CRICKET FIJI MEDIA RELEASE
With the 2013 Elite Players’ League (EPL) season just around the corner, Cricket Fiji is excited to announce not only will Talwindar Singh be playing as a member of the Fiji expats side, but that he has commenced work at Cricket Fiji as a Development Officer and batting coach for the Junior High Performance Squad.
Talwindar originally hails from Punjab, India, where the 28-year-old played at the national level alongside now international cricketing superstars, Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh, in the Mohali Cricket Association. His coach was Indian cricketer turned Bollywood superstar, Yuvraj’s dad, Yograj Singh, and Talwindar held his own amongst India’s cricketing elite as a right-hand, opening batsman.
In 2011 Talwindar relocated to Fiji as an information technology student. Despite having to leave cricket back in India due to family commitments, when Talwindar saw the games being played at Suva’s Albert Park, he decided he wanted to take up cricket again.
Also a handy spinner, during the Suva Cricket League season Talwindar plays for the Army Cricket Club, but this year things are likely to get a bit more hectic with his extra commitments at Cricket Fiji. So why does Talwindar want to spend so much of his time around cricket?
“Because I am crazy for cricket, “ Talwindar says simply. “In India, it is in everybody’s blood, like rugby here.”
After living in Fiji for three years, next year Talwindar will finally be eligible to represent Fiji on the international circuit. He hopes to be a part of the Fiji team that will have a chance at entering back into the World Cricket League’s (WCL) Division 6 competition late in 2014.
“It would be a good experience of me,” Talwindar says of his chance for international representation.
Despite his parents and brother now based in Australia, as well as having two sisters back in India, Talwindar is determined to make his mark in Fiji. Similarly, Cricket Fiji is excited to welcome some extra batting prowess into its fold.
Meanwhile, with strong bowling attacks both in the senior and junior sides, Fiji will welcome Talwindar’s considerable experience on a turf wicket in the upper-order.