Drafted, selected, respected

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Sheffield Cup 2025 kept the city’s men’s indoor tradition alive at the start of a new year — a short, sharp tournament built around a live draft and high-intensity Friday nights at Concord Sports Centre. Six area-based franchises came together: Firth Park Warriors, Firvale Falcons, Handsworth Strikers, Netheredge Knights, Pagehall Panthers and Pitsmoor Avengers.

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Before any runs were scored, the captains met at Steel City Stadium (Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park). All six turned up in the boardroom with laptops, notepads and mini cricket bats ready to signal bids. Each side had a £100k budget and two “diamond” players based on BBICL performances and long-term impact — a way of spreading star quality and keeping the competition balanced. Around 60 players were drafted one by one into a 78-player field, with some captains arriving armed with statistical sheets and scouting notes from the recently concluded Mini Bash League, and others trusting their instincts on the night.

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By the end of a long evening, every squad had a different feel. Firth Park Warriors talisman Muhammad Adnan entered his eighth year of leadership, leading a Firth Park dynasty that had already lifted Cups under their previous Molvi Sixers identity and again in 2024 at the same venue. Usman Ali stepped up to lead Firvale Falcons after years in Pagehall colours. Handsworth Strikers, guided by Moniruzzaman Choudhury, built around fresh faces and youth. Netheredge Knights, with Muhammad Azahat at the helm for the first time, leaned on MBL scouting to unearth new talent. Pagehall Panthers’ captain Irfan Khan — fresh from a BBICL 2024 final — arrived hungry to “go one better”, backed by multiple-time MVP Jawad Akhtar as a diamond pick. And Pitsmoor Avengers trusted first-time captain Shabaz Qadir with a batting-heavy outfit that promised fireworks.

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Friday nights under the lights

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Once the draft dust settled, the focus shifted to Concord. Sheffield Cup 2025 ran over 19 fixtures, with three matches every Friday and all six teams playing each week. For men and younger players juggling work, studies and family, it became a weekly anchor in the dead of winter: one guaranteed night where they could lace up, compete, and see familiar faces.

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The atmosphere belonged to Sheffield. Benches on the side of the hall filled up early; kids grabbed windballs in the breaks, friends and family watched from the balcony for the best sightlines, and every big shot or diving stop drew noise. Underneath the action, the Cup quietly did what all good community sport should do — keeping people active during winter months, offering routine on the evenings when there’s not much else on, and giving captains and volunteers a structure they can be proud to lead.

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On court, Firth Park Warriors set the standard. Even without their superstar diamonds available for most league games, they went a perfect five from five in the round-robin, showing depth, discipline and calm under pressure. Pagehall Panthers matched that intensity with their own brand of controlled aggression and clever bowling, while Handsworth Strikers, Falcons, Knights and Avengers each had their nights where plans clicked and new players announced themselves.

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Qualifier drama and a champion’s final

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The 1 v 2 qualifier between Firth Park Warriors and Handsworth Strikers summed up the Cup: close, competitive and decided in the final overs. Strikers posted 90/7, leaving Warriors needing just over a run a ball but with the pressure of a knockout. Cometh the moment, cometh Yahya Ahmed — 31* from 13 balls with four sixes, pacing the chase perfectly and sealing victory with three balls to spare to book Firth Park’s place in the final.

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Waiting for them were Pagehall Panthers, making it back-to-back indoor finals after their BBICL 2024 run. The final did not disappoint. Batting first, Warriors built steadily around captain Adnan, who combined risk and control in a decisive 44 off 28 balls, including two sixes. Their 142/7 from 12 overs was always going to take some chasing. Panthers replied with intent and reached 133/5, taking the game deep but ultimately falling nine runs short as Firth Park held their nerve at the death.

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Across the competition, individual performances lit up the stats sheet. Adnan’s 177 runs at a strike-rate of 175.3 underpinned Warriors’ campaign, while teammate Yahya Ahmed cleared the ropes 16 times in seven innings. For Pagehall, Jawad Akhtar showed why he remains one of the city’s premier all-rounders with 13 wickets, a best of 5–14 and three Player of the Match awards. Handsworth’s Jawad Saleem quietly pieced together 108 runs and 12 wickets, cementing his team's spot in the Qualifier.

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Sheffield Cup 2025 ended with Warriors lifting the trophy again — but the bigger win was the sight of six area teams shaking hands, already talking about next winter, and another group of players who now feel drafted, selected and respected in their city’s indoor cricket story.