After 5 years with the WCB as our Community Participation Officer, Mina Zahoor is moving on to a national role with Chance to Shine, to manage their Street Cricket programme. Whilst congratulating Mina on her new role, everyone at the WCB is sad to be losing a much valued member of the team. During her time with the WCB, Mina has been instrumental in bringing about a huge increase in our engagement with women and girls, from the South Asian community and beyond, across Birmingham and Warwickshire.
Mina has established thriving girls’ cricket clubs in many Birmingham schools and community settings. Her Glow in the Dark cricket festivals have enabled girls to play cricket in an exciting environment, where they don’t feel self-conscious. Teachers from the schools involved are always full of praise for Mina’s ability to inspire their girls and act as a powerful role model. An international cricketer herself, Mina also recently represented the MCC in match against the Pakistan Women’s team prior to the Commonwealth Games.
Samreen, a student at Bordesley Green Girls’ School, spoke to the WCB last year and captured perfectly the positive impact Mina has on the girls she coaches. “I have always wanted to be like Mina. I am motivated and inspired by how she runs things. Mina has helped so many girls who wouldn’t have had the opportunity to play cricket otherwise. She is a great role model.”
Ed McCabe, WCB General Manager, pays tribute to Mina’s exemplary teamworking skills. “Mina has demonstrated amazing teamwork while she has been part of the WCB team. She has built strong relationships internally and externally amongst schools, community groups and our fantastic team of WCB Community Coaches. Mina leaves us much better connected with many groups across a number of Birmingham communities. Thank you, Mina.”
Eaton Gordon, WCB’s Community Engagement Manager, praises Mina’s leadership of the WCB’s Community Coaching team. “Our coaches have responded well to Mina’s leadership and organisational skills. She has brought the group together and introduced a number of innovations. As well as Glow in the Dark festivals and an extensive community coaching programme, Mina has also been involved in ‘Bolly Cric Hit’ along with her colleague Simran Panesar. Simran and the rest of the team will pick up all these projects to carry on the great work Mina has been doing for the last five years. She will be much missed as a member of the team, but I am sure we will see her frequently in her new role.”
The final word about Mina’s impact on women and girls playing cricket in Birmingham should go to Mrs Franks, Cricket Lead at Bordesley Green Girls’ School, when she talked about Mina’s after school club last year. “To those people who say that girls don’t want to play sport, this club proves the exact opposite. All girls want to play sport in my experience, they just need the right environment.” Over the past five years, Mina has created the ‘right environment’ in many locations across Birmingham and encouraged a generation of girls to play and enjoy cricket. Thank you, Mina - our best wishes for every success in your new role.
