Islamabad (TDI): The Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Timothy Kane, praised the resilience and talent of Pakistani athletes while reaffirming Australia’s commitment to inclusive sports development.
He said “same passion on every field” reflects the strength of the initiative highlighting Australia’s continued support for blind women’s cricket as a key pillar of the Australia-Pakistan bilateral relationship.
He also emphasized that the initiative aims to foster inclusion by equipping young women with skills and confidence to pursue new pathways in professional sport.
The remarks followed a national training camp held in Islamabad from 25-30 April, 2026. It was supported by the Australian High Commission in partnership with the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) and Serena Hotels.
Cricket is a key part of Australia–Pakistan ties — connecting & empowering through inclusion. Honoured to support blind women’s #cricket in Pakistan, where talented players are building skills, confidence & new pathways through sport. Same passion, on every field. #PSLFinal 🇦🇺🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/1EnF7hulVD
— Timothy Kane (@AusHCPak) May 5, 2026
The camp brought together 52 participants from across Pakistan focusing on technical training and the selection of talent for the national blind women’s team.
Further, the High Commissioner Kane said these athletes are not only advancing in sport but also serving as advocates for social empowerment and inclusion.
This annual initiative builds on cooperation dating back to 2018 when Australia contributed to the establishment of Pakistan’s first blind women’s cricket team through initial training clinics in Lahore.
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By providing a platform for visually impaired women to demonstrate their abilities, the program uses cricket as a means of promoting social development and gender equity.
He said the connection through cricket remains among the strongest people-to-people links between the two countries.
As the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL) season concluded with its final in Lahore, the High Commissioner’s remarks underscored how the spirit of the game extends beyond physical limitations.
The collaboration between the Australian High Commission and the PBCC continues to support an inclusive sporting environment where talent is recognized and developed across communities in Pakistan.
Muhammad Usman Hashmi is a researcher in International Relations, focusing on climate diplomacy, global governance, and political economy in the Global South. He has contributed to policy dialogues with the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia and serves as a Senior Research Fellow at the International Council on Human Rights, Peace and Politics. He is also associated with Rethinking Economics Islamabad, contributing to research on development and sustainability.
