QUEEN OF SPEEN STARS FOR THE PARK

WHAT a wonderful night it was on Monday, July 10, when Salma guested for North Wales club Hawarden Park in their women's T20 match against Oakmere of Cheshire.
Who else would drive down from Birmingham after a long hospital shift to North Wales to guest in a cricket match! No-one can beat the Queen of Speen for passion or dedication.
The game was due to be played at the Castle Ground in Hawarden, but the rain had started to fall heavily and there was no chance of any action.
However, at Oakmere the weather was better and although time was of the essence, Hawarden agreed to travel to mid-Cheshire to play the fixture.
It turned out to be a really good game at a beautiful ground.
Oakmere batted first and made 88 off their 15 overs. Salma bowled beautifully. Her first ball turned a county and beat everything, almost the perfect start!
Salma's first over was a maiden, her second over produced a wicket - bowled and so did her third over - bowled again. Her final figures were 3-1-9-2 - brilliant.
The rest of the team produced some good deliveries, Becky Moss, Naela Ahmad and 12-year-old Sammi Short was really impressive, showing some fine control and taking a lovely caught and bowled. Sammi is one for the future.
It must be said all the Oakmere players batted well too, especially their opener who retired after making 25. They found the gaps and played intelligent cricket.
Hawarden's batting never got going and a lot of that was down to the accurate, sensible bowling of Oakmere.
Salma made six, hitting one four, but she was dropped twice before being caught the third time she skied the ball.
There was some good hitting from Naela and the final team total was 40.
Well played Oakmere, a really good all-round side and a lovely welcoming club.
It was a great night. All the Hawarden team really appreciated Salma's presence and while she was there she managed to give some coaching to a beautiful little girl, Aahilya Ahmad, daughter of Naela, who shows a real interest in spinning the ball. Hopefully she will keep playing and improving and will not forget the day she met the Queen of Speen.
Mention too for Naela's wonderful sister Shamila, a lovely person who is developing a career in nursing and also loves her sport.
Salma can now put an appearance for a North Wales team on her cricketing CV!
This weekend she will hopefully get in two games for Worcestershire who are top of Division Two of the County Championship. Worcs are currently top of the table with Salma taking seven wickets in three matches, including a county best 4-25.

SALMA IS BOWLING THEM OVER!

SHE has all sorts of sporting ventures planned for the rest of this year but SALMA BI is having a wonderful season playing her favourite sport - CRICKET

We know all about Salma's achievements off the field, her awards, her coaching, her ventures in getting more people involved in sport, so let's firstly look at the sport at which she excels most - CRICKET! 

Here is a rundown on her 2012 season so far...

The Summer 2012 cricket season is well underway, and as always it's a busy schedule for Salma who takes time out from the professional career of nursing, using up annual leave to play sports.

It all kicked off with the county season and Salma became a very useful player for WORCESTERSHIRE, helping them into top position in the WOMEN'S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO by taking a number of useful wickets.

Salma is getting closer to yet again being the leading wicket-taker in her league. Used as a full-time off-spin bowler, Salma will use her spells wisely to bag big wickets - including England wickets.

Here is a look at WORCESTERSHIRE great form so far this season....

May 6 v Durham: Worcestershire won by 187 runs. Salma took 1-19

May 7 v Wales: Abandoned (not a ball bowled)

May 27 v Cheshire: Worcestershire won by seven wickets. Salma's figures 10-1-25-4 (Best ever figures for county!)

June 3 v Warwickshire: Abandoned (not a ball bowled)

June 4 v Netherlands: Worcestershire won by seven wickets. Salma took 2-28.

Salma's full county figures so far in 2012: seven wickets in three games for 72 runs (average 10.28)

Apart from playing high-level competitive cricket Salma has turned up for all club games for the women's and men's teams at Five Ways Old Edwardians. 

Being a useful player always is an advantage assisting a new Development side.

Salma made an appearance for a T20 side and hit a best 34 not out in 5 overs with non-stop fours and sixes.

Salma has also been approached by a team in Wales, who are struggling for a win, to get them started. Sometimes all it takes is to get a little boost and the whole team will gain confidence.

Salma still is playing for MCC representatives who combine together as a team to play against other counties, clubs, schools, universities and academies. All games are pay to play, so you can imagine how much it costs to buy kit, travels and teas. Perhaps it all comes down to commitment and passion. 

When Salma isn't at the firing line she has supported Anisha her younger sister, aged 16, who represents Warwickshire Under 17's.

Salma still fits in her coaching and umpiring every week where possible.

Salma's other younger sister Aisha, aged 17, was recently selected for West Bromwich Albion Football Club's Scholarship Programme.

These are exciting and hectic times but nothing is stopping these girls from doing what they love!

The three sisters also compete alongside each other for The Great White Sharks Futsal Team - the only Asian Women's Futsal Team in the Birmingham League ever in history and now in their third season. 

What's next on the cards? 

Salma, founder of cricket coaching venture Believe in M.A.D Making A Difference has now gone into partnership with Gemma Smith, founder of Sporting Pathways.

Gemma, the Women's Futsal League manager, has previously worked closely with Salma on past projects i.e Women's Futsal Marathon 10-Hours Record & Women's Indoor Cricket T10 World Cup 2012.

Gemma was previously selected for the England Women's Football Team Under 17s squad (more on Gemma in a separate article on the Great White Sharks blog).

Gemma believes in creating opportunities for others in sport by making them realise the dreams her and Salma once had.

Two strong personalities Salma and Gemma (Jess & Jules) look forward to host their next big event - the Women's Futsal 20 Hours Marathon 2012 scheduled for Saturday 25th August 2012.

They are signing up girls right now for a Futsal match which runs from 4am to midnight. They are not only raising money for Cerebal Palsy, but also looking to set another women's futsal record - never attempted before but not yet beaten either. 

Since winning the Asian Women of Achievement Sport Award in May, Salma feels even more confident about setting more records and will reveal what other sports they look forward to promoting for girls.

Straight after the Futsal event Sporting Pathways are going to host 'World Dodgeball'. Recruits showing interest are nationally based making their way from London, Leeds, Wales, Liverpool & Manchester!

MAD/Sporting Pathways also aim to also back a project based in the USA called GET HER IN THE GAME.

This project will try to prove girls aged 14+ are not dropping out of sports, but in fact are taking them up. The aim will be to find 100 girls in the UK with a sporting career they will aim to raise the profiles of.