 Alright, welcome back to the Sports Mag Zone, we continue with Cricket, lovely cricket. For Wessonnay Space, our Shamar Joseph received a hero's welcome on arrival in his home country, Guyana on Thursday evening. Joseph's family members of the Guyana Cricket Board and enthusiastic supporters greeted him at the Cheddy Jagon International Airport in Tamiri as they showered him with flowers and adulation following his heroic efforts on the Wendy's Test Tour of Australia. The 24-year-old Joseph took 7 for 68 in the second innings of the second test at the Gabba to inspire the Caribbean team to a famous eight-run win, which leveled the series at one all, and in the process gave Wessonnay their first test win in Australia for 27 years. On hand to witness the celebration of Joseph's achievements was Sports Editor for Newsroom Media in Guyana, Avinash Ramzan. He joins us now on Zoom. Good afternoon. How are you? Good afternoon, Maria. Good afternoon to all listening, as well as Lance and Ricardo. I'm doing well on top of the world. Yeah, really happy to have you join us this afternoon. So talk to me because we could not be there yesterday. I would have loved to be there at the airport, but you were there. So break it down for us. What was the atmosphere like? I could tell you, Maria, if you were there and you didn't get goosebumps, then you have no emotions. It was a wonderful welcome home ceremony for Shomar Joseph, and all the adulation and the love, as you mentioned, was there throughout. You know, from the time he got off the aircraft. In fact, when the aircraft was coming into the Tatumiri Airport, his entire family and the population from Barakara, they were invited by the government to Guyana and the Guyana cricket board to witness that welcome home ceremony. And they were shouting, they were singing, Maori champion, Maori champion. And that really evoked a lot of emotions within persons who were there. And if you didn't shed a tear or if you didn't get goosebumps, then you had no emotions, really. Yeah, and you don't love crickets as much as you. Yep. Yeah. So you said the family was there, but give me some details. Like, who exactly was there? And along with the Guyana cricket board, was the sports minister there? Was the prime minister there? Details. But so the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Charles Ramson, Jr., the director of sports, Steve Ninval, the president of the Guyana cricket board, Visundi Al Singh, who happens to be a director of CWI as well. They were there to receive Shomar. And of course, his family from Barakara. We have heard so much stories about Barakara and the Holy Unity and the camaraderie with the people from Barakara. Wasn't sure there, as you see on the screen there, though, that his brother lifting Shomar and Shomar's son. And that was as he exited the aircraft and was making his way to the ceremony itself. But a wonderful atmosphere there at Shomar made his way. He seemed a bit tired and expectedly so, having that long travel back from Australia. His parents, they shed a few tears. And I think Shomar held it up well because of the fact where he noticed he didn't look at them directly. He was trying to be tough. He knew the emotions that surrounds his return. And he held it up well, but all in all, a wonderful ceremony. Wonderful welcome back for a guy who left Guyana with lots of promise, lots of expectations. And you know what, Mariah? He came back as a superstar. Avinash, you know, this is one of the things that we love about sport. This is the kind of story that we live for because a few months ago, Shomar Joseph would have never anticipated in his wildest dreams what has happened in the past weeks in Australia. And it is tremendous for him to embrace and being embraced by the Guyanese public in this way. What in your opinion was the most moving part of yesterday's homecoming for him? I think for him is to be reunited with his children and his family. As soon as he came off the aircraft and was making his way towards the area where the ceremony was held, the first thing he did was grab his son, you know, kissed him on the cheek, kissed the other one on the cheek as well. And that for me showed how much he missed his family and his children. He's a family man, of course. And you mentioned something, Lance, that probably he himself didn't believe the stage that he would have reached today. What I can tell you, in October 2020, I met this guy for the very first time playing in the Interconti competition, which is used to select the Guyana team. And he played for the Select 11 in that competition. He couldn't make his own Conti team. He was a virtual unknown at the time. And you know what he told me? Our very first interaction when I make it. And he's been telling that to every single person he's met since then when I make it. For some reason, Shamar is Joseph had a