?On the last day of the AirTel Champions T20 League in Hyderabad, India two Fridays ago, the verandahs of houses in Barrackpore in the deep South were draped with national flags. "I'd never seen that in this area before. It was shockingly pleasant," MP for the area, Roodal Moonilal told the Sunday Guardian. Moonilal was commenting on the renewed spirit of national pride in Barrackpore after four young men from the village, members of the T&T cricket team, put the area into the national and international limelight when they shone in the T20 league in Hyderabad. T&T cricket captain, Darren Ganga, his brother, Sherwin, and Samuel Badree all live close to each other in Barrackpore. Dave Mohammed lives some six miles away in Princes Town. "It was national and international recognition for a small village in southern Trinidad," Moonilal said.
He noted, however, that Barrackpore residents have always been quietly patriotic by "obeying laws, paying taxes and nurturing good children. "They have a greater identity with the nation now. The flags in front their houses were a vivid manifestation of their patriotism." There was no fanfare, no loud trump in Barrackpore for the cricketers who returned home from India last Tuesday. Barrackpore residents went about their normal business, working and going to school, while the cricketers spent time with their families before leaving the country for the WICB President's Cup in Guyana that same day. But villagers carried themselves with a quiet pride and dignity.
"We feel proud that the T&T cricket captain and members of his team belong to Barrackpore," said Dipchand Lall, president of the Cane Farmers Association of T&T, which still functions as a community group. "I think the community was disappointed the team didn't get the trophy but they were still happy with their achievements. "When they left home we never thought they would make such an impact on the international stage," Lall said. He said Barrackpore revolves around cricket and there is a club in every village. "Barrackpore was a sugar area and the villages are named after sugar cane scales where the cane was weighed," Lall said. "There are six scales in Barrackpore and each has a cricket club." Naming some, he said, "Renown, Victoria United, All Apaches, Knockers, Yorkshire." He said in the cricket season, from January to May, Barrackpore is abuzz with cricket activities every weekend.