Luton teenager Abdus Salaam has used a charity cricket programme to forge a brighter future from a whirlpool of domestic violence – now he’s helping others do the same as a coach.  

The 19-year-old is a dedicated volunteer at Wicketz, a Lord’s Taverners project using cricket as a tool for change, that launched its first hub outside London in Luton in early 2016. 

The programme aims to establish community cricket clubs in hard-to-reach, deprived areas where opportunities to play sport are lower than the national average.

Salaam, who witnessed domestic violence in his early life and experienced severe anger management issues, has turned from mere participant to a coach in three years at Wicketz. 

He delivered a workshop in poetry at the project’s national festival, bringing its 16 regional hubs together for three unforgettable days at Derbyshire’s Repton School from August 6-8. 

“The first year I came as a player, the second year as a player-coach and this year I went as a fully-fledged coach,” Salaam said.

“It’s important Wicketz is aimed at hard-to-reach areas to keep people off the streets, keep them safe and give kids more chances in sport.

“I nearly went down a bad path in life but this project gave me the chance to work in sport and say I’ve achieved something in life.

“It’s about so much more than cricket – we’ve got so much we want them to learn, we want to help them express their feelings and give them leadership skills.

“When I started attending, there were only three hubs in the country and now we’re welcoming teams from the top and bottom of the UK.”

The Luton lad ran workshops in poetry and music, encouraging participants under the age of 12 to express their emotions through those mediums. 

On the field, the 8 to 16-year-olds were put through their paces by professional coaches on the lush grounds of the Derbyshire independent school. 

Ex-international fast bowler Kabir Ali, who has coached at the Wicketz Luton hub in the past, gave budding quicks even more of his expertise while former England coach Peter Moores tested their fielding skills. 

Having worked at events with professional cricketers in the past, Salaam spoke from experience of the impact such figures could hold.

“I’m sure I can speak for the kids when I say I was astonished to be with them and being coached by them,” he said.

“It’s amazing to have legends like themselves come down.

“Some of their regular coaches have been helping them for so long and obviously the kids respect them, but they respond so well to the guys who have been out in the middle at Lord’s and the biggest grounds in the world.”

Luton Development Office Amran Malik, who has worked closely with Salaam in his three years on the project, spoke highly of his growing maturity and coaching ability.

“Abdus has had challenges early in life but it’s a phenomenal story, really, with what he’s done,” said Malik. 

“He’s maturity and growing in confidence. Since taking over, I’ve given him more of a leadership role.

“Now I can just give him 20 young kids to work with at one time. I’m always over his shoulder but he knows exactly how to handle it.”