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A primary school in Birmingham has dedicated a mural to Britain’s first hijab-wearing cricketer, Abtaha Maqsood.
The mural at Marlborough Primary School which is 16ft tall aims to inspire Muslim girls in the area to take up the sport.
Birmingham artist Lucy Danielle painted this commission piece in celebration of Abtaha signing another year with Birmingham Phoenix team for the Hundred tournament starting again next month. Abtaha was there to reveal the mural, answer questions from Leigh Trust schoolgirls, and to play a cricket game with them.
Abtaha said that it was a “surreal experience” to see her face on the wall. “When I got told about the mural, I had no idea I had made such a big impact. There are some cultural barriers out there, especially when it comes to South Asian girls playing sport. I didn’t face those barriers too much, but I know for a fact there’s still that mindset out there… that girls shouldn’t be playing cricket and they should stay at home – that’s why we need things like this to hopefully inspire as many people to go and live their dream. I hope even if at least a handful start playing cricket then that’s a bonus for me,” Abtaha told BBC.