vision that he's going to make it big. And that has been manifested here today. Yeah, I want to get a comment from you as well about the Guyana president, Dr. Irfan Ali, because he clearly is a huge lover of sport. And there is something happening in Guyana for sure. We see the kind of atmosphere that is generated in CPL cricket in Guyana at the moment. And for the president of the country to be so invested in sport, I think it bodes well for the future of Guyani sport. Well, the president did play a game, not competitively at any level, but in the community, he did play cricket. And I'm sure he would boast to say that it was probably the best batsman that never played for Guyana or the West Indies. But he's a guy that is fascinated about sport. And he doesn't talk the talk, he walk the walk. And there has been investment at the community level. There is a grown enhancement initiative by the government. And it's really to on earth talent and bring talent to the national level. And that has been working. Of course, we all know about the Barakara story. Shamar played in an area there, was born in an area that not much facilities. He came to the coastline and he developed his cricket. So the whole trust by the government is to ensure that we can produce more Shamar Josephs. And that has to come from the top level. And the president, of course, has been leading the charge. Immediately after that ceremony at the airport last night, he met with Shamar and his family and well wishes and members of the Guyana cricket board at a private dinner. And I'm sure lots of things would have been said there in terms of support for Shamar. And I'm sure the government would ensure that the trajectory that Shamar is on right now could only get higher. Yeah, you know, we've been discussing quite a lot this week about protecting our young fastballers across the region and specifically Shamar because of what he has done in Australia and what the expectations are going forward that he can deliver for West Indus cricket. What are the discussions been like in Guyana relating to this topic and how he can be and should be protected? Well, a lot of people in Guyana would feel that, you know, he would fall prey to the T-20 franchises. Kimar Roach did mention that he has to guard against the distractions, quote-unquote. And I'm sure that's the same message across the region. People would think, you know, Shamar, you might lose him in Test cricket. But he himself, I spoke to him last night as well, I just get a gauge from him exactly what's the mindset at the moment. And he is very much focused on Test cricket for now. And that contract, the West Indus retainer contract that he's received earlier this week, I think that's a step in the right direction to ensure that he's properly managed. The Minister of Sport did mention as well that it is important that he's guarded against distractions and he's able to fulfill his potential, not just for Guyana, but of course, the West Indus at the international level. Yeah, any more celebrations planned that you know of in the coming days? Well, nothing that we know of at the moment, but I'm sure the people of Barakar would have their own little celebration that wonderful village there that has given us a superstar. Yeah, and of course, he does have a toe injury and to travel all the way from Australia back to Guyana and then have the welcome home ceremony last night. Did you speak to him about how he was feeling, how the toe was feeling, and how it was coming on generally? But we're trying to get as much as we could from him, Ricardo, but we got about a minute and a half interview. We couldn't talk much. The fans were there. They're trying to get photos. They're trying to get an autograph on all these things. Everybody was trying to get in Shamar's direction, but I can tell you, this guy is tough. He wants to perform. He has a mission to be that superstar. And the Minister said as well, he's got to be obsessed with greatness. And I think Shamar has already taken on that mantra. He wants to be obsessed with greatness. He wants to achieve great things in his career. Even for the people of Barakara, he wants to put that community on the map. And he's done a fantastic job in doing that. And it's all because of his mental toughness, his physical toughness. He's a fit guy and he's showed the world what the people of Barakara can really do. Yeah, and can you give us a summary of what Shamar had to say, his own address to those in attendance last night? Well, he just said that he was glad to be back home. It was a very, very, very brief speech. And he was glad to be back home and to be reunited with his family and the rest of Guyana. And he was very excited to be part of that test series win. The draw, sorry. And the victory in that final test. No, it seems like a win. I can't even realize when you said it. Yeah, but he was