By Colin Benjamin in Trinidad and Tobago
Guyanese left-hander Assad Fudadin, 26, has expressed surprise at being called up to the West Indies squad for the third test of the Digicel test series against Australia that commences on April 23.
Speaking to Stabroek Sport, the Berbician commonly referred to as `Badyr’ in local cricket circles, expressed his surprise at his summoning yesterday but noted that this has been a life-long dream that has been finally achieved.
“It has always been a boyhood dream of mine to play for the West Indies at the highest level. Ever since representing the West Indies at Under-15 level (in 2000) and Under-19 level (2004) it was my goal to play at the international level. I must say I am a bit surprised by the call up, but I’m looking forward to doing well in the maroons,” stated Fudadin.
That surprise for Fudadin, however, does not hide the fact that he earned this call-up and was somewhat unlucky not be picked from the start of the series.
During the recent 2011/12 regional four-day season Fudadin was the second leading run-scorer, scoring 576 runs at an average of 48, from seven matches and he was the only batsman to score two centuries.
In a West Indies cricket board press release sent yesterday by media manager Phillip Spooner, chairman of selectors Clyde Butts stated the following about Fudadin:
“Fudadin has been a member of the West Indies A Team for a while now and we have seen signs of development and improvement. This year he batted well in the Regional 4-Day Tournament, and made over 500 runs, including two centuries. He was very consistent in the middle-order. He can also bowl medium-pace and that is an asset.”
West Indies captain Darren Sammy at the post-match press conference yesterday in the Brian Lara pavilion also gave his two cents on Fudadin’s call-up.
“We welcome Fudadin to the set-up, I played against him at under-19 level and recently in Windward Islands vs. Guyana matches and I know he is a player that plays spin well and has a pretty good technique. He is in form and hopefully if picked he can contribute similarly to how his Guyanese colleague Narsingh Deonarine has done so far in this series,” noted Sammy.
Fudadin replaces another countryman Devendra Bishoo in the squad and Sammy also made a brief comment about the departing leg-spinner.
“We just had a team talk and I told him (Bishoo) he has been a warrior for us, especially during 2011. Sometimes we as players lose form, he just has to go home, get refreshed and I’m confident he will back bowling well again, so I’m not really worried about Bish,” Sammy said.
If Assad Fudadin does get to don the maroon cap in the third test, he will become the 43rd Guyanese to represent the West Indies in test, following a tradition that began when Maurice Fernandes became the first to do so in 1928.
West Indies Squad
Darren Sammy (Captain)
Adrian Barath
Carlton Baugh (Wicket-keeper)
Kraigg Brathwaite
Darren Bravo
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Narsingh Deonarine
Fidel Edwards
Assad Fudadin
Kieran Powell
Ravi Rampaul
Kemar Roach
Shane Shillingford
