Former national team player shines in UAE
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday October 23, 2020 13:49
Benjamin was born in Sri Linka, but his family moved to Botswana in 2001. He was only a few months old when they relocated to Gaborone, where he spent most of his childhood.
Benjamin said he always had interest in cricket, and is also a passionate writer, having published a book titled ‘Benjamin: the 8,000 Mile Cricket Journey’.
“At the age of 13, I was part of the Botswana cricket Under-15 national team. I played four international matches with the team against countries like Namibia. Growing up, I was exposed to many sports (activities) such as swimming and softball,” Benjamin said.
“However, cricket stood out for me, as my parents and family were passionate about the sport. That paired with my good fortune on the field made it a sport I wanted to take up.” Benjamin explained that despite staying in Botswana for over 15 years and having represented the country, he has not acquired citizenship.
Benjamin has played for Broadhurst Primary School team and later on went on to play for Maru-a-Pula school team. He also played in the Southern Schools Under-15 cricket team. The 20-year-old is playing for Desert Cubs, which is in the First Division League in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“Before I left Botswana in 2015 for UAE, cricket was growing. I believed that the Under-19 team was getting stronger in comparison to the earlier years. I do not believe that cricket is an expensive sport. Playing in UAE has shown me that anyone with the willingness to play the game has a chance to do well regardless of it being seen as an expensive sport,” he said.
Today he is UAE’s fastest bowler and has represented the country in over 10 international fixtures, over three years.
Benjamin said it would have been great to be given an opportunity to play for the men’s senior national team.
“It would be an honour to offer my services to Botswana again as I grew up there and I am the person that I am today, solely because of all the people and coaches who supported me when I was younger,” he said.
Benjamin is a left arm fast bowler and he used to open for the Under-15 team and carried the role forward as he represented UAE. He has played against countries such as Afghanistan and India. “Unlike in Botswana, here we have a few sponsorship deals and right now my playing kit and nutrition is fully taken care of,” he said.
Benjamin said a few opportunities have risen for him to play first class cricket in Sri Lanka and he intends to pursue them.
Like many athletes, Benjamin said COVID-19 pandemic had slowed down his progress. “I tried to look at the positives by focusing on my fitness more as an athlete as opposed to a cricketer for the five months of quarantine,” he said.
Fact File
Full names: Aaron William Benjamin
Date of birth: September 20, 2000
Place of birth: Sri Lanka
Sport: Cricket
Role: Bowler
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Left-arm fast-medium Club: Desert Cubs-UAE
Achievements: Best UAE Under-19 bowler 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. Awards received from Indian cricket legend, Ravichandran Ashwin and South Africa cricket legend, Jonty Rhodes.