Published: Dec 31, 2015, 08:10 AM (IST)
Edited: Dec 31, 2015, 08:11 AM (IST)
Former West Indies opening batsman Kieran Powell is attempting to make a cross over from cricket into baseball. The 24-year-old claims the Los Angeles Dodgers team have seen footage of him playing cricket and have expressed an interest in him as a potential recruit. Powell had a fallout with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) over some ‘discrepancies’ and the batsman sought some time away from cricket. In the interim the LA Dodgers came across footage of him batting. Powell last played in West Indies colours in 2014 June. He in now in Bradenton, Florida attempting to impress the Dodgers management with his ball-smacking skill.
“An opportunity came about after a few discrepancies with the West Indies cricket board I decided to take some time off from cricket and some footage of me playing cricket was seen by the LA Dodgers,” Powell was quoted as saying by smh.com.au. “I’ve had some training out here in the US for a few months,” he added.
Powell says that while cricket remains his first love, he has trained all his attention on baseball at the moment and expressed hope of making it his full-time career. “Baseball is my priority right now. Obviously cricket is my first love. (Baseball is) really fun, it’s an interesting game, I’ve loved every minute of it so far, and I hope to continue doing it for the rest of my career,” he said.
Powell said that his family and friends were getting behind him in his new aspiration. “It’s a unique opportunity, it’s a once in a lifetime thing. This is what dreams are made of as I said earlier. I’m just so excited about it, like everyone’s so excited about it.”
