shameelah Mosweu

“Once a FairBreaker, always a FairBreaker” – a post by Shameelah Mosweu, FairBreaker #9

– Shameela Mosweu, Botswana FairBreaker

The team greet Shameelah on arrival at Bradman Oval

Now that everything has calmed down, I can finally post.

So, as some of you might have seen, I was originally denied a visa to go play cricket for FairBreak Global in Australia. A little background on FairBreak – this is an organisation that promotes gender equality and ladies from different countries get invited to play in the global XI squad. My visa got denied because the Australian government thought I was a “flight risk”.

This story ended up in the papers both in Australia and Botswana, which was crazy for me to process. Due to the backlash from the public, my visa got overturned and I was immediately flown to Australia.

I managed to play in a historic game which is a major privilege for me as a female cricketer.

I just want to take this moment to thank everyone for the messages and the support. I don’t know how I would have handled all of this without all of you. I also want to thank the media for writing up about this, one of the reasons the visa got overturned.

But a special thank you to the FairBreak team; from management to the players for all your support, fighting for me, believing in me and my cricket abilities and also inviting me on the tour (my 2nd tour for FairBreak). This has all been a crazy experience but an experience I’ll never forget.

I can not thank everyone enough.

Cricket was played hard and memories for a lifetime were made, and I look forward to what the future holds for FairBreak and myself.

Once again, a massive thank you to everyone for everything. I really appreciate it and will forever be thankful for this amazing opportunity.

Once a FairBreaker, always a FairBreaker.

#fairbreaker #genderequality #fortheloveofthegame

Shameelah Mosweu, Botswana – FairBreak player #9

Statement: Botswana player Shameelah Mosweu’s visa has been denied

– Shaun Martyn, FairBreak Founder

We regret to inform you that, despite numerous representations to government officials in Australia and also to the Botswanan High Commission, we have been unable to secure a Visa for Shameelah Mosweu to take her place as part of a FairBreak Global XI in a historic cricket match against the first-ever Bradman Women’s XI in Bowral this Saturday, February 22, 2020.

Shameelah is an outstanding player and person. She is an international player for Botswana and took part in a FairBreak program in England in 2019. Shameelah impressed everyone with the quality of her play, and her commitment to her teammates and the broader FairBreak agenda. It was with great enthusiasm and pleasure that we invited her to be part of our program in Australia from February 17-23, 2020.

Shameelah has been denied that opportunity as she is deemed a flight risk. Shameelah is a University student in England sponsored by her Government and the Botswanan Sports Commission. It is absurd she is being considered a security risk.

The denial of this opportunity goes against everything that Australia aspires to in proclaiming a ‘fair go’ for all.

Shameelah is a great example for the young men and women of Botswana and every country where opportunities to perform on a world stage are limited. She deserves, as does everyone, the right to accept opportunities to showcase talent and continue to grow as a person and inspire.

The FairBreak XI typically consists of 12 players from 9 countries including 5 national captains; Shameelah’s absence will be greatly missed. In our game this weekend, our team will be captained by Wisden’s Captain of the Decade, Sana Mir from Pakistan. Sana is also the recent recipient of the Asian Game Changer Award, a humanitarian award recognising the great contribution an individual has made to Asia and the world.

We fully support Shameelah in every way we can and continue in our endeavours to have her as part of the team.

Shameela receiving her cap from Wisden’s captain of the decade Sana Mir in England 2019.

Shameela with Sterre Kalis from the Netherlands