Zaman Akhter’s starring role for England Lions shows British South Asian cricketers deserve a chance in professional game
Zaman Akhter in action for Gloucestershire. The fast bowler emerged via the South Asian Cricket Academy, and took seven wickets for England Lions against Sri Lanka last month.Zaman Akhter in action for Gloucestershire. The fast bowler emerged via the South Asian Cricket Academy, and took seven wickets for England Lions against Sri Lanka last month.
Dreamt up by Brown and the former England bowler Kabir Ali, the Academy, now in its third year, offers South Asian cricketers aged 18 or over opportunities to play against county second XIs. Attract the attention of the opposition, land yourself a trial, and then a pro contract can become a reality. Since then there have been appearances across all three formats for the county, the wickets of Joe Root and Harry Brook against Yorkshire earlier this season, and enough promise to prompt a chance with the Lions despite a middling red-ball record. The Academy producing an England international has become a real possibility. “What’s really cool about this administration at the moment is they’re clearly not just looking at the county averages,” says Brown.
When the Spin first met Brown two years ago, the programme was operating on a meagre budget, waiting to see if support would arrive from the ECB. It came last year with the announcement of a partnership with the governing body, the extra funding helping the Academy expand. Last winter there were three regional hubs set up in Birmingham, Bristol and Bradford, with players housed together and able to access each hub’s team of coaches.
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