glad to be back home and to be reunited with his family. Of course, this is his first major tour and major time away from his family. So it's something that he was eager to get back home and be part of the celebration back home as well. Yeah, I also want to get your thoughts quickly. We had a chat with Ian Bishop on Tuesday, was it? Or was it Wednesday earlier this week? And he mentioned a young fast bowler in Guyana as well. I'm trying to remember the name as I speak to you. Silas Tindall. Yes, Silas Tindall. Yes, and I wanted to know if you knew much about him or what you can tell us about that young man because Bish seems to think he has some quality and deserves some level of assistance. Yeah, he has been around for quite some time. He's from the same county area as Shamar Joseph, as Romario Shepherd. He's a wonderful young talent. There was the Guyana-Harpy Eagles matches that were held recently to select the team. He was part of one of the squads. However, he picked up an injury and could not showcase his skill, but he's one for the future for sure. And with good management, I'm sure that he could go on to achieve a lot of great things for Guyana and for West Indies cricket. Some would say that he's done the pecking order because of the availability of the senior guys, but once he's given that opportunity to hone his skills, he's certainly one for the future. Yeah, and I guess we run the risk of always looking for the next Shamar Joseph now, the next diamond in the rough. But if this kid could be it, then maybe there needs to be some level of intervention, get him fit, get him healthy, and let's see what he's able to deliver. Yeah, we saw what Shamar did in Australia there, and that really revived West Indies cricket on so many levels. People are becoming passionate again about West Indies cricket. In Guyana here, for example, everybody, every single body, from the youngest child to the oldest man is talking about Shamar Joseph. And you know, here's down the line, you could see so many young Shamars coming out to Guyana. Yeah, a lot of things to celebrate in Guyana. I spoke to the GCB cricket operations officer, Anthony Dianne Radden, I was telling him, I need to make a trip to Guyana soon because I need to see what y'all are feeding these cricketers because things have been looking really up Avinash. Yeah, and I'm talking about feeding the players. If you notice, I mean, the world has noticed how fit Shamar is. And it's important that from here on, he doesn't get carried away. Continue to work on his fitness and continue to eat the stuff that he has been eating. Of course, Barakara is a farming community, and these guys eat healthy. You don't want a situation where you lax with your fitness and then it affects your game. We know all the troubles we have with players across the region not being fit. Shamar Joseph consistently has done over 40, late 40s, sometime early 50s on the yoyo test. So he's extremely fit. And one would just hope that he continues along this path, continue to train and continue to eat and look after his nutrition. And we know very well that he's going to be invited to a lot of fancy dinners in the next few weeks and months. So, yeah, that is very good advice. Avinash. Yeah, we... Yes, go ahead. Yeah, we want to thank you so much for stopping by on the sportsman soon. Keep up the good work and we'll talk again really soon. Thank you very much for having me. Take care. Lance, quickly, were you in Jamaica in 2008? No, I wasn't. No, you weren't. Not during the Olympics, obviously. So what is happening here with Shamar Joseph, right? Yes. Reminds me of 2008. Why am I asking if you were in Jamaica? Of course you were not. You were in Beijing. Sorry. I was home in November, though. Yeah. I was home in November, yeah. But it reminds me of what it was like in Jamaica when the Black, Green and Gold dominated at the Beijing Olympic Games with Usain Bolt and Chellian Fraser Price and Millie Walker and Veronica Campbell-Brown and the 4x1 team. And what I am seeing, and I've spoke about it just now, about the reaction and everyone in Ghana passionate again about the game. Yes. And that's the general feeling right across the Caribbean. Everybody's asking about Shamar Joseph. Everybody wants to know, see West Indies cricket again. Yeah, well cricket needs a story like this. Given what has happened in West Indies cricket... West Indies cricket. West Indies cricket in the past three decades, Caribbean cricket needs a story like this. And a player like Shamar. Yeah, you know, I just think that it should trigger a sort of rise in the interest and appetite for the game. We don't want 1201 to come too quickly, though. 1201. Yes. Or is it midnight? You didn't watch the Cinderella story last. We have to take a break for that one. Ricardo and his jokes deserve a break. We'll be right back. You just didn't get it.