The International Cricket Council (ICC), UNICEF UK, and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will host a special “Play for UNICEF” matchday takeover at Lord’s Cricket Ground on June 24.
UNICEF to take over Lord’s when England play West Indies https://t.co/NvadPxuy90
— The Right News, Right Now. (@BradPorcellato) June 23, 2026
This major charity event takes place during the Women’s T20 World Cup group match between England and the West Indies. Organisers aim to raise £100,000 to support children’s projects across the globe. It shows how cricket can help children thrive in a world facing conflict and climate change.
A Grand Fundraising Goal for Global Children
The Lord’s takeover aims to raise significant funds and awareness for UNICEF’s life-saving work. So the ICC and its partners have set a target of raising £100,000 in a single day. These funds will support projects that provide critical care and supplies to children in more than 190 countries.
Cricket for a cause at Lord’s! 🏟️💙
• ICC, UNICEF UK, and ECB team up for a special charity matchday on June 24 (England vs WI).
• Aiming to raise £100,000 to support children’s welfare projects globally.
• Part of the broader “Cricket 4 Good” push across all 12 teams. pic.twitter.com/7JuJuYV38y
— Cricket Hub (@Anurag9793) June 23, 2026
The activation is also part of UNICEF UK’s “Making Childhood Unstoppable” initiative. This campaign celebrates children as a force and demands that they deserve the right to learn, play and grow. This fundraiser is a platform to amplify the voices of so many children who are struggling through crises that are preventing them from thriving.
How Fans Can Make a Difference
Fans attending the match at Lord’s or watching the global broadcast have several ways to contribute. Supporters at the ground will receive special “4s and 6s” cards that feature QR codes for quick donations. Meanwhile, the big screens at Lord’s will display donation prompts and replay messaging throughout the game.
Additionally, the global television audience will see dedicated donation messages during the broadcast. To boost the total, the ECB is donating a signed England jersey for a special auction. All proceeds from this auction will go directly to the campaign to help vulnerable children.
Stars Join Forces for the Play for UNICEF Campaign
High-profile personalities are lending their support to ensure the matchday is a success. Nabhaan Rizwan, a two-time BAFTA-nominated actor and dedicated cricket fan, will attend the game as a UNICEF UK supporter. He will walk out onto the iconic Lord’s pitch with the World Cup trophy before the match starts.
A special matchday takeover is coming to Lord’s 🏏
The ICC, UNICEF UK, England Cricket Board alongside UNICEF UK Supporter Nabhaan Rizwan will join hands during England’s #T20WorldCup clash against the West Indies on 24 June for a special activation.
Read more on it 👉… pic.twitter.com/I8A9shPDPz
— ICC (@ICC) June 23, 2026
Joining Rizwan is former England pacer and legendary commentator Isa Guha. Together, they will lead the trophy walkout to promote the “Play for UNICEF” message. Rizwan stated that fans can enjoy cricket while supporting an important cause.
The Impact of the Cricket 4 Good Programme
The Lord’s takeover is part of the broader “Cricket 4 Good” programme and not a stand alone event. The initiative is a joint effort of ICC and UNICEF to use the power of cricket to make a positive difference off the field. All 12 teams participating in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 are taking part in this social responsibility initiative.
Specifically, international players are hosting cricket sessions for schoolgirls across the seven host venues. These sessions aim to inspire more than 600 young aspiring cricketers to take up the sport. This follows the massive success of the Schools Cricket Day held on 23 April, where 236,000 children from over 1,350 schools participated in cricket activities. That event set a record as the largest single-day cricket participation event in UK history.
England and West Indies Battle for Group 2 Supremacy
While the charity work takes centre stage, the match itself is a critical fixture in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. Both England and the West Indies enter this Wednesday clash with perfect records. Each team has secured three wins from three matches so far in the tournament.
Therefore, the winner of this match at Lord’s will likely finish at the top of Group 2. Finishing first in the group provides a theoretically easier path in the knockout stages. The high stakes on the field ensure a massive audience, which helps maximize the visibility of the UNICEF fundraising efforts.
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