Anyone who watched BBC TV series Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams will remember Adnan Miakhel.
He was the teenage Afghan refugee who arrived in the UK on the back of a lorry in 2021 and, with limited formal cricket training, became the star bowler when former England captain Andrew Flintoff cobbled together a team of disadvantaged boys in Preston.
He spoke then about the dream of playing cricket professionally in England.
That dream moved a small step closer this week after he made his debut for Lancashire’s Second XI.
“It is extraordinary,” his foster parent, Barry Brocklehurst, told BBC Breakfast. “To go from where he was four or five years ago to what he is doing now is unbelievable.”
Adnan, now 18, will not play on the final day of the Second XI match against Yorkshire on Thursday as he has one of his final school exams.
Still, he managed to make an impression.
Batting at number 10 and with Barry among the crowd, he scored 25 not out with the bat and followed with two wickets with his left-arm pace.
The wickets?
Jonny Tattersall, who captained Yorkshire last year, and Matthew Revis who was playing for the White Rose first team two weeks ago.
The Yorkshire XI also included Jafer Chohan, the leg-spinner called up by England last year, and other first team players including Finlay Bean, Will Luxton and Matt Milnes.
Flintoff has been keeping an eye.
“Some journeys are longer and harder,” he posted on social media on Wednesday. “I’m so proud of this fine young man.”
“Can’t tell how much I’m happy,” Adnan posted on Instagram.
“Thank you very much to anyone that helped me and support me in my cricketing journey so far thank you.”
Flintoff, Barry and his partner Elaine Jefferson have been three of those to help Adnan most.
Adnan originally claimed asylum in a Preston police station, having fled Afghanistan and travelled across Europe on his own.
“He walked through the door and was wearing pair of jeans, holding a belt and a tatty pair of trainers,” said Elaine.
“He stood there and couldn’t speak a word of English. He was terrified.”
The first series of Field of Dreams told the story of how his application for asylum in the UK was rejected, but in 2022 his second bid was granted.
It came after Flintoff wrote to the Home Office as part of the application.
Afterwards, Adnan was given a place at Rossall School, a prestigious boarding school in Lancashire, and played for Lancashire’s Under-18 team.
“He is cricket mad but needed something different, to be training hard,” Barry said.
“That is exactly what he has done. He has worked extremely hard.”
Once his exams are done, Adnan’s next aim is the toughest – earning a professional cricket contract.
“I think he is good enough but I might be biased,” added Barry.
“That’s what he wants. Preferably with Lancashire, but we don’t know where he will end up.”
