Defending champions Shahjalal Jamia Islamia School and College concluded their Group A campaign at the Sylhet Nirman School Legends Trophy UK – Season 2, narrowly missing out on a place in the semi-finals.
After lifting the inaugural Sylhet Nirman School Legends Trophy UK 2025 as unbeaten champions, Jamia entered this year’s tournament determined to defend their title. Drawn in a competitive Group A alongside Sylhet Government Pilot High School, Government Jubilee High School, Sunamganj, and Blue Bird High School, the team produced another commendable campaign.
Jamia opened the tournament with an exciting victory over Sylhet Government Pilot High School, followed by another impressive win against Blue Bird High School. In their final group fixture, they were defeated by Government Jubilee High School, finishing the group stage with two wins and one defeat.
All three leading teams in Group A finished on four points, making Net Run Rate (NRR) the deciding factor. Jamia finished with an NRR of +0.000, while Sylhet Government Pilot High School progressed to the semi-finals with an NRR of +0.008. Government Jubilee High School topped the group with an NRR of +0.971.
Qualification remained uncertain until the final over of the Blue Bird High School vs Sylhet Government Pilot High School match, when Pilot won the match and secured the NRR required to edge ahead of Jamia. It was one of the closest finishes imaginable, with only the finest of margins separating qualification from elimination.
Cricket is often a game of fine margins, and this tournament was no exception. Jamia dropped five catches in their final group match, while Blue Bird High School also missed five catches in their final match against Pilot. Those missed opportunities ultimately proved decisive in the final NRR calculations that determined the semi-finalists.
Although Jamia’s reign as unbeaten champions came to an end, the team once again demonstrated quality, resilience and outstanding sportsmanship throughout the tournament. Every player represented Shahjalal Jamia Islamia School and College with pride, and the Jamia family can look back on another memorable campaign with great satisfaction.
We congratulate the entire squad, management and supporters on their efforts and wish the remaining teams every success in the knockout stages of the Sylhet Nirman School Legends Trophy UK – Season 2.
Jamia’s team preparations and participation in the tournament were jointly coordinated by the Jamia Alumni Association UK and the Jamia Cricketers Association UK. Group A fixtures were held on Monday, 13 July 2026, at Seven Kings Park Cricket Ground, Ilford.
