Last week, our very own leg-spin prodigy Ali – a member of the Adil Rashid Cricket Academy – travelled to Spain to represent the Manchester Marvels in the Under-12 World Junior League (WJL). He was drafted in as a frontline spin option — a fantastic milestone, especially as he had turned ten only a week earlier.

The WJL — co-owned by England international Adil Rashid and delivered in partnership with leading cricket academies — is a six-team, franchise-style tournament showcasing top youth talent from around the world at U14 to U18 level, and particularly across Europe at the U12 age group. Ali was among 60 players to feature, and part of a ten-player squad that included six Lancashire County Under-12 players. His selection alongside such established names made his inclusion especially impressive.

The three-day schedule included intensive training sessions, followed by five group-stage matches. The Manchester Marvels won four out of five, finishing in the top two to qualify for the final, where they were narrowly edged out.

Ali faced high-level opposition, including county Under-12 players from Warwickshire and Worcestershire. He bowled with composure and maturity, maintaining an economical rate — particularly impressive in the fast-paced T10 format.

He also bowled the joint most overs for his team, reflecting the confidence placed in him to deliver when it mattered most.

We’re incredibly proud of Ali’s development. His showing in Spain highlighted not only his technical ability but also his growing match awareness and temperament. With another two full years at this level, we’re excited to see how far this journey takes him — the future is bright for this young star.