Ex-England cricketer braves Afghan war to teach game to children

Former England cricketer Matthew Fleming today told how he is helping to make a difference to the lives of children in Afghanistan by teaching them the sport.

Fleming, a Royal Green Jackets officer before becoming a cricketer, said new pitches were being built at schools - many with provisions that allow girls to play too.

The 44-year-old described how he felt compelled to help the grassroots game in the war-torn country.

"I am a member of Marylebone Cricket Club and we started exploring ways we could support cricket in Afghanistan about five years ago," he said.

"People were saying they thought we had done our bit in Afghanistan. But as an ex-soldier, I don't think we've done our bit while there are still British fighters in the country - we should do more."

The MCC board first sent him to the region in 2007.

This May the organisation sponsored a cricket training camp in Jalalabad, where 150 boys trained with Fleming and Afghan international players.

He went back in July, establishing links with children's charity Afghan Connection for a cricket tour of schools.

The former Kent captain, who played 11 one-day internationals, said: "I'm not saying cricket is the answer to all Afghanistan's problems but I am saying that sport and education is a very big piece of the jigsaw.

"If we were not making a difference, we wouldn't be doing this.

"By the end of the year we will have built between seven and nine pitches, and what's really important with building pitches in schools is a lot have walls around them, which allows girls to play away from prying eyes.

"I went to a school in Jalalabad and there was a fantastic class of girls and they all wanted to be doctors and teachers, although not one of their mothers went to school. The ambition was astounding."

But he admitted there were moments too when he was forced to flee grounds as angry locals took offence to his presence.

He described how "an angry Mullah" stood at the side of a pitch where he was teaching, preaching vehemently against his lessons.

Despite the dangers, Fleming believes cricket can make a difference in the country.

The Afghan national team gained one day international status this year and just missed out on qualifying for the 2011 World Cup - despite only having been formed in 2001.