Two organisations helped turn Brit Insurance National Cricket Day, on 23 June, into an International Cricket Day: the Afghan Connection charity and Japan Cricket Association both got behind the day of cricket celebrations.

Afghan Connection organised a girls' cricket camp in Mazar-i-sharif, North Afghanistan, in partnersip with MCC Spirit of Cricket. The camp, run by Afghan Youth Cricket Support Organization, involved 50 young girls and covered bowling, batting and fielding skills as well as physical fitness.

The girls relished the chance to play and improve their cricket. One participant, Samira, 13, said, "It was a great opportunity for the girls to learn basic cricket technique and tactics and we really enjoyed the training camp. Her friend, Breshna, 14, added, "We really need the cricket training camp like this, especially as a representative of the all girls in Mazar."

In Japan, the Japan Cricket Association (JCA) arranged for Japan's women's captain, Ema Kuribayashi, to help run a cricket skills day for 30 pupils at Akami Junior High School in Sano as part of Brit Insurance (Inter) National Cricket Day. The JCA runs an initiative called 'Cricket for Smiles' which, like Chance to Shine, encourages more youngsters to play cricket. One of their aims is to go into areas of Japan worst affected by the March earthquake and deliver cricket equipment and resources to those who have lost everything.