Ricky Nayar Voted 2011 SFCA player of the year

 By Ricardo Inniss

 Special Correspondent

Born in India some twenty-one years ago, where he was the cricket school captain in New Delhi, before arriving in the USA at the tender age of eleven, stylish prolific right-handed batsman and right-arm off-spinner Ricky Nayar, who also went to high school in Plantation, Florida, was voted player of the year at the 2011 South Florida Cricket Alliance (SFCA) Awards Presentation and Dance, on Saturday night December 10.

Representing Sportsman in the SFCA Premier Division, Ricky scored 397 runs the most by any batsman during the 45 overs competition earlier this year. The young and very talented budding all-rounder ended with a 49.62 batting average, while his off-spin earned him 11 wickets at a cost of 14.27 each, with an economy rate of 3.12. This classy exciting stroke- player, who favors the cover-drive and cut, is equipped with all the shots and when on the go, elegantly strokes the ball to all corners of the cricket field with exceptional ease. Ricky represents India in the SFCA-Sims Classic.

Some of Ricky’s best knocks so far are as follows :  a whirlwind undefeated 146 against Combined Islands during last year’s Lauderhill T20 night-cricket competition at the Lauderhill Sports Park. Also Last year playing for the SFCA senior team he hit 125 against Georgia, at Miramar Regional Park.  Earlier this year in the Classic, he hit 103 not out against Team USA. Then in March this year, as captain of the University of Florida, he carried his bat for 101 against the State of Ohio, in a T20 American Colleges competition.   And then later in the year in the Premier Division, he took an unbeaten 124 off Osswald Park.

When asked about his aspirations cricket wise, the very quiet soft-spoken Ricky replied, “ when I was playing under-19 cricket, I was hoping to play for the USA, but a particular situation arose which eliminated that. Right now I’m focusing on my studies.”  He is currently studying at the University of Florida, In Gainesville, aspiring to become an environmental and civil engineer. In his spare time, when not studying, or playing cricket, he likes to read and play Basketball. England’s right-hand South African born batsman Kevin Pietersen, is his favorite cricketer. All good wishes for bright future to Ricky, from this writer.