By Avenash Ramzan
Assad Fudadin is now a happy man.
The Guyana and West Indies cricketer has finally been reunited with his family after being stranded in Jamaica for the past four months, owing to the COVID-19 lockdown.
Following the abrupt end to the West Indies Four-Day Championship, Fudadin, who was representing the Jamaica Scorpions, could not get back home to Guyana due to the ports of entry on both sides being closed.
It meant the left-hander had to stay in a rented apartment in Kingston, away from the cricket field and doing what he loves, basically biding time until it was safe to travel.
What kept the Berbician occupied was the indoor fitness programme that the Jamaican Scorpions management team developed for players attached to the franchise.
After doing the necessary tests and given clearance to travel, Fudadin was among the over 200 Guyanese who returned home on the Eastern Airlines flight from New York on Wednesday.
He did an initial test in Jamaica, before leaving for Miami where another test was done.
“It was a stressful four months for me,” Fudadin told News Room on Thursday.
“Not only being away from the family, but the struggles you had to endure to get home.”
Those struggles continued to the very end, as the aircraft skidded off the runway at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport shortly after landing. Luckily, there was no damage or injury.
“Nevertheless, I’m just happy to be back home.”
Follow the protocols
Since restrictions on movement were enforced globally, Fudadin said he was in constant contact with authorities in Guyana, as well as the Consulate in Jamaica and Florida.
“And they assisted in telling me what I had to do and so on.”
Fudadin expressed joy about reuniting with his loved ones, and urged fellow Guyanese to follow the health protocols in order to stay safe.
The former West Indies Youth player, who has been attached to the Jamaica Scorpions Franchise since 2017, was last in Guyana for the Regional Four-Day clash on February 6, 2020 with Guyana Jaguars at the National Stadium, Providence.
As part of his contractual obligations with Scorpions, the Berbician had to live in Jamaica for the duration of the season, however, due to the pandemic, Cricket West Indies suspended the Four-Day championship after eight rounds on March 24; since then Fudadin was poised to return home, but could not due to the closure of ports.
Fudadin, who has represented the West Indies in three Tests (average of 30.50), and averages 29.42 in 110 First-Class games, indicated that when the sport is allowed to fully resume in the Caribbean, he will be focused on representing his franchise to the best of his ability.
The left-hander has also played for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Hero CPL.
