FROM a little acorn that the Quaid-e-Azam Sunday Cricket League was in its initial year of 1980, it has grown into a mighty oak over 35 years later.

Having formed from six clubs in the Heckmondwike area, initially playing friendlies in the late 1970s, to the 30 that exist now, and there are a further five clubs vying for the one vacancy for 2017, the league – noted as one of the best Asian leagues in the country – now wants to put their achievements on record via interviews and memorabilia.

This was a central theme of the league's annual prize presentation evening at the Aagrah Midpoint Restaurant in Thornbury, Bradford, which attracted an attendance of 158, and it will be achieved through the AYA (Asian Youth Alliance) Foundation's 'From Parks to Pavilions' project, which has been awarded £50,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Not only was project director Mobeen Butt present at the prize presentation, but also project manager Nasser Hanif, as well as Leeds Beckett University senior lecturer Dr Thomas Fletcher, author of 'The Making of English Cricket Cultures: Empire, Globalisation and (Post) Colonialism'.

In addition, a flavour of the early days of the league – including being inspired by Pakistan's exploits in the World Cup and a match between India and Pakistan in Harrogate – and how it has grown was captured by some of the chairmen who have served the league in those 36 years, including founder chairman Javed Iqbal, his successors Yousaf Patel and Mohammed Taj Haider, with the longest serving being Taj Butt.

The opening speech was an inspirational one by Bradford East MP Imran Hussain, who talked of succeeding on his journey by overcoming many obstacles, and told the audience: "Don't take no for an answer or let anyone tell you that you can't succeed at something", and added: "Break some of these ceilings".

The audience also paid tribute to Basharat Hussain, who has retired after 25 years as either chairman, secretary, treasurer or committee member of the league.

While Keighley RZM continued their dominance of the league by winning the Premier Division and the Yasmin & Shaid Solicitors Cup, they also picked up four individual awards.

Zeeshan Qasim had the best bowling average (6.40) and most wickets (38) in the Premier Division, while wicket-keeper Majid Inayat had most dismissals (27) and Nassar Jamal the best bowling analysis (7-5).

The only top-flight awards to elude them were best batting average (64.56) and most individual runs (581), which went to Bhalot Strikers' Kamran Hussain; the all-rounder award (Heaton Park's Sohail Butt with a batting average of 31.80 and bowling average of 15.70), and the highest partnership (190 between Rajas' Farhan and Khurram Hussain, who made 137).

In Section A, which is split into two groups, Earlmarshall's Arslan Amir received three awards, having the highest batting average (79.11), the most runs (712) and also winning the all-rounder prize with a bowling average of 8.90.

Bradford Moor picked up the highest partnership award of 233 via Sohail Akram and Ismail Nazir (120), while Akram's 162 was also the highest individual score, with Nazir also having the best bowling analysis with 7-11.

Kashmir Bradford's Mohammed Shehzad took the most wickets (31), while Group Two champions MyLahore's Massawar Shah had the best bowling average (6.50).

Naik Zada was the leading wicket-keeper with 24 victims for Section A Group One champions Darulshafa, and the league's best umpire was Bradford's Mohammed Jawed with 19 points.