By Frederick Halley

CANADA-based Guyanese Sunil Dhaniram remains one of the most underrated cricketers to have emerged from his homeland, Guyana. Over the last few years, he has been concentrating on campaigning at the Masters level in the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs’ (OMSCC) tournaments, and he has been doing this quite effectively.Few, both in Guyana and in his adopted country Canada, are aware of his exploits in the sunshine game, culminating with him representing the latter country at the 2007 International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup.

Before migrating to Canada, he represented Guyana in the prime years of West Indies cricket, playing in 12 First Class matches from 1993-95, and making his highest score — a gritty 57 against Leeward Islands in 1994. A year later, he called it quits as far as Guyana cricket was concerned, with low scores in his final game versus Barbados.

Dhaniram immediately rose to prominence in Canada, and in 2003 he was selected as an all-rounder in the national side. The left-arm spinner made an immediate impact with figures of three for 15 in an impressive 10-over spell against the Windward Islands in a List ‘A’ match. Batting at number four, he failed to impress, being undone by current West Indies T20 skipper Darren Sammy, and falling for 18. His First Class debut was also a nightmare, he being dismissed for a second-ball duck against the USA. Dhaniram, however, recovered to score an unbeaten 65 in the second innings.

The next few years saw the diminutive all-rounder recording consistent performances, including a five-wicket haul against Cayman Islands, and a fine unbeaten 141 versus the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In what he still considers a dream come true, Dhaniram was part of the Canada team which participated in the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup staged in the Caribbean in 2007, albeit with moderate success.
Canada failed to record a victory in any of the matches, but Dhaniram turned in several useful performances, including an unbeaten knock of 34 versus Kenya, in which he also bowled an economical nine overs for 34 runs while claiming one wicket.

Dhaniram went even better against England in the second game, grabbing three for 41 in an excellent 10-over spell. His victims included world-renowned batsman Kevin Pietersen, and according to Dhaniram, the memory still lingers. He completed an excellent game by scoring 30.

Injury forced him to retire in the final game against New Zealand, when he was batting well on 17; but he didn’t fare that well in the bowling department, his eight overs costing 72 runs.

Dhaniram was subsequently named captain of the Canada Team for the Intercontinental Cup matches against Kenya and Namibia following the completion of the World Cup, after Ashish Bagai stepped down due to work commitments.

Despite leading from the front, with some fine performances, Canada lost both matches. Dhaniram shone with both bat and ball, including hitting a top score of 78 against Kenya.

Dhaniram was also at the helm in 2008 when Canada hosted Sri Lanka and Pakistan and Zimbabwe in a T20 tournament. The Canadians again found the going tough and failed to win any of the matches.

While enjoying some respectable outings in the four-team tournament, Dhaniram was quite outstanding against Bermuda, picking up his third five-wicket haul, ending the year with 26 wickets across all formats.

The consistent left-hander, now in the twilight of his career at age 39, was one of six players awarded central contracts by Cricket Canada in 2009. His age was no deterrent, as he went on to achieve his highest score: 144 versus The Netherlands in a drawn encounter.

Dhaniram wasn’t finished yet as, a year later, at the age of 40, he slammed 130 against Afghanistan in a losing effort. A year later, he decided to call it quits after playing his last game against Ireland, ending what he considers to be a satisfying and rewarding career.

Dhaniram has since turned his attention to softball cricket, and now represents Our Own Sports Club in the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC). In 2014, while playing for Guyana Sports Club, he totalled 499 runs, including three centuries in eight matches, which included an amazing knock of 146. Born on October 17, 1968 in Berbice, Guyana, Dhaniram made his Canada debut in October 2003 playing against the Windward Islands. Three years later, he played the first of his 44 One Day Internationals versus Zimbabwe, and has also been involved in seven ICC Intercontinental Cup games.