Furness Cricket Club raising money for U16 UK top scorer to get to UAE

Faizan Ghumman is an under 16s Cumbria Cricket Player who has been selected to represent Durham Cricket Academy on a tour to the UAE to take part in the Gulf Cup Championship in January 2024.

The 15-year-old has been a top-scoring batsman in all age county group games (U11-U18) for last three years whilst playing for Cumbria County.

The teenager is a right-hand opening batsman and leg spinner from Barrow-in-Furness and is currently playing with Furness Cricket Club.

The tour will be an exciting opportunity for the Cumbria County Player to have overseas experience.

It will also help him to play in different conditions, enhance his experience and further his career in professional cricket.

Faizan was inspired by his dad, Saqib Ghumman, a doctor at Furness General Hospital, who loves racket sports, along with Faizan's 14-year-old sister, Maimona, who is a talented young tennis player.

The dad-of-two said: "I have always loved racket sports however Faizan, all he thinks about is cricket - he absolutely loves it.

"He knows that playing internationally with the academy will be a challenge. 

"He will be playing in different conditions and different pitches and there is always a chance they could lose.

"Faizan has always been one to prepare for challenges however - not many people would go to the North East trials however he did and he's been doing so well.

"He gets on so well with the other players and the coaches."

"It's his GCSE year coming up and he's striking a balance between his sport and his academic studies at the moment - he will have lots of strength training and conditioning.

"He knows it will be hard work but he has such enthusiasm and we're so proud of him."

Faizan has also played with emerging players (EPP) of Lancashire County Cricket in 2022. He was also school-age captain for U15 at Lancaster Royal Grammar School (LRGS) when they won the Lancashire Cup U15 Championship 2023 against Manchester Grammar School in the final.

He was previously awarded The Douglas Cameron Trophy for an outstanding year in cricket by LRGS.

The cricket club is looking for individuals and companies to sponsor Faizan and is accepting donations in the form £1 pound to £50.

Payment details can be found at the Furness Cricket Club Facebook page or by emailing pathway@durhamcricket.co.uk or academy@durhamcricket.co.uk.