Mohammad Rizvi Becomes SACA’s 17th Graduate After Signing with Kent
- SACA
- Aug 1
- 3 min read
The South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA) is delighted to announce that Mohammad Rizvi has become our 17th graduate, signing with Kent County Cricket Club for the 2025 Metro Bank One Day Cup.
At 27 years old, Rizvi’s journey is a shining example of resilience, perseverance, and the power of never giving up on a dream. From the very first SACA squads in 2022, travelling to Loughborough to train with us at the start of our programme, to now earning his first professional contract, Rizvi has embodied the values that SACA stands for.
A genuine all-rounder, Rizvi’s leg-spin bowling alone would warrant selection. Accurate and attacking, his variations — particularly a deadly googly — have troubled batters across all formats. But he also brings quality with the bat, having established himself as a capable top-order player, making him an invaluable asset to any side.
This summer, Rizvi has been in outstanding form for Kent Second XI, taking 19 wickets at 21.78 in 10 appearances, including an extraordinary 7 for 90 against Glamorgan Second XI at Abergavenny. With the bat, he has contributed more than useful runs, scoring 2 x 100s averaging well over 60 for the Kent Second XI this year.
His success hasn’t been limited to English shores. In the winter of 2023, Rizvi travelled to Tasmania, where he finished the season as the leading wicket-taker in the entire state, proving his quality in overseas conditions.
Rizvi’s path to professional cricket has been anything but straightforward. Having worked his way through the Middlesex age groups, and later featuring for Oxford MCCU, Hertfordshire, Surrey 2nd XI, Essex 2nd XI, Glamorgan 2nd XI, and SACA, his journey has been one of persistence and continual growth.
His story is a message to the game that talent doesn't stop developing at 18 - and although all the SACA graduate are 18+ he joins the likes of Zaman Akhter (24), Kashif Ali (24), Zen Malik (26), Arafat Bhuyian (26), Yadvinder Singh (27), who signed their first professional deals well past the pathway cut off age of 18.
SACA Founder & MD, Dr. Tom Brown, praised Rizvi’s journey:
“Mo’s story is a brilliant reminder of why we created SACA. He was one of the very first players to join our programme back in 2022, and from that day his work ethic and determination stood out. At 27, signing your first professional contract takes immense belief and resilience — and Mo has shown that in abundance. He’s a match-winner with ball and bat, and we’re thrilled to see him get this opportunity with Kent.”
On his signing, Rizvi said:
“I’m delighted to join Kent’s first team after being made to feel so welcome in my Second XI appearances so far this season. I’m grateful for the opportunity to play first-team county cricket in a competition known for developing players. Kent have a fantastic crop of young players and hopefully we can put on a show for our supporters during the Metro Bank One Day Cup.”
Rizvi now joins a proud list of SACA graduates making their mark in professional cricket, and his story will no doubt inspire many others. Proof that it’s never too late to achieve your goals, his signing demonstrates the impact that persistence, hard work, and the right environment can have.
Congratulations, Mo — everyone at SACA is proud of you.
Cricket is a fairly common game among Asian countries. Knowledge of match history and team statistics plays a key role in making successful predictions. The betting strategy includes not only analyzing current odds but also closely monitoring changes in team line-ups as well as player motivation. On https://1win1.ph/app/, you can read about the betting application. Online services provide analytics, allowing faster adaptation to changes. This makes the betting process more dynamic and interesting, with each event being a new challenge for forecasters.