Abdullah Syed: Despite Our Backgrounds, We Are One Big Family

Abdullah Syed represented New Jersey Somerset Cavaliers in the USA 2020 Minor League Cricket (MiLC) exhibition matches. He is considered one of the best hitters of a cricket ball among his peers; hitting them hard and far. He has played many magnificent knocks during his career, but the one that stood out this year was his 100 off 48 balls against what he considered his arch-rivals New York Titans. USAcricketers.com asked him a few questions regarding MiLC, and below are his responses.

Describe some of your experiences in the recently completed Minor League Cricket exhibition matches.
My experience in the recent MiLC exhibition matches was an awesome one. It was great playing with and against talented players, and I learned a lot from them. It was also a great way to showcase my talent in the league because we get to play against the best teams.

What was your most memorable moment during the exhibition matches?
My most memorable moment was getting a ton against “New York Titans,” when I made 100 off 48 balls, including 1×4 and 12x6s.

How different was the experience playing for a franchise team from the usual club or local team?
The main difference between a franchise team and a club team is discipline. We have to be on time for warm-ups before the games in Minor League Cricket; we don’t do that in club games as a team.

How did you prepare for the matches during the current COVID-19 pandemic?
I worked hard on my fitness during this pandemic, and my goal was to stay fit because I know my game is there, and fitness will improve my game more, so Akeem Dodson and I trained hard during the lock down, and it paid off with my ton.

What improvements, if any, would you like to see implemented during the upcoming 2021 Minor League Cricket season?
I had hoped to play more games, but due to COVID-19, we couldn’t play many games. Hopefully, 2021 brings good news and a better year for all of us. The main thing I want to see in 2021 Minor League games is turf wicket in the tri-state area.

Is there any particular area that team owners of Minor League Cricket needs to improve that would benefit the league?
I had the best franchise in Minor League 2020, from team owner to management, to the best coach, so I don’t think anything needs to be improved.

Should more under-21 players be added to the roster of each franchise?
Yes, I would say having the youths in a team will be the best thing for the teams. Most of the young talented players from across the USA need more exposure because they are the future of USA cricket. Yes, I would say we need to add more youth players to the roster of each franchise.

What would attract more fans to any matches of the franchise to which you belong?
Well, since we had to use COVID-19 precautions during the exhibition games, USA Cricket still put in a great deal of work to make the matches happen. Not many families could have come out due to COVID-19, but I’m pretty sure when things get better Insha’ Allah (God willing), more fans will come out and watch the games and make it more exciting.

What is one positive non-cricket experience you took away from your participation in the exhibition matches?
The whole experience was full of positives, but one thing that stood out from my involvement with foreign and local players was merging as one big family sharing different backgrounds and personal life journeys to success.