Dear Editor,
Over the last twenty-five years as a cricket administrator, I have observed numerous cricketing talents that were earmarked for greatness but then they flattered to deceive. Some of them failed owing to problems of their own including indiscipline and laziness, but most of them failed because of the inability of those in authority to make proper investments in their careers.
I hardly get to watch cricket, even when my club plays due to my pressing duties as Secretary/CEO of the RHTYSC. Fortunately, for me three years ago I had the memorable privilege of watching a fifteen-year-old batsman, playing against the RHTYSC in an intermediate quarter-final at the Area ‘H’ ground. The pint-sized lad, Askay Homraj, in a losing cause turned into our very experienced bowling attack and blasted 72 runs from just 28 balls with five massive sixes and eight magnificent boundaries. I had never witnessed such a brutal assault by a fifteen-year-old whose confidence in his ability was unbelievable. Experienced first division bowlers like Eon Hooper, Ravi Narine and Dominic Rikhi were blasted to all parts of the ground and their first words to me after escaping with a narrow victory were, “We have to get him, he has a special talent.” Askay was approached by me and the rest is now history.
Earlier this year, at the age of eighteen he became the youngest member of the RHTYSC to ever win the club’s Cricketer of the Year Award, and it is my hope that the cricketing authorities both in Berbice and Guyana recognize that Askay Homraj has a very special cricketing talent. As I read Sean Devers reports on his innings of 69 against the ICC Americas, a smile came to my face. Phrases like “an array of delightful shots,” “his wide repertoire of shots” and “the spectators in the full members pavilion were on their feet,” make me realize that Guyana is also impressed with Askay. Last year he scored a century versus the Windwards and also notched up two half-centuries; to date he has two fifties in this year’s tournament.
The beauty of Askay’s batting is his aggressive intent and he has a Viv Richards mentality that no bowler can dominate him, whether he is bowling pace or spin. It is my sincere hope that the relevant cricketing authorities in Guyana and the West Indies invests heavily in the careers of players like Askay Homraj, Kemo Paul, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Sharaz Ramcharran and Shimron Hetmeyer, because they all have special cricketing talents. With proper guidance, they can all be our cricketing future.
We, at the RHTYSC would continue to invest heavily in the career of Askay Homraj and hope that others would do likewise as he is a special, special talent. It is also very important that we get all of our young cricketers to understand that discipline, hard work, faith in god, commitment and an ability to remain humble are the keys to success
Yours faithfully,
Hilbert Foster
