Portsmouth is delighted to announce the signing of Sri Lankan Player/Coach Minhaj Jalill for their 2022 Southern Premier Cricket League campaign.

Domestic veteran

Jalill is an accomplished batting all-rounder playing for Kandy Customs Cricket Club in Sri Lankan domestic cricket.

A proven run-scorer and effective off-spinner, Jalill joined Kandy this summer following stints with Nugegoda SWC (2020/21), Panadura (2019/20), Saracens (2017/18-18/19), Galle (2016/17), Colombo (2015/16), and Tamil Union (2014/15). His season with Panadura was his most prolific, hitting 497 runs at 41.41.

Schoolboy prodigy

The former Thurstan College star, always seemed destined for professional cricket. In his teens, Jalill became the third player in history to score 1,000 plus runs in an All-Island Under-19 Division One season (the others, Nikzy Ahmed and CricX client Shanuka Dulaj). His 1,094 runs at 54.70 including 4 centuries, 7 fifties, and culminated with the “Batter of the Year” title.

Whilst bowling opportunities have been limited in first-class cricket, at schoolboy level, Jalill was a genuine all-rounder. His off-spin yielded U19 season figures of 23 wickets at 15.90 (2012/13) and 26 wickets at 29.96 (2013/14).

UK dominance

Jalill has now converted his promise as a junior, into performance in the senior ranks. He spent the 2018 season plying his trade in the UK for Devon Premier League side Bovey Tracey. He struck 515 runs at 34.33 and took 15 wickets at 44.33, but also impressed in our CricX (Overseas v English) back at Buckingham Town in August, top-scoring with 59 and bowling some useful overs with his off-spin.

Courtesy of his success in 2018, he was picked up by Cowdrey for their Kent League campaign in 2019. He excelled, especially with the ball taking 45 wickets at 10.93 alongside 684 runs at 40.24. Given his exploits, the club moved swiftly to re-sign him for the 2021 season, where he continued to star, hitting a further 795 runs at 44.17 plus 18 wickets for good measure.

Jalill signs with Portsmouth

After two brilliant seasons for Cowdrey, Jalill is seeking pastures new and has recently signed with Portsmouth for their 2022 Southern Premier Cricket League campaign.