By Frederick Halley

TORONTO, Canada – When the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 World Cup bowls off in New Zealand next month, one player with Guyanese roots will be part of the Canadian squad vying for supremacy in the prestigious tournament.

Sixteen-year-old Ashtan Deosammy, who was born in Canada to Guyanese parents, Vengasammy and Dropattie Deosammy, has been making a name for himself at the youth level since representing his club Qasra Cricket Academy in Under-13 competitions and according to his coach Sheriff Bodhoo, Deosammy lives and breathes cricket.
Boodhoo, himself a Guyanese who hails from Vergenoegen, East Bank, Essequibo, pointed out that Deosammy has been one of his brightest prospects in his academy which has a reputation for producing quality players over the years.

Apart from representing the academy, Deosammy also plays for Transac Sports Club in the Toronto & District Cricket Association at both the senior and junior competitions, namely the Under-16, Under-18, Second and Elite divisions.

An all-rounder who bats right-hand and also bowls off-spin, Deosammy is credited with almost single-handedly winning the Under-13 title for his team, blasting an undefeated 142 not out against Malton Sports Club in the 2013 final while he also hit a top-score of 81 versus Australasia Cricket Academy in this year’s Under-18 semi-finals. His team were primed to compete in the final versus Oakville but unfortunately the game was rained out, forcing the teams to share the winners’ trophy.

Deosammy was also part of the Canadian Under-19 side which captured the ICC Americas Under-19 title, competed for against the USA and Bermuda earlier this year. They also participated in the one-day version of Cricket West Indies Under-19 tournament in the Caribbean.

Canada will compete alongside Bangladesh, England and Namibia in Group C while in what is the 11th edition of the tournament and the third to be held in New Zealand.
The top two sides from each group will advance to the Super League while the remaining eight teams will figure in the plate championship. The quarterfinals, semifinals and final of the Super League will be among the 20 matches to be broadcast live.
The final will be played at Bay Oval in Tauranga on February 3 while both semi-finals will be played at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on January 29 and 30.
The plate tournament will run simultaneously but end with the final at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Christchurch January 28.

Canada squad: Arslan Khan (captain), Akash Gill (vice-captain), Ashtan Deosammy Emanuel Khokhar, Kavian Naress, Kevin Singh, Pranav Sharma, Randhir Sandhu, Krishen Samuel, Faisal Jamkhandi, Arshdeep Dhaliwal, Rishiv Joshi, Aran Pathmanathan, Pieter Pretorius, Rommel Shazad. Reserves: Prabal Sharma, Abaan Khan, Raqib Shamsudeen. Staff – Manager Wijay Senathirajah, Coach Farouk Kirmani, Assistant coach Zubin Surkari, Analyst Kulbir Jaswal, Physio Mohin Vadiwala.