Qasim Sheikh

Qasim Sheikh is a former professional cricketer for Scotland, earning 36 caps and scoring three first-class centuries throughout his career. Qasim played a key role in the Cricket Scotland Investigation, speaking out about the racism he faced whilst playing for Scotland. A staunch advocate for mental health, Qasim is passionate about promoting equity, inclusion, and accountability in sport. 

Beginning his career in cricket in 1992, Qasim played professionally for Scotland across the globe. In 2009, he became the first Scottish-born cricketer to score a first-class century in Pakistan. He spent time gaining experience as a Business Development Manager for various companies such as Encompass Corporations and Volunteering Matters. However, in 2022, Qasim was a whistleblower in the Cricket Scotland racism investigation, where the governing body was found to be institutionally racist, leading to the whole board resigning. The Changing the Boundaries report uncovered over 450 instances of racism, among which Qasim had claimed that he felt humiliated and was labelled as a troublemaker when previously trying to raise concerns. 

Due to the racism he faced and the aftermath of the reports' release, along with the effects of the breakdown of his marriage, revoked access to his son, and the coronavirus pandemic, Qasim faced serious mental health struggles like depression and even suicidal thoughts. He began his podcast, Sheikhy’s Podcast, to bring a new sense of purpose to his life and aid his battle with mental health through sharing his experiences. He hopes to foster honest and positive conversations around sport, race, and equality, all whilst bringing awareness to mental well-being issues faced by professional athletes. Through his podcast, Qasim has posted mental health journals, hosted a webinar to connect people on the Cricket Scotland Racism scandal, and interviewed numerous sports personnel, including 4x Olympian Donna Fraser OBE.

As a freelance reporter, commentator, pundit, and host, he has been featured across major sporting channels, such as BBC Sport, and is currently a cricket coach for Edinburgh South Cricket Club. Qasim is an Ambassador for Sporting Equals, where he looks to break down barriers in sport, push for meaningful change, and create comfortable environments for all players to thrive. He recently attended their Leaderboard Academy event as a keynote speaker, where he interviewed the legendary gymnast, Steve Frew. Qasim also spoke at the Stand Up to Racism summit, where he discussed his journey in sport and his experience in speaking out about racism, encouraging other changemakers and campaigners to continue committing themselves to creating a world of fairness, equality, and kindness.