From the UAE to Nottingham — reliving the Desert Cubs UK Tour 2023 that produced champions, legends-in-the-making, and memories that will last a lifetime.
The Journey Begins
As we look forward with excitement to the 2026 UK Tour, we take a heartfelt moment to look back at the incredible journey our young cricketers completed in the summer of 2023. From the 14th to the 26th of July 2023, Desert Cubs squads — the Cheetahs, Panthers, Jaguars, and Leopards — embarked on an unforgettable adventure to Worksop, Nottingham, for the prestigious ICCA Global Academy Championship.
It was a tour defined by resilience, excellence, and the creation of memories that these young cricketers will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Competing against top-tier academies from the USA, UK, India, and Sri Lanka, our cubs showed exactly what Desert Cubs is made of.
Training at the Home of Cricket — Lord's
The undisputed highlight for every player and parent on the tour was the once-in-a-lifetime visit to Lord's Cricket Ground — the undisputed Home of Cricket. Our young cubs didn't simply tour the museum. They experienced an intensive one-hour training session in the legendary Lord's indoor stadium.
Standing where legends have stood — Tendulkar, Lara, Flintoff — and training in that hallowed ground was an inspiration that will drive these players for years to come. The look on their faces when they stepped onto that turf is something no parent, coach, or manager will ever forget.
Championship Glory
Despite the unpredictable English weather, our teams showed incredible adaptability and the true champion's spirit. The ICCA Global Academy Championship at Worksop featured some of the best junior cricket academies from across the globe — and Desert Cubs rose to the challenge.
Championship Awards & Accolades
U13 Warriors
🏆 Champions of the ICCA Global Academy Championship
Defeated top academies from the USA, UK, India, and Sri Lanka
U11 Cheetahs
🌟 Best Team of the Tour
Under the guidance of Coach Shanesh Weerawansha and Manager Ranil De Silva
Individual Excellence
Great teams are built from great individuals. The following players shone so brightly that they earned special recognition from the tournament organisers and fellow coaches alike:
U11 Cheetahs
- Advay Kumat — Best Batsman
- Jash Rathod — Best Bowler
- Ranula De Silva — Best Fielder
- Devam Desai — Best Player
U13 Warriors
- Rishitraj Singh Rongkali — Player of the Tournament
- Vishank Kripalani — Most Promising Player
U15 Knights
- Akith Jayarathne — Best Bowler
- Thehaan Karunasekara — Best Fielder
More Than Just Trophies
The 2023 tour wasn't just about the silverware — though we are immensely proud of every trophy and award our cubs brought home. It was about the growth of our players as individuals, the relationships forged in hotel corridors and on training grounds, and the quiet moments of realisation that happened when a young cricketer from Dubai stood in the outfield at a Nottinghamshire ground and understood, perhaps for the first time, what it truly means to love this game.
It was about the nights where coaches and managers sat with players, talking through match plans, reviewing their own performances with the kind of self-awareness that no classroom can teach. It was about adapting — to the swing, to the seam, to the grey skies and the cold mornings that are so foreign to our Dubai-raised cubs.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As we celebrate the heroes of 2023, our eyes are firmly set on the horizon. The Desert Cubs UK Tour 2026 is coming — and we intend to go even further, even stronger. Will your child be part of the next chapter of this incredible story?
Ready for the UK Stage?
Visit our Tours page to learn about the 2026 UK Tour — trials, schedule, and registration details.
We are incredibly proud of every cub who represented Desert Cubs Cricket Academy with such distinction in 2023. The families who trusted us with their children's development, the coaches who poured their hearts into every session, and the players themselves — you are all champions in every sense of the word.
We cannot wait to see what 2026 holds. The story continues. 🎉
