Minhaj Jalill

Minhaj Jalill is an accomplished batting all-rounder playing for Ace Capital Cricket Club in Sri Lankan domestic cricket.

A proven run-scorer and effective off-spinner, Jalill joined Ace this summer following stints with Kandy Customs (2021/22), 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.

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).

Jalill has now converted his promise as a junior, into performance in the senior ranks. Likewise, he has excelled abroad during 5 UK stints (2018 - Bovey Tracey, 2019-21 - Cowdrey, 2022 - Portsmouth, 2023 - Horspath). During this period he has racked up 3,200 runs at 41.03 alongside 126 wickets at 20.38.

His 2-season stint with Cowdrey in the Kent League was arguably his most prolific - 1,153 runs at 39.76 and 54 wickets at 14.98. That said, he starred in the Southern Premier League for Portsmouth 2022, particularly with the bat hitting 687 runs at 45.80.

The accomplished Sri Lankan all-rounder is now eager to return for another stint next summer, subject to playing more FC cricket*.

* Subject to playing 3 more FC matches to qualify for an ISP Visa.