Dixons Academies Trust set to launch cricket academy
Posted 13th March 2026
Last month we welcomed Maroof Khan as our new Head of Cricket, who is leading the launch of the Dixons Cricket Academy.
A former professional cricketer and ECB Level 3 Advanced Coach, Maroof brings more than 30 years of international playing and coaching experience across India, the UK, USA, Hong Kong and Singapore. His career includes representing Singapore in the World Indoor Masters World Cup and coaching across women’s, disability and high-performance cricket pathways.
The Dixons Cricket Academy will be a flagship initiative for the trust and one of the first multi-sited elite cricket programmes in the state education sector, operating across Leeds, Bradford, Liverpool and Greater Manchester.
The academy aims to widen access to elite cricket opportunities for students from low-income families. Through a programme that spans participation, competitive school cricket and an elite performance pathway, the academy will support talented young players to develop their skills and pursue their ambitions.
As part of this commitment, 10% of places at three of our secondary schools will be protected for high-potential cricketers from low-income families, ensuring talented students can access opportunities that have historically been more common in the independent sector.
Over the coming months, the academy will begin rolling out talent identification events, coaching programmes and partnerships with local clubs and organisations.
We are incredibly excited about the opportunities the Dixons Cricket Academy will create for students across our communities.