33rd Anniversary Induction
The Cricket Hall of Fame will mark its 33rd anniversary with the induction of its 100th candidate at ceremonies which will be held on Saturday, October 4, at the Hilton Hotel downtown Hartford.
Orville Hall.
Eight individuals will be inducted at the ceremony. Topping the class is former West Indian fast bowler Colin E. H. Croft, former Pakistani all-rounder Mansoor Akhtar and former captain of the West Indian women’s team Stephanie Power. Joining them will be Lauderhill, Florida mayor Richard Kaplan, Emmanuel Lewis, Orville Hall, Paul Hensley, and Joyce Trotman-Harmon.
Guyanese-born Croft was part of the potent West Indian quartet of fast bowlers from the late 70s and early 80s. In a relatively brief career lasting just five years, he established a reputation as one of the most chilling of fast men, with no compunction whatsoever about inflicting pain.
Akhtar, who played in 19 Tests and 41 ODIs partnered Waheed Mirza in a world record opening stand of 561 in 1977, which is still recognized as the best first wicket stand in first class cricket.
Power, a former Trinidad & Tobago and West Indies women’s cricket captain and later assistant coach, will be the first-ever international female cricketer to be inducted. She is a well-recognized and respected coach in cricketing circles in the Americas, and in particular women’s cricket.
Better known as an evangelist for the sport of cricket in America, Mayor Kaplan was directly involved in the creation of the first and only accredited International Cricket Council (ICC) field and stadium in the U.S., which was part of a $70 million complex that contains a variety of other sports facilities.
Well known in New York and the Florida cricket circles, Lewis who is originally from Trinidad, at the tender age of 85, is still very active in playing the game that he so passionately loves. He is possibly the oldest person in the region still playing the game.
Stefanie Power
Hall, a former manager of the U.S. senior cricket team was instrumental in helping to draft the constitution of the U.S. Youth Cricket Association. When the first elections were called, he was elected as the first Public Relations Director, a position which he still holds.
Hensley, an American, who is the president of the CC Morris Cricket Library, which is located in Philadelphia, has provided leadership for the library to expand its role to support all aspects and forms of American cricket. Since he became president, the Philadelphia International Cricket Festival merged into the library. The festival continues to grow and has become one of the premiere cricket events in the United States.
Originally from Barbados, Ms. Trotman-Harmon is the first female president of the New York Cricket League. She has also served in many other administrative positions in a number of clubs and tournaments in the New York region.
