Penwortham Priory Academy Year 11 pupil Umar Mahmood is set to be a hit on television screens this week as he shows off his cricketing prowess. 

Umar is taking part in a TV programme where he is coached by former Lancashire all-rounder Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff, who is now a presenter.

The BBC One series, Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams, sees Prestonian Freddie put together his own side in a bid to change people’s perspective of the sport.

Read more: Freddie Flintoff films new TV show in Preston menswear store

The former England international visited under-privileged parts of Lancashire to find 11 teenagers for his side, which will be called Freddie’s First Eleven.

Freddie was looking for teenagers who had not considered the sport before, as he wants to challenge the idea that cricket is a game for the ‘posh, privileged and privately-educated’. Freddie himself broke the mould, being state-educated.

Speaking about his experience on the show, Umar said: “I liked watching and playing cricket and I was involved with the BYDS Youth Club in Broadgate and got selected from there.

“They said they wanted to do a documentary about cricket and give people like me an opportunity that I might not otherwise have had.

“It was filmed every Tuesday at Preston College. We were trained by Freddie Flintoff, who is really down-to-earth, and Kyle Hogg as well. They taught us different types of cricketing skills and it has been really good. I would say now I am a bit of an all-rounder. 

“The idea is for our team of teenagers to play against league teams made up of people around our own age.

“I have been interviewed a lot for the programme and they have been to my house and interviewed my family as well.”

Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams starts tomorrow (Tuesday 5 July) at 8pm on BBC One.

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