Two community cricket heroes have been honoured at Lord’s for their work to make cricket more inclusive.

Zuleijkha Elahi and Mohammad Qamar were invited to Lord's to watch a match as special guests of MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) after being named a 2026 MCC Community Cricket Hero.

Zuleijkha is a champion of women's and girls' cricket.

She had no cricket experience when she first helped out as a parent volunteer at Lutonian Cricket Club, but ended up managing the entire U11 girls’ team while juggling a full-time job alongside supporting the local club and working towards her coaching/scoring qualification.

Pictured from left, Ricky Reynolds (MCC Head of Programmes, Chair of Community Cricket Heroes judging panel), Mohammed Qamar, Rob Lawson (MCC CEO), Zulejkha Elahi, James Watson and Huw Turbervill (The Cricketer Editor).

placeholder image — Pictured from left, Ricky Reynolds (MCC Head of Programmes, Chair of Community Cricket Heroes judging panel), Mohammed Qamar, Rob Lawson (MCC CEO), Zulejkha Elahi, James Watson and Huw Turbervill (The Cricketer Editor).

And Qamar, or coach Q as he is known in the local cricketing community, has had an incredible impact on adaptive cricket in Bedfordshire.

In 2013 he set up a place for disabled young people and adults to play cricket. His younger brother Raz has Down’s Syndrome and has loved cricket all his life. By creating the first ever disability side in the region, he finally had a place to play.

He ran the side as a volunteer for nine years and is now the disability development officer for Cricket East and organises SEND schools’ competition as well as cricket delivery around SEND schools in the east of the UK. He also run five disabilities Super 1s cricket hubs on weekly basis throughout Cricket East and organise cricket festivals with the neighbouring counties. 

The Community Cricket Heroes campaign, which is run in partnership with The Cricketer magazine, launched in 2023 and celebrates the grassroots game, rewarding 11 unsung grassroots cricket heroes who go above and beyond to keep local cricket clubs thriving.

Now in its fourth year, a team of 11 heroes were named by MCC and The Cricketer from nominations received from across the UK.

Zuleijkha and Qamar joined the Community Cricket Heroes at Lord's for England's Test against Pakistan, the second of a three-match series and the current World Test Championship cycle.

Qamar said: “It is an honour to be recognised as MCC Community Cricket Hero. But the real prize is getting to increase the accessibility of cricket. Words cannot describe the feelings when you hear participants saying how much they enjoy my cricket sessions.” 

MCC President, Ed Smith, said: “Cricket's true depth lies in these grassroots stories, and this year's heroes are a brilliant reminder of that. Their dedication, often given quietly and without recognition, is exactly what keeps the game alive in communities up and down the country. 

“I hope their time at Lord’s watching the Test match was a fitting recognition of their commitment to our wonderful game.” 