Businessman gifts a car to Flintoff show cricketer eyeing England
He had "always just believed in paying it forward", he told BBC Radio Lancashire.When Miakhel arrived in the UK he already had talent for cricket.He said off-the-pitch he had been struggling without a car of his own and was largely having to rely on his foster parents Elaine Jefferson and Barry Brocklehurst to ferry him to matches and training sessions.Miakhel has recently finished Rossall School, in Fleetwood, and has put university aspirations on hold to pursue his dream of becoming a professional cricketer."The next 18 months are critical to my cricket career and that's why having my own car is so important," he said.
'Massive difference'
The allrounder signed for Newton-le-Willows Cricket Club this season and regularly clocks up 300 miles (about 480km) a week.He said being given a car had "made my life so easy"."I needed the car to give Barry a break because he's 85. He never said no to anything, but it's hard," he said."It's not just playing cricket, it's practice as well and going to the gym, so the car made a massive difference to my cricket journey." Mr Derry was adopted with his two brothers in the late 1980s and they were believed to be the first Indian siblings to be adopted by a white family.He became a charity ambassador for Adoption Matters and Foster Care Matters because of his own experiences and works to raise awareness of fostering and adoption."I was really moved by Adnan's foster parents Elaine and Barry, who instantly reminded me of my own white foster parents," he said."They changed our lives, just like Elaine and Barry are changing Adnan's life."
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