Jeron Maniram and Shania Abdool won the male cricketer of the year and female cricketer of the year awards respectively when the Powergen Secondary Schools Cricket League held its Cricket Appreciation, Prize Giving and Awards Ceremony at the Couva/Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce in Couva, on Thursday.
Maniram of Barrackpore West Secondary demonstrated his all round ability throughout the season to cop the award. The right-handed batsman scored 430 runs in seven innings at an average of 86 runs and with his off spin he snatched 21 wickets at an average of 14. Maniram was rewarded with a spot on the national Under-19 team for the West Indies Cricket Board Regional U-19 tournament, which bowls off next month.
Abdool also did some damage with both bat and ball during the season. Playing for Barrackpore East Secondary, Abdool scored 262 runs in six innings with an average of 65.5. She also took 15 wickets for only 71 runs at an average of 4.7.
Making the feature address was journalist and cricket commentator Fazeer Mohammed. Mohammed encouraged the young cricketers to play the game for the love of it. "At the end of the day you must enjoy your cricket. If you don't enjoy what you are doing and you are just thinking about the money you will not achieve what you want to achieve." He added that top sportsmen such as Lionel Messi, Kieron Pollard and Chris Gayle love what they do and this led to success. Mohammed encouraged the students to put in the necessary work by practicing their game.
Mohammed also told the youngsters that when people invest in their cricket they must not take it for granted. "We want to see a level of commitment to your school, community, country and region and then all the officials will say the investment was worth it."