A young refugee cricketer who was spotted by Freddie Flintoff has won a fostering award.

17-year-old Adnan captured millions of hearts when he featured in Freddie’s Field of Dreams documentary which was film for the BBC in Preston in July 2022.

Freddie’s aim was to turn an unlikely group of young people into cricketers but Adnan, who is a refugee from Afghanistan, caught his eye.

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He was so impressed by his talent that he helped him appeal for asylum from the government, which was then granted.

Adnan has now been given the Fostering Excellence Award which is one of the most prestigious foster care awards which celebrates those who make exceptional contributions to foster care.

Adnan’s foster parents, Barry and Elaine, spotted his skill for batting and throwing balls and signed him up to a local cricket team to practice his talent.

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Elaine said: “We are enormously proud of Adnan. What he has achieved is beyond anyone’s expectations. He is hard-working, kind and considerate and an absolute joy.

“It’s very much his award, it’s all his hard work. He is very pleased to have won the award.”

Adnan now competes in Lancashire’s under-18s cricket team and was awarded the Fostering Excellence Award at The Fostering Network’s Fostering Excellence Awards in Birmingham on Tuesday, 17 October, 2023.

He has been living with his foster carers Elaine and Barry, who foster with Lancashire County Council, from March 2021, after arriving in the UK as an unaccompanied asylum seeker.

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At the start, Adnan could not speak or understand any English but he is thriving at a private school after securing a scholarship and is now fluent in spoken and written English.

Chloe Jones, Adnan’s supervising social worker, said: “Adnan never ceases to amaze me with his achievements, and unsurprisingly, the whole team are so proud of him.

“His fantastic sense of humour brings us so much joy, and it’s incredible to see him thriving in all areas of his life.”

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