Having been granted asylum to remain in the UK, 16-year-old Afghanistan refugee Adnan Miakhel is looking forward to focusing on his cricket after being showcased on England legend Freddie Flintoff 's three-part BBC series 'Field of Dreams'.
Adnan fled Afghanistan at the behest of his mother to avoid joining a group of local militia fighters. His brother had been forced to join the militia by his father and was ultimately killed.
On the show, Adnan surprised Flintoff with his natural talent, but his hopes of a cricket career were put on hold as he waited to find out if he would be granted asylum. After a year-long wait, he was informed of the good news on Friday following another appeal from foster parents Elaine Jefferson and Barry Brocklehurst.
"We all just went berserk," Elaine told the Guardian of their reaction to the news. "We just sat in the back of the car outside the fish and chip shop in Standish in Wigan and we just ate fish and chips out of the paper. That was our celebration!"
Adnan currently plays for Wigan Cricket Club and he was given permission by the home office to train with Lancashire's Under-16s side while waiting to hear about his immigration status. And now that he has been granted asylum, he is expected to play for Lancashire's academy sides.
"It's been hard for us but of course it's probably been much harder for Adnan, although he won't ever tell you that," Elaine added. "We just feel that we've not been able to plan any future or anything for him really.
"If he was a 16-year-old white British lad, he would be playing for the county by now. He doesn't want to do anything else – all he wants to do is play for England."
Flintoff surprised Adnan and his foster parents at Wigan Cricket Club to congratulate them and he believes the teenager could make his dreams a reality. "Adnan's got a chance," Flintoff said.
"He's got natural ability, despite having limited exposure to cricket. So for him to be so good is a miracle."
