As a youngster, I used to watch my dad play cricket every Saturday and Sunday afternoon. That’s how my appreciation of the game began. Then, when I was at secondary school, I got the opportunity to play for the school and I absolutely loved every moment. But after that, there weren’t really any more opportunities for Muslim girls in the sport. I don’t recall ever seeing any women, let alone Muslim women, playing cricket where I grew up.
After I left school, I got married and had four children and cricket became less of a priority for me. I still watched it, but playing was no longer on the radar. Then my son started playing cricket for a local club. One day while he was waiting to practice, I started bowling at him. We were just messing about, but one of the ladies at the club saw me, explained that there was a women’s team, and asked if I wanted to come down to the one of the sessions. The rest is history.
Cricket has always had a special place in my heart. I love the summertime and being outdoors. Nothing beats the feeling of being out there on a green field in the heat, playing a game of cricket with your teammates.
At the same time, my faith is an essential part of my life. As a Muslim, there are certain principles that I follow. I can still do all the things I want to, but my religion gives me a clear sense of what’s right and wrong for me. For example, the social side of cricket is a little bit different for me. I’m not going out to the pub for drinks after a game, but I’ll happily join up with the team for a coffee.
This year I’m involved in an indoor softball league and the fixtures will coincide with the start of Ramadan. Thankfully, because of the time of the year we’re at, it shouldn’t be too bad. When I first started playing cricket, Ramadan was in the height of summer. That was hard. There’s no food, no drink, and you’re out there playing for a few hours in the heat. But the harder it is, the more patience you learn. You’ve got to adapt and get on with it. It builds your faith, it makes you stronger, and you start to recognise the strength within you and what you’re capable of.
When you’re fasting during the day, eating healthily the night before is key. You can’t fill up on fatty foods. You’ve got to get as much fruit and veg in as you can, especially things like dates that are slow-release energy.
Away from playing cricket, I’m also working on a community project with Shropshire Cricket Board, which I joined as women and girls’ recreational director in April 2022. The aim is to get more South Asian ladies from the community playing at clubs. We’ve got a few who are now regulars, they love it, and I’m hoping that once this season starts the social aspect will start to come through even more. I want that element of us spending more time with our team to help attract more women to play.
Being involved with Shropshire Cricket Board keeps me busy. I’ve always wanted to do more, not just for the South Asian community but for cricket in general in Shropshire and Telford. So now I oversee how things are going in the community, looking after upcoming events, what’s happening in schools, and help to manage initiatives aimed at women and girls in the area.
We get so much positive feedback from the people we work with and that’s incredibly encouraging and rewarding. We know we’re doing the right things and heading in the right direction, making things easier for women and girls to play cricket across the county – whatever their background.