By Colin Benjamin
Canadian players Jeremy Gordon and Dillon Heyliger are eager to use the Global T20 platform to show they also have the ability step up against cricketers from the established nations.
2018 has so far been a very encouraging year for associate nation players with Afghanistan leading the way by defeating West Indies to win the ICC World Cup qualifiers and white-wash T20 series win against Bangladesh.
Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane, who will play in Global T20 Canada for Montreal Tigers participated and impressed in the Indian Premier League for Delhi Daredevils, Ireland gave Pakistan a stern fight in their debut Test match and Scotland defeated England in a one-day international.
These results have inspired the duo that Global T20 Canada can aid their quest to become full time professional cricketers since migrating from Guyana, where they represented the West Indies territory at junior and senior cricket before playing for the Canadian national team.
“This tournament can potentially, give us that platform to showcase our skills and talent. In Canada they are some decent players, but opportunity to do that has not always been there,” said fast bowler Gordon, who was drafted by the Vancouver Knights.
“Hopefully now we show that with other associate nation players doing well around the world of late that similar talent exists in Canada.”
“Even though I played all levels of youth cricket in Caribbean before coming to Canada, these guys are big names in international cricket, so will be great to test myself against them, especially those from Caribbean,” said all-rounder Heyliger of the Montreal Tigers.
“So the tournament will be great learning process and a key aim for me is I hope to learn tactics and skills from these top players in order to incorporate it into my game, help my team do well in this competition and hopefully it can be a stepping stone for bigger things.”
These sentiments were echoed by their former Guyanese countryman Steven Jacobs, who was selected by the Vancouver Knights.
Jacobs played with Gordon and Heyliger in age group cricket and has been able to forge a solid professional career on the Twenty20 circuit in the Caribbean Premier League, despite never playing international cricket.
“At a young age he (Gordon) was one of fastest bowlers in Guyana and I thought back then could have made West Indies team. I don’t expect anything different from him in this tournament,” recalled off-spinner Jacobs.
“Heyliger also is a great prospect, he was in the Guyana T20 squad with me once, and was always an exciting all-rounder coming up that is very suited to this format as big hitter and medium pace bowler.
“He probably would be playing for Guyana or somewhere in Caribbean already if he was still in region.”
“Overall the tournament is a great opportunity for both to showcase their talent on a big stage. Also I can clearly see how this will help Canadian and others associate nation players that are involved in competition, because players around the world are seeing of late what they can do.” (Global T20 Canada)