Emdad Rahman Seven Kings Park, Redbridge
The 8th edition of the Hundred Blaze, organised by Capital Kids Cricket (CKC), came to a thrilling close at Seven Kings Park, delivering two days of exciting, high quality cricket and spotlighting some of the most promising young talents in the game.
This year’s competition saw six teams in action: England, England Lions, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the British Tamil Cricket League (BTCL representing Sri Lanka). The tournament was coordinated by an inspiring coalition of community cricket leaders and organisations including Middlesex Cricket in the Community (Tower Hamlets), BTCL, Leyton CC, and Cricfit Sports (CFS).
After a fiercely competitive group stage, Pakistan and BTCLmet in the final. In a match full of energy and skill, Pakistan emerged victorious, chasing down BTCL’s 101/9 with a confident 103/4, winning the tournament by 6 wickets.
The Hundred Blaze, open to players under the age of 21, is not just a tournament – it’s a celebration of cricket, culture, and community. It gives young people the chance to compete under the banner of their ethnic heritage, creating both pride and opportunity. Many use this tournament as preparation for the summer season, which begins in just a few weeks.
Individual Honours • Best Batter: Yash Solanki (India) • Best Bowler: Arman Qaiser (Pakistan)
Community and Professional Support The tournament is proudly supported by Essex Cricket, Middlesex Cricket in the Community, and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), who are helping to build bridges between grassroots players and professional opportunities.
The Head Scout of Essex Cricket attended the finals and praised the standard of play, suggesting the tournament could become a key space for talent scouting.
The MCC’s Head of Programmes spoke about future collaboration and announced that T20 Blast tickets at Lord’s will be allocated to all teams.
Essex Cricket also offered a lap of honour at Chelmsford for both finalists during their upcoming Championship match, where trophies will be re – presented to the winners.
These gestures of support show just how valuable the Hundred Blaze has become in developing the next generation of cricket stars.
Shahidul Alam Ratan, CEO of Capital Kids Cricket, said: “As part of CKC’s mission to help young people chase their dreams, we remain committed to supporting our cricket communities—even without core funding from the traditional cricket ecosystem. We’re confident that with continued backing from MCC, the ECB, and County Boards, this inspiring competition will grow across London and beyond. My deepest thanks go to our team organisers, volunteers, our sponsor Work Permit Cloud (WPC), and our dedicated CKC staff.”