For many, being selected for a T20 League across the world is seen as a landmark even for international players and for 15-year-old Matthew Nandu, the chance to turn out for Vancouver Knights in the Global T20 Canada, is overwhelming.
Nandu was selected for the defending champions side which features stars such as Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Shoaib Malik, Tim Southee, Ali Khan and others.
“It’s a great feeling, it would be a great experience for me being with some of the greats to play the game, gives me the opportunity to ask questions and learn from them,” Nandu said.
Upon hearing of his selection in the final round, Nandu said “I was speechless and overwhelmed to hear I was selected and I will make full use of it.”
The teenager explained that he was shocked to hear his name but has been consistently dedicating his time in the gym and on the field as well as balancing his academic life.
The Canada-born son of former West Indies Under-19 leg-spinner, Arjune Nandu, is a budding prospect for Guyana’s Under-17 team having produced with both bat and ball as well as five consecutive half-centuries for his club, Tranzac, when they visited Guyana earlier this year.
Nandu then joined Everest Cricket Club in Georgetown and Nandy Park Club on the East Bank where he also turned out good performances that merited his selection on the East Bank youth team before a good outing saw him being selected for the Demerara Under-17 and Guyana Select Under-17 for the Inter-County Under-19 tournament.
Nandu thanked his father and grandfather for their support and indicated that he is set on making them proud.
After calming down from the adrenaline rush of hearing his name called, Nandu noted “I look forward to being with the international players and means a lot to be given the chance and now it is up to me to make use of it.”
The left-handed batsman and fluent off-spinner is among six Guyanese selected for the tournament which will be played from July 25 to August 11. The others are Keemo Paul (Montreal Tigers), Sherfane Rutherford (Edmonton Royals), Dillon Heyliger (Montreal Tigers), Jeremy Gordon (Toronto Nationals) and Mark Montford (Toronto Nationals).
