GEORGETOWN, Guyana – West Indies and Guyana cricketing legend Alvin Kallicharran on Tuesday launched his new biography ‘Colour Blind’.
The book speaks to the breaking of racial barriers as it relates to sports and cricket, while also providing a manual on being a professional cricketer for youths interested or already involved in cricket.
Speaking during the launch at the Oasis Cafe, the 75-year-old Kallicharran, a former Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1983 who scored over 20,000 runs during his nine-year career, told those gathered that cricket had given him many opportunities and he felt the need to give back.
“The game has been so good to me, from the village to the international world. Hard work, perseverance, hunger, passion and the desire to play this sport.
“I believe it’s my time to give back to Guyana and Berbice, because without patience you achieve mediocrity,” Kallicharran pointed out.
Kallicharran, who averaged 44.43 in 66 Test matches, including 12 hundreds and 21 half-centuries, spoke of how he became involved in cricket.
“The life journey, mixing of races, the journey started with Basil Butcher giving me my first cricket bat. Lance Gibbs was one of my greatest mentors, Rohan Kanhai and Sir Gary Sobers are a big part of my life and we’re all different colors.
“Going to England playing cricket and making money off the white man, how can I turn back and say it prejudice, so it’s about bringing oneness to us as a people,” Kallicharan said.
Also present at the launch were the book’s author Tony McWatt and Dr Ritesh Tularam, who spoke on behalf of Minister of Education Priya Manickchand. (CMC)
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