Omer's roadmap for Grange
Omer Mahmud Khan has taken over as coach of the Grange women's cricket team knowing he doesn't need to look far to find role models for his charges.
Two recent Grange players, Lucy Weston and Ellen Watson, are now playing for Leicestershire Foxes in the women's one day league in England.
Omer says it is his goal to provide opportunities for others to follow in their footsteps while also targeting success in the fledgling Scottish Women's Premiership and national knock out cup which begins on a twenty:20 format in July.
One of the most recognisable figures in East cricket – Omer played with Drummond Trinity from 2008-2016 before spending the next eight years at Kirkbrae (five as captain alongside three as chairman) he has committed his playing abilities to Boroughmuir this season as it one of the clubs most convenient for him – he says:
'I just completed my level 1 and 2 coaching qualifications with Cricket Scotland when the role at Grange came up.
'There is tremendous potential with around 50 females involved including teams for under-14 and under-16s.
'Some have been playing at Grange since aged four or five and it is such a great venue with a road map for players to follow the likes of Lucy and Ellen.
'With older players availability can be sporadic due to university commitments so my arrival while running the 12 week long Edinburgh Hub for a select group of under-16 boys under the MCC Foundation scheme is a good time to launch a recruitment drive at Grange.
'What we don't want to do is promote under-16's into the seniors just to be number fillers which can be discouraging. We need the up and comings to earn their places.
'Part of the overall challenge is improving awareness of the Women's Premier League but hopefully we play our part alongside Cricket Scotland's growth plan.'
One of England's most decorated cricketers, Stuart Broad, is coming to Edinburgh's Assembly Rooms on 26 October as part of a UK wide tour. Stuart's roadshow will see him reflect on a career which yielded more than 600 Test wickets as well as a T20 World Cup and Ashes success.
The Grange women's cricket team before their opening Scottish women's Premier League match against the combined Watsonian/Dumfries side. The Grange team comprised: E Wood, A Patwari, C Edwards, C Milburn, E Small, B Gull, I Sale, I Westwood, N Maxim, C Beddison, S Nayak.
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