By Avenash Ramzan
National all-rounder Romario Shepherd is a 22-year-old now looking to make his dreams and aspirations of one day representing the West Indies a reality. While he is cognisant that the road will be long and arduous, it has not sidetracked him from helping to make the dreams of others come to fruition.
Recently, the powerfully built right-arm seamer and hard-hitting lower-order batsman presented a brand new bat to Moraldo Durant of Tucber Park Cricket Club.
Shepherd is a product of the Berbice club, and the talented cricketer, who has played one List A game for Guyana, felt they need to assist young Durant, who is a Berbice Under-15 selectee.
Durant is a fast bowling all-rounder, and according to reports coming out of the club, he has potential to make it big in the game. Shepherd, whom is widely regarded as a long-term investment in Guyana’s cricket, had words and advise and encouragement for Durant as he prepares to represent the county.
“Just go out there and do your best to get select to the Guyana Under-15 team, and make the club and your family proud,” Shepherd told the young cricketer.
Durant expressed gratitude to Shepherd and promised to represent the club, county, and hopefully the country, with distinction. The Tucber Park Cricket Club, in a social media post, also stated, “We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Romario for his kind gesture.”
Shepherd made his senior debut for Guyana in the Super50 in 2016, claiming an impressive 3-37 sharing the new ball against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes in Basseterre, St. Kitts.
That has been his lone match to date, but he turned in an excellent performance in the Jaguars Franchise League Three-day competition last year, claiming 34 wickets from the seven games, the most wickets by a fast bowler in the tournament.
He was the lone fast bowler to break the 30-wicket mark, claiming three five-wicket hauls, including 8-49, the best in the competition.
