14 June 08 Singapore’s Anish Paraam (left) had been included among the top 12 players from the recently-concluded World Cricket League Division 5 competition in Jersey in which Singapore finished 5th in the 12-nation contest.

The youngest player of the national team at 17 years, Anish caught the eye of the selectors with his left-arm spin bowling. Picked by CricketEurope, the Pre-University 2 student of Raffles Junior College was said to be “top of this class” for his haul of 16 wickets, conceding only 2.12 runs an over.

Anish picked up wickets in each of the games he played. His figures are as follows : -
Group B match versus Jersey : 3-21;
Group B match versus Botswana 3-20;
Group B match versus Afghanistan 3-15;
Group B match versus Japan 2-12;
5th—8th placing match v Mozambique 3-19;
5th—6th placing match v Botswana 2-21.

Said Anish : “I am happy to have been acknowledged. We had a fantastic team and a good set of officials. We lost out on a place in the semis because of the rained-off match against the Bahamas. But we beat Afghanistan who became champions. Everyone was there to play for the team. I share this acknowledgement with all the players and the officials. The SCA has been great in providing the players with good support, encouragement and opportunities.”

SCA president Imran Hamid said that Anish’s recognition was a triumph for local cricket and a tribute to the hard work put in by the Development Committee. “It is an individual acknowledgement but the larger picture is that Singapore are once again able to show that we have players who can stand up to the best,’’ said Imran.

“Anish was also declared the best batsman in the ACC Under-19 tournament in Kuala Lumpur last year. In the ACC Under-15 in Nepal last year, we won the tournament and our Rezza Gaznavi was the competition’s top-run scorer. Quite obviously, we have players who can excel on the bigger stage.

“Anish had been identified by the Development Committee, along with some other young players, as one who can hold his own at the highest level. This confidence in Anish as been affirmed by the accolades he has received.”

SCA Deputy President Mahmood Gaznavi, who was also the manager of the team, said that there was still a lot of hard work ahead. Said Gaznavi, who is also the Chairman of the Development Committee: “We saw, first-hand, where we stand vis-a-vis the other teams and players. We have identified areas where we need to push harder.

“Anish’s recognition is exactly what he deserved. His achievement becomes more meaningful when you see that he is a team player at all times. He did well because he put in a lot of hard work. When our match against Japan was called out because of rain, Anish returned to the hotel with the team, quietly changed into his running gear and headed off for a long run. This is the sort of dedication that pays off.

“It is evident to me that Anish has never allowed his success to go to his head. He knows hard work is the pre-requisite to good performances.

“I urge each national player, at all levels, to remember that when the playing opportunity beckons, your performance will be the direct result of the sacrifice and hard work which you have put in long before the tournament started. Talent can take you that far. Hard work can drive it to an unprecedented level.”

In the WCL Division 5 competition, Singapore beat Botswana, Japan and Afghanistan in Group B. They lost to Jersey and their match against the Bahamas was rained off, putting the Republic in joint-second spot in Group B with Afghanistan, who went into the semis by virtue of a better net run-rate, assisted no doubt by their drubbing of Bahamas whom they  dismissed for 46 runs which target they achieved in 39 deliveries.

Singapore then defeated Mozambique and Botswana to finish 5th.