by It is a new looking walk with the same goal in the championship department of the championship of the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League – you want promotion.
The oval side has a new captain and a new professional in Ammad Afzal and Uzzair Shah – both players tend bowling all -rounder.
You have also signed a large number of other new players.
“It will be a completely different team,” said Afzal, who used to come from Little Hulton, but plays his second season in the NWCL.
Walkden was at the pace for a large part of the last season and went to the last month, whereby promotion was still on the rise.
However, they were hit with a point deduction to present an inadmissible player at the beginning of the campaign, which finally left them on the foot of the table.
This season you start with a clean table and can secure one of the two best places in the second stage with trust.
“We are confident that we can be promoted well and really,” said captain Afzal.
“We want to try to win everything we can. We will try every game in every game, in which competition in which it is located. But promotion is definitely our main goal.”
While Pro Shah arrives after playing for Scotland’s U19, Afzal hopes that he can build the club in a first season in which he achieved 22 gates and scored 157 runs in the championship in 2024.
“I am very excited about the captain,” he said. “It will be a good challenge.
“I’m really happy about the start of the season.”
This season they are organized on the opening day morning Oswaldtwistle Immanuel. In a peculiarity of the schedule, they play the campaign at home and away Oswaldtwistle in the first three weeks.
Walkden’s latest success was with two Bolton League titles in 2018 and 2019, but they have been struggling since then.
They are one of only two Bolton teams in the NWCL championship of this summer alongside Astley Bridge, who had relegated last season.
You would expect these two teams to challenge Ribblesdale Wanderers in 2025, which have also expired from the Premiership department.
“Compared to last year, it will be a stronger division this time,” said Afzal. “But it is difficult to say who will challenge up to two or three games.
“The standard of professionals will be important.
“If you get a good like Read (Blayde Capell) last year, you have a really good chance.”
Things in Walkden seem to go well in front of the field, where they have carried out renovations of their facilities in recent years and focus strongly on their junior section.
“In our league we have the best floor and the best facilities,” added Afzal.
“It is a brilliant place to play cricket for the seniors and the juniors.”
Saturday championship championships: Baxenden against Barnoldswick, Earby against Astley Bridge, Ribblesdale Wanderers against Cherry Tree, Walkden against Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, Whalley against Brinscall.
