The Jamia Alumni Network proudly celebrates another remarkable achievement of Jahid Ahmed, Jamia 2002 batch, who was honoured with a prestigious Civic Award in 2016 by Tower Hamlets Council in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the local community.
Jahid received the honour from the Speaker and First Citizen of Tower Hamlets Council under the category:
“Improving the quality of life for local people by providing services beyond those they are paid to do.”
The award recognised Jahid’s exceptional commitment to youth development, community engagement, and grassroots cricket initiatives across East London.
Transforming Communities Through Cricket
Alongside his professional and league cricket career, Jahid dedicated many years to developing young people through sport. From September 2009 until August 2018, he served as Cricket Development Manager at the Tower Hamlets Youth Sport Foundation.
In this role, he worked extensively with grassroots cricket programmes designed to increase participation among young people, particularly from ethnic minority communities across East London.
His work focused on:
Encouraging youth participation in cricket
Creating positive sporting opportunities for young people
Supporting community cohesion through sport
Mentoring aspiring cricketers from underrepresented backgrounds
Helping young British Bangladeshis access structured cricket pathways
Through his leadership, coaching, and mentorship, Jahid became an important role model within the community, using sport as a tool to inspire confidence, discipline, teamwork, and ambition.
A Historic Cricketer and Community Leader
By 2018, Jahid Ahmed had already built one of the most influential cricketing journeys among British Bangladeshis in England.
His achievements up to that point included:
First British Bangladeshi to play First Class Cricket in England
First British Bangladeshi to debut in List A county cricket
First British Bangladeshi to serve as 12th man for the England Cricket Team in 2008
Match winning 4 wickets for 32 runs on his List A debut against Sri Lanka in 2006
Helping Blackheath Cricket Club become national champions in 2015
Helping Blackheath win the Kent Cricket League title in 2018, their first league championship since 1984
Named Kent League Player of the Year 2018
These achievements highlighted not only his talent as a cricketer, but also his long-term consistency, leadership, and influence within English club cricket.
Leaving a Legacy Beyond Cricket
The Civic Award reflected what many already knew about Jahid Ahmed, that his impact extended far beyond the cricket field.
Whether mentoring young players, supporting community projects, or inspiring future generations of British Bangladeshi athletes, Jahid consistently used his platform to uplift others and create opportunities for young people.
The Jamia Alumni Network proudly congratulates Jahid Ahmed on this well deserved recognition and honours both his sporting achievements and his lasting contribution to community development and youth empowerment.
