Nayma’s cricketing journey started at just 12 years old, when she earned a place in the Western Warriors under 16 girls squad. Cricket was already a big part of her family life, with both of her parents actively involved at East Kilbride Cricket Club.
Fast forward to 2023, Nayma made her international debut for Scotland, playing for the national side in two One-Day Internationals and seven T20 matches.
During the same season, Nayma delivered a memorable performance for Scotland at the at the Under 19 Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa during their first ever appearance at the tournament.
A key moment in her performance came when she claimed the wicket of India’s Shafali Verma — one of the most dangerous young batters in world cricket. This dismissal was highlighted in official reports as the defining moment of her World Cup campaign.
On the experience Nayma said, “[that] was definitely one of my standout moments. My coach had said to me before the U19 World Cup that I’d get Shafali’s wicket, and hearing that belief, meant a lot, especially given the player she is and still continues to be. I put a lot of work into preparing for that moment, analysing her game… I made a clear plan around my bowling and field placements and shared it with my captain and coach, who were really supportive.”
“We knew the challenge she posed, but it was about trusting the work I’d put in. When I got her wicket, It felt like a dream coming true. [It] set a great tone for the team and felt like real proof that the hard work had paid off. More than anything, it gave me huge confidence that I belonged at that level and could compete against the best in the world.”
Chasing runs, breaking barriers
Nayma continued to build on her success, competing in the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier and capped off the year with her One-Day International debut against Ireland.
In 2024, she earned a place in the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier squad and delivered one of her standout performances, taking four wickets in a 27 run victory over the Netherlands and securing the Player of the Match award.
Nayma said, “It was my first international match bowling as a leg spinner, so I was definitely nervous. When I was brought on to bowl I was really clear, I wanted to change the game for Scotland. Even though I was nervous, I trusted my skills and the hard work I’d put in. Bowling my first over well, especially while others were under pressure, gave me a huge confidence boost.”
“In my second over, I mixed in my variations, which helped me pick up that breakthrough wicket. I ended up taking four crucial wickets, breaking key partnerships and conceding just 14 runs in my four overs. That put them under pressure and swung the game in our favour. When I received the Player of the Match award, I was emotional, and so were my parents, because it wasn’t just about the wickets, it was about winning a game for my country.”
Nayma’s ability to rise to the occasion and perform under pressure has established her as one of the most exciting emerging talents in Scottish women’s cricket.
By late 2024, she was once again selected for the national under 19 squad for the 2025 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia and subsequently earned a place in the senior squad for the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Pakistan.
A true all-rounder
On the pitch Nayma is an all-rounder, meaning she has strength in both batting and bowling disciplines. The role allows her to contribute in many ways, providing balance to the team and offering the captain tactical options.
Nayma said, “In club cricket, everyone is expected to both bat and bowl, and I’ve always wanted to be good at whatever I do, so I made sure I worked hard on both disciplines from a young age. I often opened the batting and bowling in club matches and did the same for Scotland Under-15s and Under-17s, so becoming an all-rounder felt like a natural path for me.”
Away from the pitch, Nayma is studying Accountancy and Finance at the University of Glasgow. As a result of her sporting excellence and academic ambitions, Nayma became the first cricketer in Scotland, male or female, to receive the Winning Students 100 Scotland National Sports Scholarship.
Nayma said, “Winning the Students 100 scholarship was an incredible honour, especially being the first cricketer in Scotland to receive it. It felt like recognition for not just of my performances on the field, but of the hard work I’ve put into balancing cricket alongside my education. I’ve always tried to give both equal commitment through good organisation and effort, so being awarded the scholarship was really special.”
“The flexibility it offers has been massive for me. It allows me to fully commit to training and competitions while continuing to progress academically. My lecturers are incredibly supportive and do their best to accommodate my schedule, whether that’s for training sessions or when I’m away on tour.”
Winning Students 100 is a world-leading dual-career programme that supports more than 100 of the most talented student athletes studying at Higher and Further Education institutions in Scotland.
sportscotland are into the third year of a five-year partnership (2023-2028) with University of Stirling to deliver Winning Students 100. The programme helps student athletes through the provision of academic flexibility, athlete support services and grants of up to £3000.
In 2024/25, 111 student athletes were supported, representing the widest ranging cohort to date, covering 32 sports and 19 unique universities and colleges across Scotland.
Inspiring others
At only 19, Nayma’s rise through the sport reflects the growing energy and ambition shaping women’s cricket in Scotland.
Her role within the national pathway is a powerful signal of how Scottish sport is growing and developing.
Nayma “Representation is incredibly important to me. If seeing me at EK Cricket Club encourages even one young girl to pick up a bat or ball, then that’s powerful. When I first started, I was the only girl at the club and now seeing how far we’ve come is really special. Thanks to the work my mum, Moon, has done to help build the women’s and girls’ section, we now have around 23 girls involved, which is amazing.”
As Scotland continues to strengthen its commitment to women’s sport, Nayma’s achievements are already having an impact on young girls to view cricket as a space where they can grow, succeed and belong.
