Sana Mir, the first Pakistani woman cricketer to attain the rank of world's best female bowler, visited Centennial's Athletic and Wellness Centre on December 3 to impart some inspiring words to young female athletes attending a cricket workshop.
Mayor Tory pointed out cricket enjoys a long history in Toronto, which was first played by English settlers some 200 years ago. He noted the sport has grown in popularity with the many South Asians who have moved into the region. Centennial was chosen as the venue for the workshop partly because of the success of its own cricket team on the college circuit.
Centennial graduate Melvin John, who is president of the Ontario Cricket Association as well as an accomplished musician and entrepreneur, was on hand to introduce Mir and to thank local teachers who have promoted cricket to their students. He called the sport the biggest hidden secret in Ontario, and pledged to see more young women pick up the game, thanks to new support for equipment and free play.
The assembled students spent a good part of the afternoon practicing bowling and hitting balls in the gym and out of the blustery winter weather. The cricket workshop was sponsored by the Multicultural Centre of Excellence and Diversity, Power Play Sports and the Centennial College Alumni Association.