Trinidad Guardian article.
Port of Spain, Trinidad - The cricketing world lost a son in an unfortunate situation but former West Indies Youth captain Zaheer Ali has decided to honour the late Australian by setting up a development seminar for young cricketers at El Dorado recently.
According to Ali :â€Being a son of the cricketing world I am certain that the environment in which Phillip Hughes spent his last moments brought him a lot of happiness, joy, contentment and respect.â€
Ali who toured Australia with the Queen’s Park Cricket team at the age of 17 years said while the days have passed the moments are and will be alive and for this reason he took the opportunity on behalf of the directors and officers of the Zaheer Ali Foundation, as well as the citizens of T&T and the people across the region to express deepest condolences to the Phillip Hughes family, the people of Australia and around the world.
Hughes was struck by a bouncer and died a couple days later at a Sydney Hospital.
Ali said not everyday something like this happens but when it does as individuals and organisations we must learn from it and take decisive actions to ensure as far as practicable that the passing of Phillip Hughes is not in vain but a means of Promoting and developing the sport that unites people nationally, regionally and internationally and which is well respected for its healthy and historic legacy.
From left: Dr Varma Deyalsingh (representative medical Board), Azim Basarath (TTCB President), Ross Tysoe (His Excellency Australian High Commissioner), Zaheer Ali (Founder of Zaheer Ali Foundation & Former West Indies Youth Captain), Tarandath Sammy (Chairman East Zone) and Rayad Emrit (T&T Senior Cricket Captain) and Kenrick Edwards (Superintendent of Police CGIU) during the function held recently.
A former national senior cricketer and the pilot of the Zaheer Ali Foundation, Ali said it was important to engage and collaborate with all the stakeholders to create the avenue for their input in formulating a plan of action. He lamented that the model and execution of development programmes must be reviewed and highlighted that development cannot be the subject or focus of one individual or entity but a cross section of all the stakeholders.
Supporting the event was his Excellency the Australian High Commissioner Ross Tysoe, President of TTCB Azim Bassarath and the executive of the TTCB,Tarandath Sammy the chairman of the East Zone, Kenneth Samuel Principal and representative for the Primary Schools in the East Zone, Kenrick Edwards Superintendent of Police Criminal Gang and intelligence Unit, Dr Varma Deyalsingh representative from the Medical Board, Rayad Emrit National Senior team cricket captain, Dr Khan and personnel from the North- Central Regional Health Authority and Pradeep Vishnu (coach) from the Ministry of Sport.
The Foundation considered all the pertinent and relevant factors from a sporting, personal, and a national development perspective in defining its objective for the project which were to introduce youths formally to the game of cricket and build their confidence and willingness to play the sport of cricket, to ensure sustainability for the sport of cricket by scouting for talent, to develop the social and human resource capital of T&T through sport in light of the challenges we face where the youths are concerned.
In the opening ceremony Ali said he urged the young cricketers from the various governmental and denominational Primary Schools to seize the opportunity to learn and develop as cricketers and individuals. He commended the principals, staff and parents for seeing the importance of the workshop and for making the effort to support the development of the sport of cricket but more importantly the development of our nation.
The Zaheer Ali Foundation also presented a plaque to the Australian High Commissioner in honour of Hughes for his achievements, dedication and commitment to the sport.
Ali concluded by expressing his deepest appreciation for the corporate support from Charrans BookStores, Angostura, Nigel R Khan Book Sellers, Blue Waters, Xtra Foods, Deo’s Tent Rentals.
First Published In The Trinidad Guardian.
