“The 100 per cent Cricket Year of Women’s Cricket campaign has been introduced to help drive transformative change and be part of accelerating the growth of the game,” ICC said in a statement on Tuesday.

Cricket has incredible power and reach to raise awareness and effect change: ICC CEO

Commenting on the initiative, the current CEO of ICC, Geoff Allardice, said that the sport has an incredible reach and can bring about a change. He further told that the ICC has collaborated with UNICEF for the cause.

“Cricket has the incredible power and reach to raise awareness and effect change and we’re proud to partner with UNICEF as part of 100 per cent Cricket Year of Women’s Cricket to #IDeclare our commitment to empowering women and girls through cricket,” said Allardice.

Notably, the ICC Women’s World Cup is currently underway in New Zealand with eight nations participating. The tournament has played a major role in the development of women’s cricket ever since its inception in 1973.