Alix Husain during the USA Cricket Combine trials in New York. Photo by Shiek Mohamed
One of Sunrise Softball Cricket Club’s (SSCC) youngest members Alix Husain was called up to play for the USA Under-17 team in the ICC Americas tournament, now in progress in Houston, Texas, and involving national teams from Canada and Bermuda.
Alix’s selection to represent the US Under-17s, was fitting as he has tremendous cricketing skills. Most importantly, Alix’s love for the game of cricket was recognized around eleven years of age, when he joined the Sunrise Cricket Club. Since then his passion, commitment and dedication to the game of cricket has never ceased.
Alix honed his cricketing skills while a member of SSCC, whose mission is to give youth players the opportunity of developing their cricketing skills playing alongside more experienced players. The senior players serve as role models mentors.
While playing for Sunrise in the New York Softball Cricket (NYSCL), Alix was selected primarily for his fielding abilities, which was striking, as opposing teams wouldn’t risk his gun of an arm. As he developed his batting and bowling skills, Alix earned a permanent position as an all-rounder for Sunrise.
In addition, he took advantage of the free Youth Cricket Clinic program provided by the NYSCL every Saturday, during the summer. Alix’s skills were noticed by the NYSCL and he was elected to captain the youth team for two years. In 2011 he was also named the Most Improved Players and was crowned Player-of-the-Year by SSCC. While playing for Sunrise Alix earned several batting and bowling awards, and last year was recognized as Emerging Players of the Year by SSCC. In 2012, he captained the NYSCL youth team against a Schenectady Youth XI, leading his team to victory.
During the past three years Alix turned his attention to the hardball version of cricket, which he found very interesting. He swiftly joined local hardball clubs and worked hard to improve his hardball cricketing skills, paving the way for him to be selected for John Adams High School Spartans cricked team. During 2014, while at John Adams, Alix played in the New York City Public School Athletic League (PSAL), which conducts an annual cricket competition. At John Adams, Alix playing as an all-rounder, quickly became one of the team’s key players, leading his team in many matches.
Alix Husain is presented with cricket gears from members of the Sunrise Softball Cricket Club and their sponsor.
During the recent 2016 regular PSAL cricket competition Alix scored several half-centuries, and was one of the leaders in most runs scored, and was very handy picking up wickets with the ball. In addition, Alix and his Spartans team won the PSAL 2016 cricket final, defeating Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) High School of Brooklyn. In that important final with John Adams down 37 for 2 in the eight over and FDR having the advantage, he scored 31 in a crucial third-wicket partnership of 79 runs. Alix was key in repairing his team’s batting, taking his team to the fifteenth over and building the foundation for John Adams to be crowned 2016 PSAL Cricket Champions.
It was not surprising that Alex was selected as a part of the USA’s Under-17 team, as he had displayed striking cricketing skills at the recent ICC Under-17 New York Cricket Combine. Alix Husain’s parents Mr. and Mrs. Wahab Husain are elated at their son’s selection for the USA Under-17 team, and wish his continued success. Most importantly, the Sunrise club members, their sponsors Kaieteur Express and its owner Mr. Rabindranath Koobial and Cricket Zone USA owner Ravi Etwaroo, came together and presented Alix with cricket gear and cash for the cricket tournament now taking place in Houston, Texas. Everyone congratulates Alix on his achievement and wishes him well for the tournament, and future cricketing endeavors.
Sunrise Softball Cricket Club is sponsored by Kaieteur Express Restaurant and Bar, located at Liberty Ave, and 120th St. in Richmond Hill, Queens.