A Peterborough school with no sporting facilities or playing fields has set its sights on a national cricket title after a pioneering link with the Lord’s Taverners Wicketz programme and Cricket East sparked a surge in athletic activity among its pupils.
Young girls attending Iqra Academy, an independent girls’ school with an Islamic ethos, have seen their health, wellbeing and social circles transformed through the introduction of cricket.
Now the school is targeting a range of eye-catching ambitions.
It aims to compete in the Peterborough and District Schools league and the Association of Muslim Schools (AMS) competition. It intends to participate in the Wicketz programme every year. It has enquired about more of its students gaining the ECB linked Young Leaders in Cricket Award (two have already received special recognition during a presentation at Lord’s). And it aims to use cricket to develop its school values of integrity, quality, respect and aspiration among all its pupils.
“Our ultimate aspiration would be to win the AMS national cricket title,” says principal Michael Wright.
Situated in one of the city’s most disadvantaged areas, pupils practice their cricket in the school car park.
They have already played a Wicketz fixture against a local secondary school at the Weston Homes Stadium, home of Peterborough United football club. Their efforts that day earned praise from Northants County Cricket Club ambassador David Ripley. He said: “There was some real talent on display. The standard of catching was really high, and I hope this can act as a springboard to push the girls on even further.”
Mahreen Ali, a 12-year-old student at Iqra Academy, said: “We all love playing cricket. It gives me great confidence and has certainly developed my skills, which I hope to put to further good use in our cricket matches to come. It also taught me to be resilient and to never give up. We had no previous experience and ended up winning a match in a massive stadium, which was fantastic.”
Cricket was first introduced at Iqra Academy before Covid-19, through Cricket East and its ECB Diverse Communities project lead Dave Summers, linked to the Cities Lords Taverners funded Wicketz Programme led by Development Officer Jonathan Bigham. Foundation 1 coach Arthur Sergeant, from the RAF’s Regional Special Engagement Team, has also offered great support in establishing cricket at the school.
Principal Michael Wright sent his gratitude to everyone involved. He said: “A big thank you on behalf of Iqra Academy. The coaching was professional, fun, and inspirational. It’s given the school and its students the opportunity to go on and play cricket, which we would never have been able to do without Lord’s Taverners and Cricket East.”
Dan Wilson, Lords Taverners national Wicketz programme manager, said: “It’s great to see girls playing cricket in a very different kind of venue, supported by a number of partners within the community. Wicketz is about removing barriers and promoting inclusivity, and we look forward to seeing more girls joining our project in Peterborough as a result of the work going on in the city.”