Hartford Youth Cricketer makes U.S Under 13 Team

Sep 9, 2001.

The Most Valuable Player in the recently concluded Hartford youth cricket program sponsored by The West Indian Foundation, Brian Adjodhi, 12, has been selected to represent the United

States Under-13 team in a tournament scheduled for Disney World, Orlando, Florida, next month. Eight countries are expected to take part in the tournament in which the final match will be a day/night affair playing under floodlights.

Brian, who represented Connecticut at the U.S. Junior Cricket Association trials held in New Jersey, September 1 and 2, with another product of the Hartford program, Vasishth Srivaspava, earned his selection by excelling with both bat and ball. In the three matches that he participated in, Brian averaged 34 runs and captured five wickets for 30 runs.

The son of Sportsmen’s Athletic Club’s cricket team’s member, Peter Adjodhi, Brian, who attends Timothy Edwards Middle School in South Windsor, is also an excellent student with a G.P.A. of 4.0. An avid athlete, he represents his school at track and field and soccer.

The selection of Brian on the U.S. team comes as plus for the Hartford program which is now in its sixth year. At the presentation held in East Hartford on Friday, August 10 and hosted by Banks Cavaliers Inc., of Hartford, an emotional, Roland Sampath, who headed the coaching staff said that this year’s program was one of the best. He said that like the kids he was sort of sorry when the program ended. He praised his other coaches for helping to keep the children in line. “Good coaches not only produce good players but also helps to produce good individuals,” he said.

Sampath, who comes in from Trinidad each year to run the program, said that he is looking forward to the time when he can introduce them to hard ball so that they will be able to compete against children from other parts of the country. “We need to compete in order to give them exposure,” he said.

He also lauded the parents for taking an active role in the program. From fund-raisers put on by the parents, the children were rewarded with a day at the Mystic Seaquarium, for their good behavior. “With the parents help, the program should not only get bigger but better,” he said.

Executive Director of the West Indian Foundation, Keith L. Carr Sr., who cheered the program, gave a brief history of its beginning and called on members of the clubs in the Hartford to take an active role in the program as they have now gotten the green light to introduce the game in the schools.

Also present at the function was June Bernabucci, Coordinator for Physical Education and Athletics for Hartford Public Schools, who addressed the gathering briefly and assisted in the presentation of trophies to the children.