Ravi Madholall
Twenty-seven-year-old Abdullah Syed wants to utilize his all-round skills for USA at the eminent International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket League (WCL) Division 4 limited-over tournament which is scheduled to commence on October 29 in Los Angeles.
According to the hard-hitting right-handed opening batsman, he is currently enjoying his elevation to the national team and that has catapulted him to aspire for great things in the six-team competition.
Since at the under-19 level, Syed has been on the selectors’ radar and to his own disappointment and probably many fans in the North American continent, he is overlooked because of inconsistency but he knows that his dream would have come true one day.
“I [am] pretty much excited to represent USA at the highest level; obviously, this is a great opportunity for me and I am very confident of doing well in the tournament,” Syed related to USACricketers.com via telephone.
USA will begin their campaign against old-rivals Bermuda in their quest for ICC higher status. The other teams competing are: Denmark, Italy, Jersey and Oman. The top two countries in the single round-robin tournament will be promoted to WCL Division 3, due to be held in early next year.
Having represented New York Cricket Club over the years, Syed stated that he always plays his game hard and wants to achieve [big] cricketing goals.
His perseverance and determination have paid off but the huge thing for him now is to make an impression and simultaneously help USA winning the tournament.
“I think we have a balanced team to play committed and good cricket; the guys are all energetic and I can attest to that based on what is taking place at the preparatory camp, so I am very optimistic we will do well,” Syed commented.
On Sunday last, the Auty Cup 50-over tournament concluded between the USA and Canada in which the visitors came out with two victories also played in Los Angeles.
Abdullah Syed batting against the visiting Marylebone Cricket Club of England in September. Top photo, Syed at the USA Cricket Combine in June earlier this year in New York. Photos by Shiek Mohamed
For Syed, it was just a learning experience for him despite he only scored 18 runs from the three encounters.
Known for his flamboyance, Syed was given a chance to start the innings at the top but struggled with form getting 12 and 00 while the final game saw him batting at number 8 and he only contributed 12 runs in that triumphant match.
Syed feels that the three innings gave him some confidence to expect the standard and is motivated now to maximize on the opportunity on home soil.
“I believe that it about learning all the time and move on; a big tournament coming up and I am positive of getting among the runs and hopefully I can take wickets with my off-break,” the enthusiastic Syed declared.
Syed further explained that he was never daunted of getting a call-up soon after he was not in the USA’s preliminary 30-man squad announced in July, but had been added to a 22-member squad camp in Indianapolis earlier this month.
He fortify his spot with a belligerent 89-ball 71 against a touring Marylebone Cricket Club recently playing for a New York X1.