A NEWLY formed Ukrainian women’s cricket team cheered on Team England at Edgbaston Stadium during the Commonwealth Games thanks to Meriden MP, Saqib Bhatti.
Mr Bhatti was spurred on to secure the Solihull-based team 27 tickets to the T20 Cricket match after he attended a weekly meet up of Ukrainian refugees at St Philip’s Church in Dorridge where he was told about the team.
With the help of staff members from the games, the Ukrainian refugees received the tickets and watched the match between England versus New Zealand.
Mr Bhatti said: “I was thrilled to work with the Commonwealth Games to secure tickets for the Ukrainian refugees who had settled in my patch.
“As they recently formed a women’s cricket team, I thought it would be great to show them to Edgbaston Stadium, a ground full of cricketing history.
“I also wanted to take this opportunity to say that I am so grateful for the generosity of volunteers and organisers who have gone above and beyond to welcome the refugees to the local area.
“I am extremely proud of the UK’s humanitarian support for Ukraine and my constituents have shown this in abundance.
“I will continue to work hard to ensure our new residents have the support they need to get settled in the constituency of Meriden.”
The Conservative MP also hosted a surgery where the attendees could raise any questions they were having about their long-term settlement in the UK, such as finding school places and housing.
