More than three hundred people gathered at the Howard Suite within Headingley Stadium on the evening of Sunday 13th September 2026 for the MACC Academy’s second annual awards ceremony.
The event honoured the accomplishments of junior cricketers and coaching staff from across the organisation while collecting donations for the Academy Scholarship Scheme and the National Autistic Society.
A significant moment came when Subhaan Ali, who claimed the male award at the previous year’s ceremony, revealed his inclusion in the England Under-19s squad.
The Academy traces its origins to 2023, when former Yorkshire County Cricket Club professional Moin Ashraf established the organisation.
His vision centred on supporting young people in Bradford and surrounding areas, offering pathways for them to develop as cricketers and compete at elite standards.
The second awards evening built upon the foundation laid by the inaugural event, which featured appearances from Ashes-winning former England captain Michael Vaughan and ex-England international Ryan Sidebottom.
Both guests addressed the assembled young players, sharing insights drawn from their distinguished careers.
Operating with a focus on participants aged between 9 and 19, the Academy has expanded its activities significantly over the preceding twelve months.
The year saw squads representing the organisation in national competitions, while both the Under-17 and Under-15 teams travelled to the Netherlands for an overseas tour.
During that journey, the Under-17 side topped their standings and secured the championship title.
Recognition was given across six distinct categories, highlighting the commitment, ability and perseverance displayed by players and coaches.
These comprised the male accolade, the female accolade, the young player prize, the players’ choice award, the performance prize and the coaching award.
Commercial backing for the occasion came from headline partner Mylahore alongside contributions from Taylors of Harrogate, Sovereign Healthcare, SquareFoot, Bene Leisure, Link AP Academy and Onside Travel Management.
The Academy also received support from Yorkshire County Cricket Club General Manager Gavin Hamilton and former club captain Steve Patterson, both of whom drew on their professional cricket backgrounds to stress the values of consistency, application and ongoing improvement.
Their message encouraged aspiring cricketers to specialise in their chosen disciplines while maintaining dedication to skill development in order to succeed at the highest levels of the sport.
Ashraf, who hails from Bradford and serves as Founder and Director of the MACC Academy, expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved since the first awards presentation.
He noted that steps had been taken to involve young cricketers and create opportunities for them to participate in domestic and international competition.
He thanked local businesses and community partners for their support in making the event possible and expressed pride in the young people involved and the families who back them.
The Academy’s purpose, he explained, involves identifying and cultivating grassroots talent with the aim of producing the next cohort of high-quality cricketers.
Zaydan Bhamji, a young cricketer who claimed both the young player prize and the players’ choice award, described the experience as feeling surreal and mentioned how gratifying it was to see his efforts recognised and celebrated by peers in such a supportive environment.