Latest update April 4th, 2025 6:13 AM
Guyanese Akeem Dodson eyeing Regional Super50
By Sean Devers
Twenty-eight year-old ICC Americas batsman Akeem Dodson has already played in a WICB’s Regional 50-over cricket tournament when he played three matches for the United States of America (USA) in Guyana in 2008 after making his List ‘A’ debut against Barbados at Providence.
Akeem Dodson keeping for Malteenoes
Dodson only List ‘A’ games were played in his homeland the talented and outspoken Wicketkeeper, batsman has also represented the USA at the under-19 level and in 12 T20 matches. The left-handed Opener is set to make his debut for the ICC Americas from January 7 in Trinidad in the 2016 NAGICO Super50 in zone ‘A’ of the tournament alongside CCC, Barbados Pride and host T&T Red Steel.
Jeremy Gordon, who made his First-Class debut for Guyana in 2007, is the only Guyana player in ICC Americas team but Dodson and National U-19 left-hander Alex Amsterdam are the other Guyanese in their team.
Dodson said he could not believe the news of his selection. “When I got the news that I had been selected I was in my Dad’s office and I was so excited. I jumped for joy and I know my hard work was paying off.”
Many might not know that it was at the Malteenoes Cricket Academy that a then seven-year Dodson had his first introduction to cricket. He would attend the Academy for the next three years but it was not until last Saturday that he played his first local match in Guyana.
His local club debut came for Malteenoes in this weekend’s quarter-finals of the Georgetown Cricket Association’s (GCA) Noble House Seafoods two-day second division tournament, a division his father (Dr Linden Dodson) had Captained Malteenoes in the for several seasons in the 80’s.
Dodson, who was born on September 6 in Queens New York, is here for the funeral of a family member, but while the rest of his relatives are set to depart Guyana today, Akeem will not leave until October 26.
The conditions here are similar to Trinidad and Akeem wants to make the most of his time here.
“I want to begin my preparations for Super50 from now and I will attend practice sessions in Guyana,” the garrulous young man informed.
Unfortunately for Dodson he will have little opportunities to represent the club he made his first steps on the road to becoming an International cricketer, since Malteenoes has not qualified for the semi-finals of this competition while the club’s division one team was recently beaten by GCC in the Carib Beer t20 semi-finals.
Akeem Dodson batting for the USA
The first four-day practice game for defending PCL Champions Guyana Jaguars starts today before the second one starts on October 26 but cricket hungry Dodson is hoping to be allowed to practice with the Jaguars between October 16-25.
Dodson left Guyana in 2000 and has only been back home on three occasions, 2006, 2008 for cricket and the last time being 2011.
Dodson says he is confident of getting runs in the Super50 next year and says at “the right leagues in the USA the standard is fairly high but explained that Maryland, California and Florida (which has two) have the turf pitches in the United States.
“When I first arrived in the USA I was like 14 going on 15 and I did not play any cricket for two years. I would be around the Rorima Cricket Club where my dad was the Manager and people like Lennox Cush (former Guyana & USA Cricketer) played. I started practicing with the guys and would go on as emergency fielder. In 2005 I was invited to USA U-19 trails and when I made the USA, I decided to play cricket seriously,” Dodson said.
Dodson has represented the USA in Malaysia, Abu Dhabi, Canada, Guyana, Bermuda and Ireland where the 2016 t20 World Cup qualifiers were held in July. Dodson was very vocal as to why he felt the USA did not qualify and put most of the blame on Head coach’s Nasir ‘Charlie’ Javed’s lack of motivational skills.
“We really lacked leadership and the positive kind of coach necessary for our team to succeed, especially a new team playing together for the first time without any practice,” Dodson opined.
Dodson will spend his time in Guyana reacquainting himself with his homeland and old friends he has not seen in many years but his main focus will be on doing well next year’s NAGICO’s Super50 as the North Americans hope to go all the way to the final on January 25. And Dodson is talented enough to do just that.
Photo 1:
Photo 2: Akeem Dodson batting for the USA
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