Subhaan Ali made the announcement during the MACC Academy’s second annual awards, held at Headingley Stadium’s Howard Suite on Sunday, September 13.
The event celebrated the achievements of young cricketers and coaches, with more than 300 guests in attendance.
Moin Ashraf, founder and director of the MACC Academy and a former Yorkshire County Cricket Club player, said: “I am thrilled with the progress we have made since last year’s inaugural awards.
“We have taken steps to engage our young cricketers and create opportunities for them to play both nationally and internationally.
“I am extremely grateful to all of our local business and community sponsors who came forward to support this event and make it happen.
“I’m also incredibly proud of all of our young people and the families that support them.
“The Academy is about nurturing grassroots talent and creating the next generation of high-class cricketers.”
The MACC Academy, founded in 2023, supports players aged nine to 19 from Bradford and beyond, helping them reach national and international levels.
The awards night recognised a year of growth for the academy, including national fixtures and an overseas tour to the Netherlands, where the Under-17 team finished top of the table.
Honours were given across six categories: Male Player of the Year, Female Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year, Performance of the Year, and Coach of the Year.
Zaydan Bhamji, who took home both Young Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year, said: “It honestly feels surreal winning 2 awards in one night.
“And it’s quite amazing to see how hard work I’ve put in has paid off and been acknowledged by people and in a setting where everyone, you know, seeing everyone cheer and clap for me, it feels really nice.”
The night also raised funds for the MACC Academy Scholarship Scheme and the National Autistic Society.
Guests included Gavin Hamilton, general manager of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, and Steve Patterson, former Yorkshire captain.
Both spoke about the importance of consistency, dedication and continuous development in professional cricket.
The event was supported by headline sponsor Mylahore, as well as Taylors of Harrogate, Sovereign Healthcare, SquareFoot, Bene Leisure, Link AP Academy and Onside Travel Management.