Lancashire Cricket Foundation and Shadab Khan team up for school day
Lancashire Cricket’s Vitality Blast overseas Shadab Khan says it is “very important” for him to play a part inspiring the next generation.
The all-rounder was speaking following a coaching session at Burnage Academy for Boys, a school in South Manchester, during South Asian Heritage Month.
Shadab was helping at a Lancashire Cricket Foundation-led session, giving a masterclass on leg-spin followed by a question-and-answer session. He stressed the importance of inspiring cricketers of the future.
“I think it’s very important and it’s a proud moment for me as well. When I started, I was like that [a passionate young cricketer], we need someone at our grounds to come and inspire us.
“I try to come here and try to inspire because the South Asian community love cricket. If someone is coming who plays internationals, I think it’s good for them.
“I’m an ambassador of cricket and an ambassador of Pakistan. So, it’s my responsibility to inspire our South Asian community and come here and give what I have learnt. I have something of meaning, so I have to give it back.”
The Pakistan international, who has made 203 appearances for his country, explained just how important the South Asian community is to cricket in Lancashire.
“It’s very important because South Asians, they love cricket. When we were there [in school] we started playing street cricket and I can see it from there [the school children] as well. They love their cricket, it is the only sport they love, so it’s very important that they play and give back to Lancashire.”
The session was run by Arsalan Khalid, who works as an Urban Cricket Development Officer for the Lancashire Cricket Foundation.
He discussed the significance of Shadab’s visit to the session and the importance of the work the Lancashire Cricket Foundation does year-round.
“We have a lot of cricketers here and they only see these stars on the telly or actually going to a match. Coming over here, it’s so good for them to have this time and Shadab giving a good time here. He’s bowling with them, he’s batting with them, so it’s amazing to see.
“Behind the scenes, we have this great facility here through the ECB cricket cities and the Lancashire Cricket Foundation working together, providing them [the school children] the same opportunities as some private school kids get.”
To find out more information about the Lancashire Cricket Foundation’s work and the areas of Lancashire they work in, take a look at their website here.
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