Naima Sheikh, a Pakistani-origin female cricketer, has written a new chapter in the history of Scottish cricket. She has become the first cricketer in the country’s history to receive the prestigious Scotland National Sports Scholarship, an award given to student-athletes who demonstrate excellence both academically and athletically.
The 19-year-old Naima has been selected for the ‘Winning Students 100’ scholarship, which was established in 2008. Since its inception, over 1,700 student-athletes have been awarded this scholarship. Recipients can receive up to £3,000 in financial support annually. Naima is the first player in Scottish cricket history, in either the men’s or women’s game, to be granted this distinguished scholarship.
Currently, Naima is studying Accounting and Finance at the University of Glasgow. This year, a total of 105 students from 31 different sports were awarded the scholarship, with Naima being one of the recipients. Overjoyed at the recognition, Naima described the award as a major motivation for her both as a student and an athlete.
In her cricketing career, Naima made her Scotland national team debut in 2023. Since then, she has played two One Day Internationals and seven T20 internationals for the country, excelling as an all-rounder. Cricket Scotland has hailed Naima’s achievement as a significant step forward for women’s cricket, recognising the positive impact her success could have in inspiring the next generation of female cricketers in the country.
Naima Sheikh’s accomplishment not only adds a new milestone to Scottish cricket but also highlights the growing prominence and contribution of women athletes in the sport.