Remembering Burlin Saheed

                                                                Remembering Burlin Saheed

Burlin Saheed’s great contribution to Berbice cricket was not his bowling, so as to speak, but the development he brought about in sports among the youths in the Port Mourant-Albion areas.

Saheed who died in Florida four years ago, a week or so before another Port Mourant icon Ivan Madray has certainly shaken up the cricket fraternity. We know that death is inevitable, but when it happens, we hardly want to accept it.. Madray rose from an ordinary leg-spinner to that of an extra-ordinary, and reached the pinnacle of his career when he made his debut against Pakistan in 1957 at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain.

Saheed on the other hand ruled the roost for a number of years at the local level, and brought much joy and delight to the thousands with his magnificent bowling. In 1974, Saheed was in the twilight of an illustrious bowling career when Williamburg-Kilcoy-Chesney District Council took a bold step by assigning the left-arm spinner as Cricket Coach and Sports Organizer for the area.

Aptly referred to as the “Little Magician”, Saheed still regarded as the most feared bowler in the Ancient County had responsibility for the general upliftment and development of all sports in that area. Saheed had to indulge himself to unearth hidden talents in the schools and youth clubs. That proved to be a blessing in disguise for the players in the area. It was the first time, a cricketer of such caliber was on spot to engage and encourage youngsters with potential.

The man who has secured the most wickets-72 in the 1974 concluded Davson Cup competition took with him a wealth of experience which put him in good stead in his new assignment. While at Port Mourant, Saheed was very much active, organization wise, especially in the table tennis section from which emerged a galaxy of young stars who did Berbice and Guyana proud. Prior to his departure to Albion, Saheed was instrumental in the formation of a racing cycle club which was progressing well. Saheed was showered with praises by a top official from Port Mourant who said “ his services would be greatly missed by all. Saheed gets much satisfaction out of it, even it means sacrificing his first love, cricket, which he does very often. He has served Port Mourant diligently and it is hoped he would achieved even greater success in the future. Port Mourant’s loss is obviously Williamburgh-Kilcoy-Chesney’s gain.

Mr. Mustapha Ali, chairman of the District Council whose brainchild it was to engage a Sports Organizer said his Council fully supports and sees the need for such a person for the promotion of sports in the area. “To match words with action, we have already voted the sum of $40,000.00 (common on guys, a lot of money then), which would be used in the course of the year for this purpose.

Touching on Burlin Saheed, Mr. Ali said that they have every confidence in the man whom they believe is capable of transforming the image of sports in the area and would like to wish him all the best in his new venture. ‘Saheed has the personality to command respect and is certain to get much out of his pupils with his technique and ability,’ he said

Burlin Saheed made only three first-class appearances, two for Berbice in the Jones Cup final (was given first-class status in 1971), and his returns did not do him justice. In 1966, the year of Guyana’s Independence, Burlin Saheed made his first-class debut for Guyana against Combined Leeward and Windward Islands at Warren Park, Basseterre. He was one of seven Berbicians-the highest number ever to represent the country-along with Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon, Roy Fredericks, Randolph Ramnarace and Sydney Jackman (wkt.).

Saheed was not required to do much bowling with the presence of left-arm spinner Rex Colleymore and Lance Gibbs who sent down 23 and 25 over respectively. Saheed bowled a mere four overs. However, he fared much better in the second innings taking three wickets for 44 runs in 20 overs of which 7 were maidens. Lance Gibbs once more proved his class by taking six wickets for 49 runs in 42 overs of which 20 were maidens.

What is interesting is that in addition to the seven Berbicians on the Guyana side, the remaining four comprised of players from Demerara, Vincent Mayers, Clive Lloyd, Rex Colleymore and Lance Gibbs.

Burlin Saheed was a great spinner of the ball, but generally bowled a good length and line. In addition to the number of wickets he took in the competition, Saheed will be best remembered as being the most feared bowler in the limited overs matches. Two such matches come to mind.

In the Bristol Cup final at Bourda in 1971, he bamboozled a strong Police Sports Club (PSC) batting line-up with tantalizing figures of 8-4-7-5. Such figures are unique in limited overs. It has never been surpassed then, and it is hardly likely to do so in the future. Police were routed out for a paltry 103 in reply to Port Mourant’s 167 with Randolph Ramnarace hitting a whirlwind 81. And while full credo must be give to Burlin Saheed for his memorable performance, we must not lost sight of the fact that it was that burly paceman Randolph Ramnarace who initiate the destruction. Ramnarace will be remembered for his fantastic performance when he spread-eagled Milton Pydanna’s wicket in the first ball of the opening over, which sent the Bourda crowd in uproar.

In the Rothman’s final a year later at Bourda, Port Mourant found themselves struggling at 66 for six before Burlin Saheed defied Police, this time with the bat. He and wicketkeeper Deo Mangal who held the record for the most dismissal in an innings- 8 in the Davson Cup, featured in a valuable seventh wicket partnership of 60 to once again give Port Mourant victory, thereby entrenching Port Mourant as the undisputed champion in domestic competition.

Saheed played his last match in the late ‘70s against Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) at Bourda in the Rothman’s final. Port Mourant won a nail-biting finish when Anan Sookram, a Junior Caribbean Table Tennis champion scored the winning run in the final ball. Port Mourant being the only club to hold the Rothmans Cup for keeps, by virtue of winning it on three consecutive times.