ECB National Academy League 2026/27
17 TEAMS.220+ DREAMS.ONE DESERT CUBS LEGACY.
From 11 young cricketers in 2007 to 17 national league teams in 2026 — a historic chapter in the Siraj Finance Desert Cubs journey.
Read Our Story
- Official teams
- 17
- Young cricketers
- 220+
- Competition categories
- 4
- Years of legacy
- 19
- Training centres
- 5
- Alumni trained
- 15,000+
Desert Cubs Makes History in the ECB National Academy League Championship 2026/27
From 11 young cricketers in 2007 to an extraordinary 17-team contingent in 2026 — the Siraj Finance Desert Cubs journey reaches another historic milestone in UAE youth cricket.
Chapter 01
What Does It Take to Make History?
Not one team. Not five. Not even ten.
This season, Siraj Finance Desert Cubs Cricket Academy is entering the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) National Academy League Championship 2026/27 with an extraordinary 17 teams and more than 220 young cricketers.
Seventeen teams.
Four competitive categories.
Hundreds of young athletes wearing the same badge, representing the same academy, and carrying a shared ambition.
For Desert Cubs, this represents a record-breaking achievement in our own history and one of the proudest moments in our journey of developing young cricketers in the United Arab Emirates.
But the real story is not simply about the number of teams.
It is about the journey that made those 17 teams possible.
It is about the players who kept training when nobody was watching. The parents who supported their dreams. The coaches who invested their time, knowledge and dedication.
And the belief that every young player deserves an opportunity to grow.
Because great cricket academies do more than develop players. They create pathways for the next generation.
Chapter 02
From 11 Young Cricketers to 17 Competitive Teams
The Desert Cubs story began in October 2007.
At a corner practice net of Sharjah International Cricket Stadium, founder Presley Polonnowita started a journey with just 11 young cricketers and a vision to nurture the next generation of sporting talent.
There were no 17-team contingents, extensive training-centre networks or thousands of alumni.
There was simply a belief that young cricketers deserved quality coaching, strong values and opportunities to test themselves in competitive cricket.
Nineteen years later, that belief has grown into one of the UAE's most established junior cricket development programmes.
Today, Desert Cubs operates five training centres across Dubai and Sharjah, has trained more than 15,000 young players over its history, and continues to provide structured cricket development from the earliest stages of the game through competitive youth cricket.
The academy's journey has included national league achievements, international cricket tours, specialist coaching, major events and opportunities for young players to learn from established international cricketers.
The 2026/27 ECB National Academy League contingent is another chapter in that story.
What began with 11 players has grown into an academy capable of bringing together more than 220 young cricketers for a single national league season.
This milestone was not built overnight. It has been 19 years in the making.
Chapter 03
17 Teams. Four Categories. One Cricketing Family.
The 2026/27 campaign brings together Desert Cubs teams across four competition categories:
- Under 12 Boys — 5 Teams
- Under 15 Boys — 5 Teams
- Under 18 Boys — 6 Teams
- Girls — 1 Team
Total: 17 official teams
Each team represents more than an entry in a tournament.
For our youngest players, it is an opportunity to experience national-level academy competition, develop confidence and understand what it means to represent their team.
For our Under 15 squads, it is an opportunity to build consistency, improve decision-making and learn to compete under pressure.
For our Under 18 players, the championship represents another important stage in their development as they approach higher levels of competitive cricket.
And for our girls' team, it is another opportunity to build on Desert Cubs' longstanding commitment to developing women's cricket in the UAE.
Different ages. Different experiences. Different individual ambitions.
But one shared identity.
ONE ACADEMY. ONE BADGE. ONE DESERT CUBS FAMILY.
Chapter 04
A Proud Legacy in National Cricket
This historic entry builds on years of Desert Cubs participation and achievements in national youth cricket.
The academy's competitive history includes the ECB Women's League championship in 2017, success in the ECB Under 17 National Academy League in 2017/18, the Under 14 National Academy League title in 2018/19, the Under 19 National Academy League title in 2019/20, and Under 16 National League successes in subsequent seasons.
These achievements reflect a long-term commitment to player development and competitive exposure.
Desert Cubs has also provided international opportunities through cricket tours to destinations including England, Australia, Sri Lanka and South Africa, helping young players experience new conditions, opponents and cricketing environments.
Those experiences matter.
They teach young cricketers to adapt, work with their teammates and manage the pressure of competition.
The ECB National Academy League is another important part of that development journey.
Every training session prepares players for a challenge.
Every competitive match offers an opportunity to learn.
And every season provides another chance to improve.
- 2007Desert Cubs established with 11 young cricketers
- 2017ECB Women’s League champions
- 2017/18ECB Under 17 National Academy League success
- 2018/19Under 14 National Academy League title
- 2019/20Under 19 National Academy League title
- 202617 teams in the national academy league
Chapter 05
The Day 17 Teams Came Together
On 27 September 2026, the Desert Cubs family came together at the Sharjah English School Auditorium for the official capping ceremony ahead of the ECB National Academy League Championship 2026/27.
Players, coaches, parents, academy leadership and invited guests gathered to celebrate the beginning of another important season.
One by one, young cricketers were recognised for their selection to represent Desert Cubs.
For some, it was the beginning of their national academy league journey.
For others, it was the continuation of years of determination and progress.
But every cap represented something meaningful.
The early morning practices.
The countless hours spent in the nets.
The discipline to keep improving.
The sacrifices made by parents and families.
The guidance of coaches who recognise potential and help develop it.
And the excitement of being part of something larger than any individual player.
One of the day's defining moments was the gathering of the academy's 17 teams together.
