Adnan Miakhel, a standout from Andrew Flintoff’s acclaimed series Field of Dreams, made an impressive debut for the Lancashire second XI on Tuesday, scoring an unbeaten 25 and securing a wicket against Yorkshire.

The 18-year-old, who arrived in England as a refugee from Afghanistan three years ago with no knowledge of English, showcased his cricketing talent in both seasons of the show where Flintoff engaged a group of underserved youths with the sport.

Miakhel emerged as a remarkable talent, with Flintoff advocating for his asylum application, which was subsequently approved by the Home Office due to Miakhel’s compelling story and potential in cricket.

Following the initial filming in 2022, Miakhel joined Wigan Cricket Club in the Liverpool and District Competition and began training at the Lancashire academy. He debuted for the Lancashire Under-18 team the following summer and recently advanced further by playing in a three-day friendly match for the second team.

Although Miakhel is not officially on staff, playing for a county second team is generally regarded as the most effective pathway to securing a professional contract. Flintoff’s youngest son, Rocky, 17, recently signed a professional deal with Lancashire, while his older son, Corey, 19, has signed a rookie contract with Kent.

Coming in at No. 10 with the team score at 123 for eight, Miakhel contributed significantly by scoring 25 runs off 31 balls, leading the team to a total of 159. In Yorkshire’s response, he claimed the wicket of Jonathan Tattersall, a regular first-team player, with a catch behind the stumps. Yorkshire concluded their innings at 177 for two.

Miakhel’s journey to this level speaks volumes about his determination. At the age of 15, he fled Afghanistan in a truck to escape recruitment by local militia forces. His family history is marked by tragedy, as his brother was forced into militia service by their father and was killed, prompting his mother to urge him to seek safety.

Miakhel undertook a perilous journey to the UK over several weeks, sometimes traveling on foot alone. He was eventually fostered by Barry Brocklehurst and Elaine Jefferson and later attended Rossall School, a boarding school in Fleetwood, on a scholarship, where he is currently pursuing his A-levels.

The first series of Field of Dreams was filmed and broadcast before Flintoff’s serious accident while filming for the BBC show Top Gear. Flintoff, now the head coach of the England Lions and the Northern Superchargers in the Hundred, shared in a recently released Disney+ documentary that returning to cricket has helped him deal with the trauma from the crash, which resulted in severe injuries and anxiety.

Meanwhile, James Anderson’s return to play for Lancashire is expected to be delayed by a couple of weeks. The 42-year-old cricketer was anticipated to play at the start of the season but has been sidelined due to a calf injury sustained during pre-season training.

Anderson, England’s leading Test wicket-taker who retired from international cricket last July, extended his contract with Lancashire for another season following some coaching roles with the England team. He resumed training this week but is not projected to join the county squad until at least mid-May.