Academy Celebrate 2024 Season At End of Season Awards
Mon 11 Nov 2024
Leicestershire’s Academy toasted a successful 2024 campaign on Sunday, as the Club’s brightest prospects came together for their annual End of Season Awards.
The evening celebrated another year of outstanding achievements for the Boys’ pathway sides, spearheaded by the Under 18s.
Jigar Naik’s side finished as T20 runners-up, 50-over semi-finalists, and were pipped by a single point at the top of their Championship group. Jay Madan also set the record for highest ever Academy individual score after posting a match-winning 222 not out during July’s victory over Yorkshire.
Opener Madan, who passed 1,000 runs in 2024, picked up Academy Batter of the Year, while Ali Farooq’s 40 wickets earned him Bowler of the Year. After winning the U16 equivalent last year, Arnav Rai scooped Fielder of the Year, with captain Liam Tew named Coaches’ Player of the Year.
At Under 16 level, 333 runs at 47.57 saw Ihsaan Nadeem selected as Batter of the Year, while leading wicket-taker Zethan Bandi took home Bowler of the Year. Jimmy Fry received Fielder of the Year, while Paul Johnson selected William Stewart as Coaches’ Player.
Ben Macleod-Smith won Under 15’s Batter of the Year, with Yatharth Naik awarded Bowler of the Year after topping the side’s wicket-taking charts. Wicketkeeper Zach Wainwright won Fielder of the Year, while Suhail Noori was crowned Coaches’ Player.
479 runs at 43.55 secured Batter of the Year for opener Thomas Martin at Under 14 level, while 26 wickets earned Deen Zamman Bowler of the Year. Shayaan Fanibanda won Fielder of the Year, while Dieter Klein chose Harry Cox as Coaches’ Player.
Rafa Godsi was presented with Under 13’s Batter of the Year, while Freddie Rowe was chosen as Bowler of the Year. The Macleod-Smith family saw a second award of the evening as Sam joined brother Ben by winning Fielder of the Year. Coaches’ Player of the Year went to Harry Latham.
The youngest set of Foxes - the Club’s Under 12s - saw Bradley Sheehan win Batter of the Year, and top-wicket taker Austin Pedrola take home Bowler of the Year. Zachin Bandi scooped the Fielding award, while Dipesh Patel picked Alexander Thomason as Coaches’ Player.
Recent Academy graduate Alex Green, who signed his first rookie contract in September, rounded off the afternoon by engaging in a Q&A session with the 250-strong attendance in the Charles Palmer Suite, discussing his journey through the Pathway and his First Team experiences in 2024.
Congratulations to all our award winners, and everyone involved with the Club’s pathway on another superb season.
