Welcome to Dev's Digest, Sky Sports' trail‑blazing column where Dev Trehan shares exclusive scoops and highlights the most significant moments for British South Asians in the beautiful game. In this edition we celebrate two remarkable stories that underline the growing influence of South Asian talent across English football. First, Mal Benning is poised to receive the prestigious Football Pioneer Award at this month’s Asian Football Awards, a detail revealed exclusively by Sky Sports News. Benning’s career has been a testament to perseverance and quiet excellence.
On Valentine’s Day last season he logged his 500th professional appearance – a milestone that only a handful of British South Asians have ever reached in the English leagues. That landmark underscored a journey that began in the youth ranks of Walsall under the guidance of Dean Smith during the 2012/13 campaign. After a brief loan spell at York City, Benning secured a permanent move to Mansfield Town in 2015, where he quickly became a fan favourite.
Affectionately dubbed "Sir Mal" by the Stags faithful, he amassed more than 250 caps for Mansfield, even netting a memorable goal against bitter rivals Chesterfield in April 2018. His consistency earned him a reputation as a reliable defender with an eye for the occasional strike.
In the summer of 2021 he transferred to Port Vale, and in a twist of fate his most iconic moment arrived against his former club. Benning scored the final goal in a 3‑0 triumph for Port Vale over Mansfield in the League Two play‑off final at Wembley, sealing a fairy‑tale ending to that season. What followed cemented his status as a trailblazer for South Asian athletes.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Benning reflected on the broader impact of his achievement: "I came on Sky Sports News earlier in the week talking about South Asians in football, and that today was a massive step. I don't care that it's me – it could have been anyone – but for the Sikh community, as well as South Asians in football, that was a massive step." His words resonated deeply, and co‑commentator Jobi McAnuff echoed the sentiment, calling Benning "a pioneer who has been flying the flag for many, many years" and praising his determination to seize the opportunity when it arrived. Beyond Benning, eight additional players from the 2025/26 British South Asians in Football Team of the Season are also in contention for awards at the Asian Football Awards.
New Dundee United signing Zidane Iqbal, Chesterfield midfielder Dilan Markanday and Leeds United’s Hamza Choudhury are shortlisted for the Men’s Player prize. Young talents Brandon Khela (Peterborough), Vimal Yoganathan (Barnsley) and Seth Ridgeon (Fulham) vie for the Young Men’s Player award. In the non‑league bracket, Tamworth goalkeeper Jas Singh, Hereford defender Kam Kandola and Boreham Wood winger Tarryn Allarakhia compete for recognition. On the women’s side, Leicester City full‑back Asmita Ale, Wrexham forward Mariam Mahmood and Burnley midfielder Millie Chandarana are on the Women’s Player shortlist, while Riya Mannu (West Brom), Layla Banaras (Lewes), Sareet Kaur Binning (Leicester) and Wales goalkeeper Safia Middleton‑Patel contend for Women’s Young Player of the Year.
The second story of the day centres on Hamza Choudhury, who enjoyed a dream debut for Sheffield United. The Bangladesh international was thrust straight into the starting XI on Transfer Deadline Day and played the full 90 minutes at right‑back as the Blades edged Bolton Wanderers 3‑2 in a pulsating encounter. The appearance came just a day after Choudhury terminated a 21‑year association with Leicester City, signing a permanent deal with Sheffield United. During his time at Leicester he logged 166 senior appearances, featured in the squad that lifted the FA Cup in 2021, and captained the side on several occasions as they secured the Sky Bet Championship title in 2023/24.
Choudhury’s final match for Leicester was a 2‑1 defeat to Burton Albion – the very club where he made his EFL debut on loan more than a decade earlier – adding a poetic symmetry to his career trajectory. His move back to Bramall Lane reunites him with Chris Wilder, under whom he spent a loan spell at Watford in the 2022/23 season. Internationally, Choudhury earned his first Bangladesh cap in March 2025, balancing his national duties with club commitments under Wilder’s guidance. Another landmark moment for South Asian representation comes from Pakistan forward Mariam Mahmood, who has etched her name into Wrexham’s history books.
Mahmood became the first female footballer ever to be added to the club’s International Honours Board, joining legends such as Joey Jones, Dai Davies and Kieffer Moore. She follows in the footsteps of Neil Taylor, the former Aston Villa, Swansea and Middlesbrough full‑back who was the first British South Asian to be honoured on that board back in 2007. Mahmood, who debuted for Pakistan during AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifying in Indonesia, has already netted three goals in six international outings and featured for the Shaheens in the FIFA Series in Ivory Coast in April.
The column also touches on a major business development: Amit Bhatia attended his first Liverpool match since his consortium secured a 38 % stake in the club. Bhatia, the son‑in‑law of steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, was invited by Fenway Sports Group’s principal owner John W. Henry to watch the 2‑2 draw with Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
The investment group, which includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co‑founder Eduardo Saverin, will see Bhatia take a seat on Liverpool’s board as vice‑chairman once the deal is ratified. "It’s the biggest and the greatest football club in the world. To be associated with it is the stuff of dreams," Bhatia told LFC TV, adding that the partnership brings great responsibility, a duty he believes FSG has handled spectacularly over the past sixteen years. These narratives illustrate the expanding footprint of South Asian athletes, executives and investors within English football.
From Benning’s pioneering accolade to Choudhury’s immediate impact at Sheffield United, from Mahmood’s historic honour at Wrexham to Bhatia’s boardroom entry at Liverpool, the sport is increasingly reflecting the diversity of its supporters. For more in‑depth stories, features and video content, visit Sky Sports’ dedicated South Asians in football page and join the conversation.