LV= INSURANCE PRIDE OF CRICKET AWARDS 2023 WINNERS - LV= COMMUNITY HERO: Tanvir Ahamed epitomises the positive energy running through London Tigers. He is respected by his community and idolised by his players
Spend just a short period of time inside the cricket operation at London Tigers and you'll get a true sense of the meaning of community spirit.
From the complex, located in the heart of Southall - home to a thriving South Asian population - to the warmth of the players who frequent it, it is a wholesome environment.
Cricket head coach Tanvir Ahamed epitomises the positive energy running through the club. He is respected by his community and idolised by his players. It is difficult to imagine what the club, which showcases more than a dozen teams, would look like without him.
"We need a lot of Tanvirs in this country," Tigers chair Shahidul Alam Ratan, chief executive of Capital Kids Cricket, told The Cricketer.
"He is a role model and I think people should follow how he engages with the community, the players and how he encourages them. Those stories need to be told and shown to the people and this is how we can get more Tanvirs."
Tanvir Ahamed is the LV= Community Hero for 2023 [supplied]
Tanvir has been recognised for his work with London Tigers [supplied]
He added: "He is always making them feel welcome. It is always for them. He goes above and beyond his work. He supports the parents the way he should, following safeguarding procedures to ensure children are home with other adults. Within the South Asian community, we have found it very difficult to get volunteers, very difficult to get parental commitment, but Tanvir what he has successfully done has always made sure that all kids can get home or go to away games."
Ahamed's work across 10 years with the Tigers, including inspiring 1,000s of young people through cricket, leading All Stars and Dynamos training programmes, mentoring, acting as a groundkeeper for junior and senior teams as well as volunteering at schools across the area, is finally getting the wider recognition it deserves.
Currently studying for his Level Three coaching qualification, last year he scooped the ECB national coach award and Middlesex coach of the year prizes.
He is once again in the winner's circle after being voted the LV= Community Hero for 2023, prevailing in a strong category containing five other nominees.
"His main passion is to work with young people. As long as he works with the young people, he can develop a few more Tanvirs"
"Cricket is a sport where you can express yourself, " he said. "You allow more time in your life and is one of those sports where you get happiness as well. I've found my happiness in cricket.
"The community gave me the strength to do this. They're always supporting me, especially the parents, the kids, the volunteers, P.E. teachers from the schools. I do lots of charity events. The community supports me, they're an inspiration to me and it has given me a boost."
Central to the philosophy at London Tigers is personal development and wellbeing. The strive to be a safe space for people from BAME communities, using the power of sport to keep them from a life of crime.
"It is a big thing," Ahamed explains. "If you can see how they're improving their daily life through sport, you can see this community is safe. Sport is a big thing for me in the community that can help make it safer."
Tanvir has previously won coaching awards [supplied]
Despite the high number of youngsters he serves, Ahamed manages to achieve a personal touch. He knows everything about each member, from their last score, their injury history, to who is best on social media. Every stone is unturned.
Though Ahamed's heart remains at London Tigers, his ambitions stretch beyond that. Elite coaching - the Bangladesh Premier League is a possible destination - is ultimately the aim. But given his desire to nurture cricket coaches of the future among current players, Ratan is relaxed about what the future holds.
"His main passion is to work with young people," he added. "As long as he works with the young people, he can develop a few more Tanvirs.
"He wants to make sure there are people who play at a high level, but he also wants to work with the elite as well.
"He is a learner; he always asks people questions. That is a good quality for anyone who wants to learn. He wants to work with BPL and one of the things he is trying to do is get more female coaches and work with parents around this area to help girls play cricket and continue at a higher level."
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