Two winners at the Asian Cricket Awards
Kay Baig and Philip Simon were honoured at the recent Asian Cricket Awards, held in the House of Commons, for their services to community cricket in Manchester.
Kay collected the Community Award following her work engaging South Asian ladies on the Core Cities programme and her development of Bee United a women's team who competed in, and came second, in the Softball Cricket tournament.
Four players from the team have decided to become coaches and will enrol on courses this winter, which will increase our team of coaches and create a larger outreach into the hard to reach communities.
Rehaan Rather, Core Cities Activator for the Lancashire Cricket Foundation said: "Kay has been instrumental in launching our Core Cities Women’s Softball Cricket activity in Manchester.
"She has managed to bring South Asian women out of isolation and get them playing cricket in a way which is comfortable for them. This has encouraged a lot of women in Manchester to pick up a bat and ball and take part in physical activity.
"Due to Kay’s passion for engaging with these women, she saw potential in every single one of them and went on to launch the first South Asian Woman’s Softball team in Manchester, Bee United Women CC. The ladies took part in the county softball league with most of them having not played competitively before. The success of this team has had a ripple effect on other communities in Lancashire and she is now helping other women do the same."
Philip, who won the Coach Award at last week's event, has been a key partner to the Core Cities action plan in Manchester, with his club Friends Sporting contributing hugely to the cricket community in Manchester.
Philip juggles his full-time role alongside coaching U9, U11, U13 and U15 cricket at his club whilst playing himself on a Saturday.
Rehaan Rather commented: "Philip has developed so many young cricketers in Manchester and given them a platform to succeed and go on to play district level cricket.
He has also played an important role for the Core Cities plan in Manchester by offering his opinions and providing his service whenever is required and has been a pivotal figure in grassroots cricket in Manchester."
The Lancashire Cricket Foundation congratulates both on their awards!