My name is Mehwish Babar, also known as Coach Maeve, and I’m a core coach with Cricket East in Luton. I work across all areas of the game, from grassroots participation through to performance pathways, including disability cricket, MCC hubs, and county age group cricket. I began my journey as a volunteer, and I now lead on key programmes designed to grow the women’s and girls’ game.
A big part of my role is leading girls’ Wicketz sessions and supporting MCC hub programmes, where I focus on introducing cricket to girls who may never have considered the sport before. For me, it’s not just about getting girls to try cricket—it’s about creating a clear and supportive pathway, helping them move into club cricket and, for some, into county age group setups. Seeing that journey from first session to structured competition is what drives me.
I’m passionate about breaking down barriers, particularly for women and girls from ethnically diverse communities. I actively reach out and encourage participation wherever I can—even in everyday places like supermarkets or community spaces—because I know that one conversation can change someone’s confidence to take that first step. Through this, I’ve seen a real growth in female participation locally. I was also honoured to represent the Wicketz programme at the Houses of Parliament, where I spoke about the impact cricket is having on young women and girls.
One of my proudest moments was leading a team in the ECB National Tapeball Tournament as head coach. Most of the women had been playing for less than 12 months, and many have since progressed into clubs as players, coaches, or umpires. Despite facing challenges, including negative perceptions around Asian women in cricket, I’ve remained committed to creating change.
As a mum and coach, I’m proud to be a role model for others starting their journey.
My message: cricket is for you—take that first step.