Cricketers bowled over by the Healthy Hat-TrickDambulla, Sri Lanka, Thursday 17 June : Captains of four of the biggest cricket playing nations in the world – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh - took time out from the Micromax Asia Cup here today to commit themselves to playing for a hat trick of another kind, “Cricket’s Healthy Hat trick”. At a joint press conference between the Asian Cricket Council and UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the message to governments and communities was: invest in a healthy hat trick – good nutrition, sanitation and girls’ education – three critical interventions to save children’s lives. Three million children under the age of five die in South Asia each year from malnutrition and diseases related to poor sanitation. Educating girls is also key to the survival and health of children and families. The ACC and UNICEF called on governments and communities to join the cricketers and commit themselves to take bold action for children. “Cricketers are not just sportsmen. They are champions, champions for children, champions for change,” said Syed Ashraful Huq, CE of ACC “Like in any world class cricket match a hat trick is that rare and magical formula we all aim for. Investing in a Healthy Hat Trick, good nutrition and sanitation and girls education, is the ultimate for children and for cricketers.” About UNICEF UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. About The ACC RSVP: Shahriar Khan,
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