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| 'I can be myself': the British Asian girls who found freedom in cricket | 'I can be myself': the British Asian girls who found freedom in cricket |
| (14 days later) | |
| “We are rebels within our community. We do what Asian girls from Bradford are not supposed to do – and we are good at it.” So says 16-year-old Zainab at the start of a touching new documentary following the fortunes of the first British all-Asian girls’ cricket team. | “We are rebels within our community. We do what Asian girls from Bradford are not supposed to do – and we are good at it.” So says 16-year-old Zainab at the start of a touching new documentary following the fortunes of the first British all-Asian girls’ cricket team. |
| The team was formed four years ago while the girls were pupils at Carlton Bolling college in Bradford. The BBC film tracks them as they reunite after their GCSEs for one last tournament. But it’s less about cricket than about teenagers, friendship, fun, freedom and the pressures of family expectation. | The team was formed four years ago while the girls were pupils at Carlton Bolling college in Bradford. The BBC film tracks them as they reunite after their GCSEs for one last tournament. But it’s less about cricket than about teenagers, friendship, fun, freedom and the pressures of family expectation. |
| Before they got together, the girls’ only experience of cricket was watching it on television with their fathers and brothers. In spite of this, they began winning tournaments, usually playing against white girls from elite schools. “Some have laughed at us and refused to shake our hands,” says Mariyah, whose cricketing hero is Joe Root. | Before they got together, the girls’ only experience of cricket was watching it on television with their fathers and brothers. In spite of this, they began winning tournaments, usually playing against white girls from elite schools. “Some have laughed at us and refused to shake our hands,” says Mariyah, whose cricketing hero is Joe Root. |
| She says they have always faced discrimination. “Because I wear a scarf and cover my arms, people regard me as a terrorist. So when I play I’m not just proving something to myself, I’m proving something to everybody else who believes that.” | She says they have always faced discrimination. “Because I wear a scarf and cover my arms, people regard me as a terrorist. So when I play I’m not just proving something to myself, I’m proving something to everybody else who believes that.” |
| The girls talk openly about the complexity of growing up as Muslim young women in Britain, the pressures from family and community, and the unexpected freedom cricket has given them to express themselves and play with their friends. | The girls talk openly about the complexity of growing up as Muslim young women in Britain, the pressures from family and community, and the unexpected freedom cricket has given them to express themselves and play with their friends. |
| “If it were not for cricket, if it were not for these girls, I don’t think I would have been here today,” says 16-year-old Hanfia, the troubled rebel in the team who wears Dr Martens, has piercings, listens to Eminem and got kicked out of school. | “If it were not for cricket, if it were not for these girls, I don’t think I would have been here today,” says 16-year-old Hanfia, the troubled rebel in the team who wears Dr Martens, has piercings, listens to Eminem and got kicked out of school. |
| Mariyah says: “Cricket brings out another me. When I’m on a cricket pitch, that’s when I absolutely feel I can be my true self.” | Mariyah says: “Cricket brings out another me. When I’m on a cricket pitch, that’s when I absolutely feel I can be my true self.” |
| “For us cricket is more than just a sport,” says Zainab. It has given her freedom to enjoy life outside of the family home, but with school over it is not as easy to get to training. Her father will not allow her to leave the house without a chaperone. She favours studying law; he wants her to go into medicine. | “For us cricket is more than just a sport,” says Zainab. It has given her freedom to enjoy life outside of the family home, but with school over it is not as easy to get to training. Her father will not allow her to leave the house without a chaperone. She favours studying law; he wants her to go into medicine. |
| “If I did not have cricket I don’t think I would have much chance to leave the house at all,” she says. “Cricket gives me that independence, it gives me that freedom and it allows me to get out and be myself for a bit.” | “If I did not have cricket I don’t think I would have much chance to leave the house at all,” she says. “Cricket gives me that independence, it gives me that freedom and it allows me to get out and be myself for a bit.” |
| These young women are impressive and funny. They talk about going to Pakistan – “I got head-butted by a goat and a donkey stood on my foot,” says one, to hoots of laughter from her team-mates – and they fizz and fidget with excitement when they find out they are meeting their cricketing idols. | These young women are impressive and funny. They talk about going to Pakistan – “I got head-butted by a goat and a donkey stood on my foot,” says one, to hoots of laughter from her team-mates – and they fizz and fidget with excitement when they find out they are meeting their cricketing idols. |
| “If they’re mean I will cry,” says Zainab, before coolly taking selfies with the Pakistan cricket team at Headingley. Mariyah looks longingly over at Root, the captain of the England Test team, as he trains on the pitch. “He is just such an inspirational person,” she confides. “He is like a hero. We’ve never met; I still look up to him.” | “If they’re mean I will cry,” says Zainab, before coolly taking selfies with the Pakistan cricket team at Headingley. Mariyah looks longingly over at Root, the captain of the England Test team, as he trains on the pitch. “He is just such an inspirational person,” she confides. “He is like a hero. We’ve never met; I still look up to him.” |
| Family tragedy also plays a part. Jasmin is a natural athlete and used to play football for Bradford City under-18s. “In the community we live in, girls’ sports … it’s not encouraged,” she says. But Jasmin is dealing with other issues. She had to forgo the chance of a sports scholarship to a top US university after her mother was seriously injured in a car accident while on holiday in Bangladesh. | Family tragedy also plays a part. Jasmin is a natural athlete and used to play football for Bradford City under-18s. “In the community we live in, girls’ sports … it’s not encouraged,” she says. But Jasmin is dealing with other issues. She had to forgo the chance of a sports scholarship to a top US university after her mother was seriously injured in a car accident while on holiday in Bangladesh. |
| The family are Rohingya and fled persecution in Myanmar. Jasmin’s father died in a refugee camp three months before she was born. The family began a new life in the UK nine years ago. Jasmin is now her mother’s main carer. “I chose my mother and my family over the scholarship. For me, family is right at the top.” | The family are Rohingya and fled persecution in Myanmar. Jasmin’s father died in a refugee camp three months before she was born. The family began a new life in the UK nine years ago. Jasmin is now her mother’s main carer. “I chose my mother and my family over the scholarship. For me, family is right at the top.” |
| They are on their way – art school for Hanfia, business studies for Jasmin, medicine for Zainab – but cricket has helped them get there. | They are on their way – art school for Hanfia, business studies for Jasmin, medicine for Zainab – but cricket has helped them get there. |
| • Bats, Balls and Bradford Girls is broadcast on BBC Three on Tuesday 8 January. | • Bats, Balls and Bradford Girls is broadcast on BBC Three on Tuesday 8 January. |
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