Middlesex Cricket is delighted to announce that we will play a two-day red-ball friendly against the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA) at Radlett Cricket Club over Thursday 31st August and Friday 1st September 2023.
The match will start at 11am on both days and Middlesex members and supporters are invited to attend, with entry free for all.
The fixture will be the second time Middlesex and SACA have met, following the inaugural match between the two sides last summer when a Middlesex eleven ran out winners at Teddington Cricket Club in a fifty-over clash.
On that day, three wickets apiece for Ethan Bamber and Max Harris, plus two for Ishaan Kaushal did most of the damage for Middlesex with the ball, as SACA were dismissed for 215 inside 48 overs.
In reply, Middlesex had a fine 84 from Joe Cracknell and 60 from Joel Curtis to thank for their four-wicket victory, as they reached their target six wickets down with 16 overs to spare.
The South Asian Cricket Academy will be keen for revenge when the two sides meet again at Radlett in August and will come to the Brunton Memorial Ground with a side packed full of talent.
The Academy was created to tackle the lack of representation of British Born South Asian cricketers in the professional game, and since its formation has proven to be a huge success, with Kashif Ali (Worcestershire), Andy Umeed (Somerset), Zain Ul-Hassan (Glamorgan), Jafer Chohan (Yorkshire), Zaman Akhter (Gloucestershire), Hassan Azad (Northamptonshire) and Arafat Bhuiyan (Kent) all graduating through the Academy to first-class counties where they have earned professional terms with their respective counties.
On taking on SACA again this year, Alan Coleman, Middlesex Cricket’s Director of Cricket, commented:
“Whilst Middlesex ran out winners relatively comfortably in the end when our two sides met last year, there were some seriously talented cricketers in their ranks, and it was clear that there was plenty of potential within the Academy.
“It’s great to see that several players from within the SACA programme have since gone on to develop professional careers in the game, and we are really looking forward to going up against them again this year at Radlett to give their players another opportunity to showcase their skills in a competitive fixture against an established professional outfit.
“Our thanks go to all at Radlett Cricket Club for agreeing to host the fixture and we look forward to welcoming all from SACA to the Brunton Memorial Ground later this month.”
Middlesex 2nd XI
South Asian Cricket Academy
