By Frederick Halley
-Insists his playing days are far from over
GUYANA-BORN Dilon Heyliger was recently awarded the Guyanese-Canadian 60th Independence Anniversary Sports Excellence Award “for his outstanding contributions to cricket in both Canada and his birthland, Guyana.”
Unfortunately, Heyliger, who is currently in Guyana, was unable to attend the prestigious gala dinner and dance, held at the Grand Cinnamon Banquet Hall and Convention Centre in Toronto, which saw five other Canadian-based Guyanese being recognised for their contributions in business and community leadership – Winston Kassim, Community Excellence; Dr Narine Dat Sookram, Business Excellence; Eric Rodrigues, Outstanding Philanthropy; and Dhaman Kissoon.
Heyliger started his cricketing career on the Essequibo Coast, where he represented his village team, Santos, and, before long, he was a member of the Essequibo Under-15 and Under-19 teams, and subsequently represented Guyana at the Under-15 level in 2005.
His progression continued three years later, when he was selected to play for his country at the regional Under-19 tournaments in 2008 and 2009.
In 2006, Heyliger was already a member of the Essequibo senior team and, despite his sojourns in the Caribbean, United Kingdom and Canada, was part of the Cinderella County side, which he last played for in 2013.
In the interim, he also turned out for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) at the First Division level in the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) competitions.
Strong all-round performances at the First Division level subsequently earned him a place in the 2011 Guyana T20 squad and, despite not being part of the playing XI, Heyliger said the experience was quite electrifying and satisfying.
“I decided to build on the success of Guyana’s cricket and move on to gain some international experience.”
Heyliger went on to play cricket for teams in Trinidad and Tobago and Antigua, and, moving farther afield, for Basingstoke in the Hampshire League in England.
With success and recognition in the United Kingdom, he earned a spot in the Middlesex League with a Uxbridge team, further developing his knowledge, skills, and career on the international level.
Heyliger’s cricketing stint in Canada started in 2014 when he turned out for Islanders Sports Club in the Toronto & District Elite Division tournament.
He, however, switched to the Vikings in the 2015 season, when he enjoyed a very productive season, making 707 runs with a highest score of 89, while his best bowling figures were 4 for 29.
Heyliger has made rapid strides since his entry into the Canadian national side in 2018, competing in the 2018–19 ICC World Twenty20 Americas Qualifier and the Regional Super50 tournament in the West Indies that same year.
In April 2019, he was named in Canada’s squad for the 2019 ICC World Cricket League Division Two tournament in Namibia.
He made his T20I debut against the Cayman Islands in August 2019, finishing the tournament as the leading wicket-taker, with 11 dismissals in five matches.
In October 2019, he was named in Canada’s squad for the 2019 ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier tournament in the United Arab Emirates.
In October 2021, he represented Canada in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier tournament in Antigua.
In November 2021, Heyliger became the first Canadian bowler to take a five-wicket haul in T20Is, achieving the feat against Argentina.
In February 2022, he was named in Canada’s squad for the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier A tournament in Oman.
In July 2022, Heyliger donned Canadian colours in the 2022 ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League A tournament and, in the opening match against Denmark, took his first five-wicket haul in List A cricket.
In April 2023, he made his One-Day International (ODI) debut against Namibia in the Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off.
In May 2024, he was named to Canada’s squad for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
In the meantime, Heyliger hasn’t forgotten his roots and has consistently donated cricket gear to clubs in his hometown of Suddie, Essequibo, and, more recently, to the Guyana Police Force.
Earlier this year, Heyliger completed a personal mission that hit closer to home than any international wicket: delivering five fully equipped cricket gear bags to the next generation of Essequibian talent.
The donation was made during the bilateral series against Barbados, where Heyliger presented the first kit bag to Aaron DeCosta, a rising star in the national Under-13 setup.
Following the conclusion of his international duties, Heyliger returned to his childhood home to personally hand over the remaining four bags.
For a young cricketer in rural Guyana, the cost of a complete kit, including bats, pads, gloves, and helmets, can often be the deciding factor between pursuing the dream or leaving the game entirely.
Heyliger also padded up for the Guyana Police Force (GPF), donating a collection of cricket jerseys to bolster the law enforcement agency’s sporting department.
The gear was handed over to Deputy Commissioner ‘Administration’ Ravindradat Budhram, who serves as the captain of the Officers’ Cricket Team.
Heyliger noted that the gesture is a direct investment in the game’s development within the Force.
While his teammates are currently involved in an ongoing tournament, which forms part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 competition and the qualification pathway for the 2027 ODI World Cup, at King City, Canada, Heyliger hasn’t been part of the squad.
Speaking from Guyana, where he says he’s currently recuperating from an injury, the 36-year-old Heyliger insists that his playing days for the Canadian national team are far from over.
