By Avenash Ramzan
Guyana and West Indies cricketer Gudakesh Motie was duly rewarded for his exploits in 2022 when the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club (ACCCC) held its annual awards ceremony on Saturday evening.
During the period under consideration, the left-arm spinner became the sixth cricketer from the East Berbice club to play Test cricket, making his debut against Bangladesh in June at North Sound, Antigua.
He joined Sew Shivnarine, Narsingh Deonarine, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo as the men from Albion to play the longest format.
The 27-year-old Motie also made his One Day International debut in July 2022 against Bangladesh at Providence, and in December 2021 played his lone T20 International to date against Pakistan in Karachi.
Motie, who joined the club as a six-year-old, is currently with the West Indies Test team for the two-Test series in Zimbabwe, and his mother Devi was on hand to receive the several accolades that were bestowed on him.
Apart from being recognised for his ascension to the status of ‘international cricketer’, Motie copped the Sew Shivnarine trophy donated by businessman Kris Jagdeo and a plaque sponsored by the Trophy Stall for being the club’s Cricketer-of-the-Year.
Motie also received the Bowler-of-the-Year prize and received the Devendra Bishoo trophy for his outstanding efforts for Albion at the First Division level, Berbice in Inter-county cricket and the Guyana Harpy Eagles and Guyana Amazon Warriors at the regional level.
“Gudakesh Motie becoming Albion’s sixth Test cricketer was one of the major highlights of the Club in 2022,” President of the club, Vemen Walter, said.
“Not every day, week, month or even year, a club can produce a Test cricketer; thus, producing our sixth Test cricketer in 2022 was indeed a tremendous achievement as a Club.”
National and Inter-county players from Albion
During 2022, Motie, Permaul, Anthony Bramble and Demetri Cameron all represented Guyana at the First-Class Level, while Motie, Permaul and Bramble were also part of the Guyana team that participated in the Regional 50-over tournament.
Three Albion cricketers represented Guyana in 2022- Farhan Ballee, Nathaniel Ramsammy and Arif Madrimuthu at the Under-13 level.
“It was rather disappointing that there was no cricketer from Albion in the Guyana Under-19, 17 and 15 Team. However, the Club is working assiduously to ensure that such a situation does not present itself in the future,” Walter told the gathering.
At the Berbice level, Motie, Permaul, Bramble, Cameron and Jonathan Foo all represented the Ancient Country 2022 Senior Inter-County Tournament.
At the Under-19 level, Afraz Budhu, Tameshwar Mangal, Leon Cecil, Shiv Harripersaud and Pavendra Ganesh all represented Berbice.
Like at the Under-19 level, five cricketers from Albion, namely Budhu, Harriperaud, Damion Cecil, Kumar Deopersaud and Ari Afzal Kadir, also represented Berbice.
Devin Lalbehari and Reshan Sakrulla were part of the Berbice Under-15 team, while Sahid Gagnabi, Nathaniel Ramsammy, Arif Madrimootoo and Faran Ballee were part of the Berbice Under-13 side.
List of Awardees
Cricketer-of-the-Year: Gudakesh Motie
Batsman-of-the-Year: Jonathon Foo
Bowler-of-the-Year: Gudakesh Motie
Most Disciplined: Shivon Crandon
Most Improved: Shiv Harripersaud
Most Promising: Ari Afzal Kadir
First Division Cricketer-of-the-Year: Kelvin Umroa
Under-19 Cricketer-of-the-Year: Shiv Harripersaud
Under-17 Cricketer-of-the-Year: Afraz Budhu
Under-15 Cricketer-of-the-Year: Devin Lalbehari
Under-13 Cricketer-of-the-Year: Nathaniel Ramsammy
For representing West Indies: Gudakesh Motie, Veerasammy Permaul
For representing Guyana (Senior): Gudakesh Motie, Veerasammy Permaul, Demitri Cameron, Anthony Bramble
For representing Guyana (U-13): Nathaniel Ramsammy, Arif Madrimootoo, Faran Ballee
For representing Berbice:
Senior: Gudakesh Motie, Veerasammy Permaul, Jonathon Foo, Anthony Bramble, Demitri Cameron
Under-19: Afraz Budhu, Tameshwar Mangal, Leon Cecil, Shiv Harripersaud, Pavendra Ganesh
Under-17: Afraz Budhu, Ari Afzal Kadir, Damion Cecil, Kumar Deopersaud, Shiv Harripersaud
Under-15: Devin Lalbehari, Reshan Sakrulla
Under-13: Sahid Gagnabi, Nathaniel Ramsammy, Arif Madrimootoo, Faran Ballee
Special Awards: Gudakesh Motie, Imtiaz Bacchus, Omarnauth Outar
In attendance at the ceremony were Patron of the club Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Speaker of the House and President of the Everest Cricket Club Manzoor Nadir, President of the Berbice Cricket Board Hilbert Foster, Vice-president of the Guyana Cricket Board Rabindranauth Saywack and Estate Manager of Albion Estate Yudhisthira Mana.
