ICC extended its partnership with Unicef until the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2020 ©ICC

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has extended its partnership with Unicef until the Women's T20 World Cup in 2020.

The ICC and Unicef partnership started in 2015 as part of the ICC global community outreach programme "Cricket 4 Good". 

Unicef will now continue to have a platform to help bring positive change to women and girls, driving awareness for the work that the organisation does as a global champion for children's rights in cricket-playing nations around the world.

"Cricket has tremendous power to make a difference in the lives of children, especially girls, by building leadership skills, empowering them to achieve their goals and building bridges within communities - so that we can ultimately build a better world together," Unicef Australia chair Ann Sherry said.

"We are excited to partner with the ICC on the Women's T20 World Cup 2020 and enormously proud that Australia is hosting this important event for women."

During the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in July, Unicef raised $180,000 (£138,000/€162,000), with the money going directly to fund a girls' cricket project in Afghanistan. 

Money already raised by Unicef went to a girls' cricket project in Afghanistan ©Unicef
Money already raised by Unicef went to a girls' cricket project in Afghanistan ©Unicef

The 12-month project comprises a new competitive cricket competition for girls, training for 120 teachers, the provision of cricket equipment and a community outreach programme working with elders.

Monies raised during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2020 will go to similar projects in cricket-playing nations, including an innovative programme to promote girls' participation in cricket in Sri Lanka.

Fans will be able to donate various set amounts when buying tickets and at in-stadia activations. 

"We are delighted to extend our partnership with Unicef to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup," ICC chief executive Manu Sawhney said.

"I want us to harness the extraordinary reach of our sport to empower women and girls around the world through cricket and using ICC events as a fundraising platform enables us to do that.

"Sport for development and, in particular, cricket can be a powerful tool to transform lives and the projects in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are designed to have a long-term positive impact, with teachers being trained to deliver cricket to girls for years to come."