Birmingham Phoenix bowler, Abtaha Maqsood, has paid a special visit to a local Leigh Trust school to host a hands-on cricket session and encourage young people to pick up a bat and ball this summer.

Last summer, a mural depicting Abtaha was unveiled at Marlborough Primary School in Small Heath and almost a year on, the talented cricketer has returned to the local area to meet pupils of the school and their parents to host an active cricket session and inspire children from Birmingham to play the sport.

The Birmingham Phoenix bowler visited Wyndcliffe Primary School in Bordesley Green yesterday (Monday 5 June), where more than 60 children and 40 parents who attended the unveiling of Abtaha’s mural last summer, came together to participate in a game of cricket with the sporting star and hear in her own words how she got into cricket and became one of Scotland’s most promising spin bowlers.

During the two-hour event, Abtaha also surprised the children and their parents with goodie bags and complimentary tickets to watch Birmingham Phoenix in action at Edgbaston as part of The Hundred this summer.

23-year-old Abtaha made history during the inaugural season of The Hundred in 2021, becoming Britain’s first hijab-wearing Muslim female to play international cricket. Since the launch of Abtaha’s mural last July, pupils from Leigh Trust have become more involved in cricket and the academy has integrated more sport into its curriculum, which includes a cricket festival involving local communities inspired by The Hundred, which will take place later this month.

Abtaha, who will be back in action in the Birmingham Phoenix women’s team for an action-packed third year of The Hundred this summer, hopes her ongoing activity in the local community will inspire the next generation of female talent from the local area to pursue a career in sport.

Abtaha commented: “It’s truly fantastic to be reunited with pupils and parents from Marlborough Primary School and to see and hear the positive impact that cricket is continuing to have amongst the local community. It’s less than two months to go until we’re back at Edgbaston competing in this year’s competition, and I’m really looking forward to playing in front of our home crowds again and feel the atmosphere of thousands of fans of all ages support us throughout The Hundred!”

Charlene Bull, Trust Sports Lead at Leigh Trust, added: “We’re delighted to have welcomed Abtaha back to our school and to have shown her the positive and inspirational effect that she has had on our pupils, in particular our female students. She’s a wonderful role model for youngsters, so to have her visit us again has been brilliant and we hope her appearance continues to inspire more students across our schools, and the local community, to take up cricket.”

Birmingham Phoenix’s men’s and women’s teams will be back in action at Edgbaston for four unmissable home fixtures this summer from Saturday 5th August, as cricket’s most fast-paced competition returns to excite crowds with another year full of world-class sport and live entertainment for the whole family.

The Hundred offers visitors a memorable, fun-filled day out with fantastic sport, entertainment, and show-stopping moments to enjoy with family and friends. Tickets are great value for money, with adult tickets starting from just £15, £5 for under 16s, and under 6s go free.

For more information and to book tickets to catch Birmingham Phoenix as part of The Hundred, visit www.www.thehundred.com.