Despite a last ball six that lost last nights match for the Guyana Amazon Warriors pacer Krishmar Santokie is relishing this years CPL experience.
Speaking exclusively to www.cplt20.com the Jamaican said he is delighted to be back with the team where with a total of 16 he was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament’s inaugural season. It feels great to be back with the Amazon Warriors they are a very organised unit and I like the set up. There are also quite a number of talented players on the team and I am truly honoured to be part of this experience once again. Santokie who is from Clarendon Jamaica has grown from strength to strength in his left arm bowling as he credits his appearance for the West Indies U15 team in England in 2000 as crucial to his development.
Winning that tournament in England was truly a stepping stone in my career and it cemented in my mind that cricket is the game for me,” he reminisced. “And all these years later, I am now playing with some of the same players that I played with then, like Simmonds and Ramdin for the Amazon Warriors and Ravi Rampaul for the West Indies.
The 29 year old has gone places in the past 12 months after taking the most wickets in CPL 2013. He was called up to the West Indies team in early 2014 vs Ireland in Jamaica and after his figures of 1-12 he soon got drafted into the Windies T20 World Cup squad that made it all the way to the semi-finals in Bangladesh.
Taking eight wickets in the T20 World Cup and being recognised by the ICC as one of the top 12 players in the tournament was an amazing feeling. It does show that hard work pays off and I always ensure I prepare mentally before taking the field. I must say, I did not expect to be in the Windies T20 squad heading to the World Cup, but as always, I ensure I prepare and I’m ready and available at all times. I motivate myself to succeed and that is something I plan to continue doing for as long as I play the sport.
Krishmar who is the second cricketer to take a hat trick in Caribbean T20 cricket, (joining Lennox Cush of Guyana in that achievement), is also the fifth Jamaican born player to play in the IPL – an experience he describes as ‘memorable’. While I did not play many games, it was a privilege to be and play there. The Indian people made me feel welcome and at home and I felt like it was a family in Mumbai. It is a team with a great reputation and it is an experience I will never forget.
Santokie closed his chat with cplt20.com with a message for the Guyana Amazon Warriors fans; “To the fans I say, look out for good things from the Warriors this season, we have quality players, Narine, Guptill, Hafeez, and myself who will do our best to get the job done and take home the title of CPL Champions 2014.
