Former Nottinghamshire batter and current pathway coach Bilal Shafayat is bound for Morocco to help distribute aid and essential supplies in the aftermath of last week's earthquake. 

Shafayat, who made 162 appearances for Notts and whose wife hails from the North African nation, is to spend an initial five days delivering resources to those most in need after the disaster. 

The quake struck 44 miles south-west of Marrakesh on Friday, and is the largest the area has witnessed since 1900.

The 39-year-old admitted he felt compelled to act after news of the 6.8-magnitude quake broke on Friday. 

“When this happened a few days ago, with it being so close to home for my family, and we were discussing how good it would be to go out and help wherever we could,” he said.

“My friend is a director of a charity called As Suffa, who do a lot of work wherever there’s emergency aid needed, and he’s also involved with Smethwick cricket club where I play on Saturdays. Throughout the season I’ve taken an interest in the stuff he’s been doing, but you have to be spontaneous when things like this happen.

“Everything added up – my eldest is back at school, and my wife said ‘I’ll handle the ship here, just go and do what you can.'

“It will be As Suffa’s first time douig aid work in Morocco – they’ve been in places like Lebanon, Syria and Turkey before, but not to Morocco – so with me having been going out to Morocco for a little while, hopefully I can add some benefit to the trip.”

Shafayat's marital ties with Morocco have made him familiar with the country, but he is mentally prepared for the dramatically different scene which will greet him upon landing this week. 

Entire towns have been reduced to rubble by the disaster, with 300,000 people believed to have been affected in total as medical supplies, food and drink run short.

Almost 3,000 fatalities have been confirmed, with a further 5,000 injuries. 

“Luckily, everyone that we’re close to out there has been fortunate, but there are so many families who have been hit hard, and have lost people,” he said.

“We’ll do what we can to provide what we can to get them through this tough period.

“With charity work, I like to know where the money is going, so it’s a nice feeling to know that I will be physically distributing the resources that we’re able to secure with the money we raise.

“We’ll be out there for at least five days – with teams in the Atlas Mountains near the epicentre, and groups helping to source supplies – but if needs be we’ll be back afterwards to keep helping in the areas that need it most.”

The aid mission is something of a step into the unknown for Shafayat, who has never joined such an effort before. 

“I’ve been told to stay open minded, because you can’t plan for how things will be on the ground,” he said.

“It will be a challenge, but I’ve always been up for a challenge – and rather than being cushy at home where I’ve got everything I need, I can give something back to a place that’s close to my heart.

“I just want to raise awareness of what’s happening out there, and the more we can support and raise funds the better.”

To support Bilal’s fundraising efforts, visit his donation page here…