Canadian cricketers excited about TT trip

The team arrived in TT on Tuesday and will return to Canada next week Tuesday. The team will play in a number of matches, including fixtures against the national Under-15 and Under-17 outfits. There will also be a reception, sightseeing and opportunities to meet locals to learn about the country’s culture. They will also meet international cricket star Brian Lara.

Over the past 10 years, Cricket Across the Pond has allowed about 125 young players from the GTA to travel and play in countries such as England, Sri Lanka and now TT.

All-rounder Hasan Khan, 20, is excited to be in TT. “I am honoured, you know. Going from Canada to the West Indies, where cricket is played internationally, it means a lot to me,” Khan said.

Eighteen-year-old all-rounder Saif Rizwan, says he is looking forward to his first game in Trinidad. “I couldn’t believe it first,” Rizman said. “When I told my dad, he was like, ‘Is this a prank or something?’ And everyone, my cousins and my friends in high school, are all very excited,” he said. At 15, bowling all-rounder Adrian Hackett is the youngest to make the 2017 team. “I am from the Caribbean and I have never been able to travel to the Caribbean to play cricket. So it’s a nice opportunity to go,” he said.

While Khan, Rizwan and Hackett are from Mississauga, the other nine players on the team – Jagrit Dewan, Jediah Navaratne, Nabil Farooqui, Nikhil Patel, Moazam Qureshi, Abdullah Khokhar, Matthew Seepersaud, Mamik Luthra and Wasiq Zia – represent Whitby, Milton, Markham, Brampton and Toronto.

While their skill in cricket helped them make the team, community involvement was another large part of the selection process.

Vinod Sharma will serve as the team’s manager and coordinator, while Tim Stone is the coach.