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Saad Bhatti 

I have been passionate about cricket from an early age from Africa to England, believing in the spirit of the game and bringing change from the betterment of society, change and acceptance.  Saad umpires in the South Staffs County League and has held a number of influential roles in the community.

Toyin Higgs

I live, breathe and love Cricket and only have myself to blame when my youngest wants me to take him and coach cricket sessions after a very long and often challenging day’s work. I’m thankful that I can still play to a standard he respects and it’s an absolute joy seeing how he is progressing. I want to play a part in ensuring that our beautiful game is fit for purpose and that he and any anyone else who wants to be part of it feels inclusion 👍🏾

Shajait Ali

Having played cricket for over 20 years and been heavily involved since a young age. Determined to see real, sustainable and long-term change through action! We’ve had numerous occasions to reset, but this is the time for a positive change.  In my professional life, I’ve worked for large multinationals in a finance/strategic capacity and so my passion for change is replicated there too! 

Indie Bharaj

I work for Staffordshire Cricket as a Core Cities Development Officer. The Core Cities programme is an action plan from ECB and Sport England to get more individuals from a South Asian background into cricket this includes all levels of participations.  Being a female and from a South Asian background I love working within the community in Sandwell, especially with grassroot cricket and growing the women and girl’s game. I also an ECB coach developer, so I deliver the Foundation 1 and Core Coach qualification.  Not only it is my job to get people into sport and cricket but also being brought up in the cricket environment and always having the support from my family has made me who I am today.

Yaser Mir (Chair of the Group)

Yaser is the founder and director of Engage Communities CIC (not for profit organisation) and owner of multiple businesses. Engage were awarded the Queen's Award in recognition of the outstanding work done in the community. Yaser is appointed as a non-executive director at Staffordshire Cricket. He is also a visiting fellow at Staffordshire University. 

• An Independent Advisor to the Home Office with the objective of ending gang and youth violence and exploitation. His expertise in community mobilisation and youth engagement was provided to local authorities across the country.
• Researcher & Senior Manager at University of Central Lancashire 
• Managed community engagement projects nationally in the areas of drugs and mental health.
• Managed the pathfinder community engagement programme in 5 London Boroughs, which gained high-level recognition by the Metropolitan Police Service. 

Yaser has co-authored or contributed to a wide range of publications and holds a BSc (Hons) Sport, Exercise and Coaching Science and postgraduate qualifications in Public Health. Yaser has won numerous awards for his work including the Uthman Dan Fodio Award for Excellence in Community Development.In his spare time, he teaches and coaches adults, children, and young people the Olympic sport of Taekwondo. 

Asad Agha

BAME Sports Co-Ordinator for 11 years delivering Positive Futures a government funded programme targeting 10–19-year-olds and using sports as the main vehicle of engaging. Worked with over 36 nationalities and developing a strong community legacy, honours achieving Home Office Gold Standard rating for national best practice community engagement project.

Project Engagement Manager for Beat the Street, engaging with over 17,000 people in Sandwell and Birmingham, establishing community sports clubs, winning the Sandwell & Dudley NHS Equality Award.

Coached Cricket in the Sub-Continent as a lead trainer at domestic and academy level, developing plans for establishing cricket academies, working with domestic and international cricketers.

David Perrin

My work has particularly centred around cultural awareness and conflict. This included racism, gang and youth violence, conflict intervention, prevention, resolution and management, school exclusions, mediation and building relationships across diverse communities.

During this period my continuous professional development was specifically dedicated to safeguarding and behaviour.

In 2009 having been approached by Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children’s Board (WSCB) I was invited to be part of a small team to write, build then subsequently deliver a safeguarding course titled ‘Safeguarding Children & Young People from Gangs & Gang Related Activity.

My knowledge, experience and work has included assignments nationally and overseas (USA, South Africa, Ethiopia and Malawi).

Cricket Overview

Junior age groups cricket from age 12/13 with Fordhouses CC and Staffordshire County boys at U13’s and U15’s.

Adult cricket Good Years CC age 11-13

Fordhouses CC since age 13

Wolverhampton Commonwealth CC since age 15.

Since my daughters started playing, I came out of retirement to play when the club was short, ended up playing for another 5/6 years including skippering the 2nd team for 2 years. Managed and coached junior teams up to 2 years ago.

Manpreet Panesar

Manpreet is the Senior Manager, Diverse Communities at the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB). He has experience of working in Diversity & Inclusion and Community Cohesion in the Greater London and currently leads the ECB’s Core Cities Programme which aims to create opportunities, remove barriers and build relationships in the game’s diverse communities.

 Jason Britton, Development Director for Staffordshire Cricket, is also a member of the group.