Young Lions Cricket Championship launches with six under-18 teams

Six teams will take part in an exciting new summer league, for under-18s, to launch on Thursday, July 31.

The Young Lions Cricket Championship is the brainchild of Wrenthorpe and MCC player Imran Dawood, an ECB Level Two coach.

In addition to his own club, Wrenthorpe, Imran, the fledgling league’s president and chairman, has persuaded Batley, Bowling Old Lane, King Cross Juniors, New Farnley and Saltaire to back his venture by entering teams.

The MACC Academy, open to boy and girl cricketers, in northern England, aged 11 to 17, is collaborating with the Young Lions Cricket Championship, and at the tournament’s conclusion will award a full scholarship to one exceptional player.

Bradford-born former first-class cricketer Moin Ashraf, a bowler who was on Yorkshire’s books between 2010 and 2015, is the MACC Academy’s head coach and director.

As league president, Imran will select the scholarship recipient, based on “merit and overall contribution through the competition”.

In a statement, the Young Lions Cricket Championship said: “This honour [the award of a MACC Academy scholarship] will recognise not only sporting excellence but also leadership, integrity, and the promise of greatness beyond the boundary.”

“Together, we believe in the power of sport to shape futures, inspire ambition, and unlock potential where it shines brightest.”

The league will provide youngsters with competitive cricket – matches with and against players of their own age – during the six-week school summer holidays.

Its 40-over games, for which the Dukes County International ball will be used, are scheduled for Thursdays, starting at 11.30. 

Member clubs will play each other once, on a round robin basis, with the top two teams progressing to a grand final, to take place on Sunday, September 14.

Venue for the final is yet to be confirmed. An announcement will be made in August.

The King Cross cricket ground, in Halifax, is no longer used for cricket. Football and amateur rugby league teams now occupy the site.

King Cross Juniors have agreed, therefore, to play their July 31 season-opener, against Saltaire, at Greetland Cricket Club, and the rest of their matches away from home.

Imran said: “The idea [for such a league] has been in development for approximately 18 months. It stemmed from numerous conversations and reflections on how to better support the development of players approaching the end of junior cricket.

“The league will create meaningful opportunities for under-18s to play the game they love – specifically in a longer format. The league is designed to give players the platform to further develop and express themselves across all disciplines: batting, bowling, and wicketkeeping.

“Once the regular league seasons conclude, players in the under-18 age bracket often find themselves without competitive fixtures. This league addresses that void, ensuring continuity in match play during a critical phase of their cricketing journey.”

Imran is confident participating players will benefit greatly.

“As a coach, I firmly believe that players thrive when challenged within an environment of peers at a similar stage in their development. 

“The structure of the league will allow them to explore their skills in greater depth, apply discipline, and experience the nuances of 40-over cricket – a format many at this level have had limited exposure to.

“Coaching will be facilitated by the respective clubs involved. With the league focusing on a longer format, coaches will naturally be guiding players through the tactical and technical adjustments required to succeed over 40 overs, which differs significantly from the shorter formats they are more familiar with.”

Imran is particularly pleased with the work the Bowling Old Lane and Saltaire clubs have done to help get the Young Lions Cricket Championship up and running.

“Bowling Old Lane and Saltaire have assembled under-18 squads specifically for this championship despite not having established under-18 structures in place. 

“Their commitment to youth development and willingness to support this new initiative deserves considerable recognition.

“Equally, credit must go to Batley, King Cross, New Farnley and Wrenthorpe, whose existing under-18 structures have enabled a seamless transition into this longer format of the game. 

“Their continued investment in junior cricket and openness to embracing new challenges are a real asset to the wider cricketing community.”

On behalf of the Young Lions Cricket Championship, Imran paid tribute to three other sources of welcome assistance.

“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Yorkshire Cricket Board (YCB), for their invaluable guidance and support throughout this process.

“Our appreciation goes also to the National Asian Cricket Council (NACC), for their early engagement and collaborative discussions, and to Phillip Radcliffe, for his crucial assistance in facilitating umpire appointments through the Who’s the Umpire system.”

For 2026, Imran is keen to expand the league, which is supported by the Roshni Collective and the UK-wide Platform for Indian Democracy. 

Next year, Imran would like to have 12 clubs spread across two divisions. Also, he is keen to export the concept to England’s southern counties, setting up the intriguing possibility of a season-ending North versus South showdown.

For more information about the Young Lions Cricket Championship, visit the league’s Facebook page, email the league at [email protected] or call the league on 07763 767702.

Enjoyed the read?

You can check out other club visits by Andrew in his column, Miles Per Gallon.

Here are all of our club cricket articles, with the latest first.