Canuck cricket has Indian look
Thu, October 02 2008
As Cricket Canada president Banwarilal (Ben) Sennik and CEO Atul Ahuja work to make the sport popular across the country, eight Indian-origin players are helping to raise the nation’s rankings in world cricket.
“In fact, the president of our Maple Leaf cricket facility — the only one as per ICC standards — is also an Indian: Rajinder Saini,” says Ahuja.
Among the eight Indian-origin players currently playing for Canada, six come from India and two from Guyana.
Leading the pack is Delhi-born Ashish Bagai who is a superb batsman and the team’s wicketkeeper. Impressed by his performance in the last World Cup, former Aussie wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist described Bagai as one of the very best in the world today.
The 26-year-old investment banker, originally from Delhi, was named player of the tournament in the World Cricket League in Nairobi last year after he hit consecutive tons against Scotland and Ireland, scoring 345 runs at an average 86.25.
Gujarat-born Ashif Abdulhai Mulla, 28, is the backbone of the team’s batting line-up. A blue-collar worker, he is a solid middle-order batsman who also keeps wickets.
Former Indian Ranji Trophy player W.D. Balaji Rao, 30, made his international debut just last month, but has plenty of experience playing for India’s under 19 team and on other local teams. . “A top-class off-spinner and useful with the bat, he is a player with a huge experience,” Ahuja told IANS.
In Indian-born Karun Jethi, the Canadian team has found a match-winning all-rounder. In his debut ODI against Bermuda here last month, the 24-year-old cop hit an unbeaten 46 off just 36 balls and claimed two wickets to bag the man of the match award. “This young man is a superb batsman and a spinner, and I am he will go a long way,” says Ahuja.
And Chandigarh-born Harvir Singh Baidwan, 21, who made his ODI debut against Bermuda in July, seems to have cemented his place in the national team with all-round performance. Baidwan has emerged as a feisty medium-pacer and a belligerent batsman who can hoist the bowlers all over the ground.
Punjab-born Anuraj Gupta, who is a captain the Canadian armed forces, completes the tally of Indian-born players in the Canadian cricket team. “Anuraj is a good batsman and a wicketkeeper. I am sure he certainly will make an impact,” Ahuja said.
By Gurmukh Singh
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