A powerful symbol of how far Desert Cubs has come.
One badge. Seventeen teams. Hundreds of dreams.
The capping ceremony was not the end of a journey.
It was the beginning of a new one.
27 September 2026 · Sharjah English School
History in Frames — Our ECB National League Journey
Players, coaches and families together for the official capping ceremony. Select a photograph to explore the gallery.
Chapter 06
Cricket Development Is More Than Bat and Ball
At Desert Cubs, we believe that developing a successful cricketer requires more than natural talent.
Technical skills matter, but so do discipline, physical fitness, teamwork, mental strength, confidence and the ability to perform under pressure.
Our coaching environment is designed to help players build these qualities progressively.
Training takes place across our five centres:
Sharjah English School (SES) — Sharjah
Star International School (SIS) — Al Qusais, Dubai
Deira International School (DIS) — Dubai Festival City
Delhi Private School (DPS) — Jebel Ali, Dubai
Baseline Sports Academy (BSA) — Dubai Investment Park
Together, these centres support a pathway from foundational cricket to structured competition.
Through regular coaching, match practice, fitness sessions, internal tournaments and external competitive opportunities, Desert Cubs aims to help young players develop both their cricketing ability and their character.
Participation across 17 national academy league teams demonstrates the scale of that pathway.
But our goal has never been simply to produce a greater number of teams.
Our goal is to develop better-prepared young cricketers.
Chapter 07
Our Girls Are Part of the Journey
The Desert Cubs story would not be complete without recognising the contribution of girls' and women's cricket.
Our girls' cricket programme has been part of the academy's development journey for many years.
In 2017, Desert Cubs celebrated a landmark achievement by becoming champions of the inaugural ECB Women's League.
The academy's alumni also include Esha Oza, who has gone on to represent and captain the UAE Women's National Cricket Team.
These achievements demonstrate what sustained encouragement, coaching and competitive opportunities can contribute to the development of women's cricket.
The inclusion of a girls' team in our 2026/27 national academy league contingent is another important part of that continuing commitment.
Because the future of UAE cricket belongs to both boys and girls.
And every young cricketer deserves the opportunity to pursue their ambitions.
Chapter 08
Siraj Finance — Supporting the Next Generation
Behind a cricketing programme of this scale stands a community of people and organisations who believe in youth development.
Desert Cubs proudly recognises Siraj Finance, our title partner, for its continued support of the academy and its young cricketers.
The Siraj Finance Desert Cubs identity represents a partnership built around opportunity, aspiration and the development of the next generation.
We also acknowledge the Emirates Cricket Board for providing an organised national academy league platform where young cricketers can compete, develop their skills and gain valuable match experience.
Our appreciation extends to the championship sponsor SLAY, our wider supporting partners and all those contributing to the development of youth cricket in the UAE.
To every organisation supporting this journey, thank you for believing in the potential of young athletes.
Chapter 09
Behind Every Player Stands an Entire Team
Seventeen squads do not come together through talent alone.
Behind the players are coaches who prepare training sessions, provide technical guidance, analyse performances and encourage young athletes through both victories and setbacks.
There are parents who manage busy schedules, travel to practice sessions and matches, and offer support through every stage of their children's development.
There are administrators, centre teams, operations staff and volunteers working behind the scenes to coordinate the demands of a major competitive season.
And there are players who must balance their studies, personal commitments and sporting ambitions.
Each contribution matters.
This milestone belongs to all of them.
To the parents: thank you for trusting the journey.
To the coaches: thank you for your dedication.
To our partners: thank you for investing in young talent.
And to our players: thank you for representing Desert Cubs with pride.
Chapter 10
The Championship Has Begun. The Journey Continues.
The ECB National Academy League Championship 2026/27 campaign began in October, opening another exciting chapter for Desert Cubs.
Our teams now face the challenges of national academy league cricket, where every match provides opportunities to test their preparation, develop match awareness and grow as teammates.
We know the season will bring victories, setbacks, standout performances and valuable lessons.
And we believe every experience can help our players become stronger.
We are proud of the scale of our participation.
But the greatest achievement will be measured by what our young cricketers learn, how they develop and the values they carry forward.
Because the real success of an academy is not only found in scorecards and trophies.
It is found in the players who continue to grow long after the final ball has been bowled.
Chapter 11
This Is Our Legacy. And We Are Only Getting Started.
From 11 youngsters at a practice net in Sharjah in 2007 to 17 teams preparing for a national academy league campaign in 2026.
From a single dream to thousands of young cricketers who have become part of our story.
Desert Cubs continues to move forward with the same belief that inspired its beginning.
Talent deserves opportunity. Hard work deserves recognition. And every young cricketer deserves a pathway to pursue their dreams.
To our 17 teams and more than 220 young cricketers:
Wear the badge with pride.
Respect your opponents.
Support your teammates.
Play with courage.
Make every opportunity count.
Because you are not simply representing your team.
You are representing a legacy.
17 TEAMS. 220+ DREAMS. ONE DESERT CUBS LEGACY.
WE ARE READY. ARE YOU?
YES, WE ARE DESERT CUBS!
Chapter 12
Be Part of the Next Chapter
The next generation of Desert Cubs players is already beginning its journey.
Discover structured cricket coaching, tournament pathways and opportunities for young cricketers across Dubai and Sharjah.
Register for the 2026/27 Season: https://www.desertcubs-admin.app/kiosk/register
Follow Desert Cubs UAE: Facebook & Instagram — @desertcubsuae
The legacy continues
Be Part of the Next Chapter
The next generation of Desert Cubs players is already beginning its journey.
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