Young Ambassador programme planned in July
Cricket Shropshire will be running another of its popular Young Ambassador Programmes during the Summer.
Hafeez features in ECB bulletin
We’re delighted that Shropshire’s own Hafeez Choudhry is featured in the latest edition of the ECB’s Raising the Game bulletin.
The monthly bulletin is issued to the cricket family by the ECB highlighting latest events and trends in the game.
We recently featured Hafeez speaking about his journey with Cricket Shropshire and also his faith and celebrating Ramadan.
The current issue says: “Cricket Shropshire has spotlighted the inspiring journey of Hafeez Choudhry, whose involvement in the game has grown from helping out at community sessions to becoming a Board Director.
“First getting involved in the game through local Chance to Shine Street activity, Hafeez quickly became a dedicated volunteer, supporting coaching sessions and helping bring more people into the game.
“Since then, he has gained coaching qualifications, supported interfaith and community programmes and played a key role in bringing in new participants, including helping a refugee player progress into club cricket.
“Now serving as Director of Communities and Chair of the South Asian “United by Cricket” Forum, Hafeez’s journey is a great example of the impact individuals can have in shaping welcoming, inclusive environments across the game.”
The bulletin also marks recent events such as the Get Set Weekend, which a number of clubs in Shropshire were involved with.
It also highlights the record-breaking Schools Cricket Day which youngsters in Shropshire took part in to mark 50 days to go to the start of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
The bulletin can be viewed via the link below.
Raising The Game Bulletin – April 2026
Hafeez is pictured with our team at the Chance to Shine STREET finals in 2025.
All systems go for 2026 Furrows Mid-Week League
This year’s Furrows East Shropshire Mid-week League received its official launch when teams gathered at Wrekin College.
Record numbers for Shropshire Junior Leagues
There will be a record number of teams taking part in Cricket Shropshire’s Junior Leagues this Summer.
Entries open for State School competitions
Cricket Shropshire will again run three competitions for State Schools this Summer as part of the Chance to Shine Programme’s Chance to Compete.
Picture gallery: Women & Girls softball festival
Cricket Shropshire launched the Women & Girls outdoor season with a brilliant Astroturf Festival at Wrekin College.
D40s slip to defeat in opener
Cricket Shropshire D40 squad opened their ECB Pursuit challenge with a five-wicket loss to a young but talented Yorkshire IIs side at a sunny Allscott Heath CC.
Cricket fun for primary pupils
What a morning of cricket fun for youngsters in KS1 from across Telford & Wrekin!
Seniors looking for new recruits
Shropshire’s Senior sides are looking for more ‘youngsters’ to come and join in with the fun.
Young Ambassadors get down to work
The latest group in Cricket Shropshire’s popular Young Ambassadors Programme have successfully completed their latest training sessions.
They will now go back to their clubs during the Summer to complete volunteering sessions before they graduate.
The latest group of youngsters began their volunteering journey during the February half-term with a First Aid course and a session on officiating.
During the Easter holidays they were back at Wrekin College for more sessions on officiating, a coaching workshop, safeguarding and EDI workshops and a practical grounds maintenance workshop.
The original plan was for there to be 24 Young Ambassadors in the current cohort, but such was the popularity of the scheme was expanded to include two cohorts with 47 candidates.
Cricket Shropshire will be looking to run another course later this year – and we already have a waiting list of potential candidates.
Organiser Shannon Aston said: “We had a great couple of days during the Easter holidays and everyone who came along got stuck in which was great to see.
“Now they will all head back to their clubs with their new skills and bolster the volunteer workforce – we ask them to complete a minimum of 20 hours of actively supporting their clubs during the Summer.
“Most get involved in activities such as scoring junior matches, supporting All Stars and Dynamos coaching and lending a hand at club events.
“It is fantastic to hear about the activity the young people get involved in and we hope they continue to support their clubs moving forward.”
Cricket Shropshire is running the programme with the help of former Worcestershire and Shropshire ace Jack Shantry who is now part of the First Class Umpiring panel and officiated at his first international game last Summer.
Jack helped launch the programme back in 2021 when he donated some of the proceeds from his benefit year to Cricket Shropshire.
We are delighted to have Jack on board as our Patron.
Jack said: “I think the programme is a great idea and a fantastic initiative. It is a way of supporting local cricket clubs and getting more people involved.
“The Young Ambassadors who have completed the programme find it valuable and it adds to their competence and confidence and also encourages them to get involved with their clubs.”
Keep an eye on the Board’s website and social media for details of future courses.
If anyone has any questions about the Young Ambassadors programme, they can contact Shannon Aston via shannon.aston@cricketshropshire.co.uk
