I was born in an era where cricket and West Indies cricketers were the pride and joy of every West Indian household, in particular those residing in the United Kingdom. The earliest memory of my childhood was my grandfather listening to cricket at ungodly hours in the morning via radio, or watching via black and white television, while the West Indies Team toured Australia, India, Pakistan and the list goes on. “What’s the score?” They would ask.
I really did not care much for the game back then. I found it to be boring and, quite frankly, background noise. Nevertheless, I would casually engage in a game of cricket at school or in the neighborhood where I grew up because it was our culture. To say I did not like the game would be untrue. I just could not understand the obsession and joint passion my family and other West Indians had for cricket. A West Indian cricketer was “a big deal ” where I came from. Cricketers like, Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Gordon Greenwich, Desmond Haynes, Sir Vivian Richards, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Larry Gomes, Gus Loggie, Jeffrey Dujon, Malcom Marshall , Clive Llloyd , Bernard Julian , Lawrence Rowe and others were rock stars at our homes. The same applies today. I would later attend my first cricket matche with my father, at the Queens Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago, to see the cricket stars of my era in action. These included world record holder Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul , Ian Bishop, the Hon, Courtney Walsh, Curtley Ambrose, Chris Gayle and the list goes on.
I went to these matches because it was a big deal to go to cricket in the West Indies. The legendary Caribbean poet and storyteller, Mr. Paul Keens Douglas’s narration of “Tanty Merle at the oval” caught my attention and made me fall in love with the idea that I needed to be a part of this West Indian legacy . In addition, colorful and photograhic radio and television commentary from the likes of the late Tony Cozier, guys Andrew Mason, Michael Holding, and Ian Bishop made me more curious about the sport. My love for the game was not immediate. I was not really who one would consider a “diehard cricket fan.” I went for the “lime ” ( hangout).
Today, as I reflect on my personal journey, I have come to the realization that this game runs through my veins like blood. I recognize that God had already decided back then that a life and career in cricket was my destiny. All the omens were present, and everything lined up . I just was not paying attention. I realised around my mid-20s that I preferred the shorter version of the game. The 50 over matches or One Day International matches, as they called it. I did not like waiting three to five days for a result of a match. By the time I migrated to Jamaica has a Human Resource Consultant, I started going to Sabina Park to watch the One Day International matches with my friends.
As fate would have it, several years later I would attend a cricket event with some friends and caught the attention of one of the finest “One Day”cricketers (as he was labeled), Ricardo Powell. After some casual interaction, we became telephone friends, as he was frequently on tour with the West Indies cricket team. We fell in love quickly, as he was not shy about expressing his honorable intentions😊Twenty-three and a half years later, here we are.
I traveled the world with him both as girlfriend and wife. I became his advisor and business manager. He taught me the game and I taught him to be an entrepreneur. My husband would later teach me how to manage cricket as a business. Initially, I saw the game through the eyes of a wife, which meant I had a front seat to all the pain he experienced as a cricketer. I understood everything the players went through, and I took notes. Back then, most of the difficulties were with the respective cricket boards. Even as I interviewed other cricketers from other countries, I realized that the issues were the same. As I learned the game and I met people and cricketers from other parts of the globe, I had no idea that God was preparing me for a greater role in cricket and that one day, I would be a cricket agent and the CEO of the #1 cricket agency in North America, 124 Not Out Sports Agency.
When I started this journey as a girlfriend and wife, I simply wanted to ensure that my husband was prosperous when he left the field. Many athletes go broke before 45 years old. That single intention opened my heart to look after the careers of many other cricketers from around the world.
As I write this article, I am on a flight from India to United States of America. I am in reflection mode. I am reminded of my thoughts as I stood on the field in Surat India, I was thinking of my deceased grandfather, who introduced me to the game forty odd years ago. I also thought about my dad, who passed three weeks prior to that event and who took me to my first cricket match at the Queens Park Oval, in Trinidad. I stood there in Surat, India, watching all these cricket legends celebrate their victory and the end of the tournament, which helped in some ways to put me on the map as a cricket agent, particularly in India.
As we left Vizag, India, prior to our arrival in Surat, I was reminded that it was the “City of Destiny.” I stood there watching the fireworks at the finals in Surat and all I could think about was my deceased father and grandfather who both loved the game so much and whether they were proud that I finally fell in love with cricket and that I was now a cricket agent…lol.
Cricket did not bring my fabulous husband and I together. God did! ” For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord,” – Philippians 29. I also felt the magnitude of the moment and gratitude to all my amazing cricketers from around the world who gave me the honor of calling me their agent, the “Legend Agent.”
Our last stop in India was Mumbai, “The City Of Dreams.” My dreams as a sports agent were achieved, and I could finally acknowledge that I love the game and my players. I will continue to work hard for each and every player we represent. I will not be happy with doing just enough, I will give my heart and soul to my players and this game that was introduced to me by the men in my life who loved me. More importantly, I was given access and a front row seat by the love of my life, who happens to be one of the greatest cricketers I know, on and off the field, Mr. Ricardo Powell.
I wish to say a special thank you to the owners , management and staff at Legends League Cricket and all the team owners from India Capitals, Manipal Tigers, Bhilwara Kings, Southern Superstars, Urbanrisers and Gujarat Giants, for caring so deeply about our Legends and retired international cricketers. This would not have been possible without you.
One Love
Basia Powell
Aka Legend Agent💎📈
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