Nagamootoo honoured by WIPA
Guyana Chronicle
February 21, 2007
GUYANA leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo was among several outstanding players given special awards for their performances at the regional level recently by the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) at their 2006 Awards function, held recently at the Sherbourne Conference Centre in Barbados.
The 31 year-old Nagamootoo, a former West Indies player who featured in a mere five Test matches, was rewarded for his consistency in Caribbean cricket with over a hundred first-class matches, bagging some 370 wickets.
Berbice-born Nagamootoo, who is the nephew of former West Indies batsman Alvin Kallicharran and also a relative of former West Indies skipper Rohan Kanhai, joined his national team mates Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was named the One-Day Player-of-the-Year and left-arm orthodox spinner Veerasammy Permaul who was chosen as the Under-19 Cricketer-of-the-Year for 2006.
The left-handed batsman with a half-century in his second Test match against Australia at Sydney certainly looks to don the maroon colours again. He has been a genuine leg-spinner for Guyana since his debut in 1994 and has also played 24 one-dayers for West Indies.
Nagamootoo, who played a pivotal role in Guyana’s triumph in the inaugural Allen Stanford regional Twenty20 tournament, is expected to depart Guyana shortly to take part in professional League cricket in Trinidad and Tobago for six weeks before going to England to resume his contract.
Meanwhile Nagamootoo told Chronicle Sport that he is delighted that he has been recognised by WIPA for his contribution to regional cricket over the years.
Yes, I am delighted for this special award. Over the years I have been working hard, I had a poor regional tournament this season, but I am confident I will come back good next year and more importantly keep taking wickets,” Nagamootoo asserted. (Ravendra Madholall)